Director of Clinical Education - Physical Therapy

Job Summary

Mercy University is looking for a Director of Clinical Education for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program. The Director of Clinical Education (DCE) is a core faculty member within the DPT Program. They are responsible for the planning, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of all clinical education experiences. The DCE ensures that clinical experiences are high-quality, diverse, and seamlessly integrated with the didactic curriculum to prepare graduates for entry-level practice. The director(s) of clinical education is effective in clinical teaching and mentoring, and in developing, conducting, and coordinating the clinical education program.

Core faculty appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor or higher, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Essential Job Functions & Responsibilities

• Develop, manage, and evaluate a diverse network of clinical education sites; negotiate and maintain affiliation agreements; ensure compliance with accreditation standards and institutional policies.
• Coordinate student clinical placements aligned with curricular goals; oversee assessment of student performance using validated tools (e.g., APTA CPI); identify and remediate students at risk; facilitate communication among students, clinical instructors, and faculty.
• Mentor and support Clinical Instructors and Site Coordinators through training, professional development, and credentialing; foster strong, collaborative partnerships with clinical sites.
• Integrate clinical education with didactic curriculum; collect and analyze clinical education data for continuous improvement; contribute to program assessment, curriculum development, and CAPTE accreditation activities.
• Provide administrative and regulatory oversight, including compliance with HIPAA and FERPA; maintain accurate records; and develop and update clinical education policies and procedures.

Required Skills & Experience

• The director of clinical education is a physical therapist who holds an active, unencumbered PT license in any United States jurisdiction
• Is in compliance with the practice act in the jurisdiction where the program is located
• Has a minimum of three years of full-time post-licensure clinical practice.
• Has a minimum of two years of clinical practice as an SCCE or CI or two years of experience in teaching, curriculum development, and administration in a physical therapist education program.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills to coordinate complex logistics involving multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for effective collaboration with students, faculty, clinical partners, and administrators.
• Ability to mentor and develop clinical educators.
• Proficiency in data collection, analysis, and reporting for program assessment and accreditation.

Education Requirements

• Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree required.
• Post-professional doctoral degree (PhD, EdD, DSc) or clinical specialization preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor (CI) certification.
• American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) Clinical specialization
• Active membership in the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and the Academy of Physical Therapy Education (APTE).
• Experience in educational research, particularly related to clinical education, student performance, or clinical outcomes.
• Knowledge of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model and its application in clinical practice and education.
• Demonstrated excellence in communication, organization, and interpersonal relationship management.