Physical Therapy Doctoral Program - Assistant Program Director (Curriculum Emphasis)

internships. A core distinction of the program is the intentional integration of faith into all aspects of the curriculum and daily practice to foster a service-oriented professional community.

What you'll do

The Assistant Program Director provides essential leadership by ensuring the DPT curriculum is rigorous, coordinated, and aligned with accreditation standards. This role is crucial for cultivating compassionate, Christ-centered leaders equipped for autonomous, evidence-based practice and principled leadership.

The core functions of this role must consistently integrate the program's core values, represented by the acronym GRACE:

• Generosity: Responsibly manage talents, knowledge, and resources.
• Respect: Honor the dignity and intrinsic worth of all persons.
• Accountability: Embrace personal and professional responsibility for actions and outcomes.
• Compassion: Demonstrate selfless, Christ-like care in all interactions.
• Excellence: Strive for optimal performance in all endeavors.

Core Responsibilities / Key Functions

I. Administrative Leadership (40% of Load)

• Curricular Design & Assessment: Lead the design, implementation, and continuous assessment of the DPT curriculum to ensure alignment with CAPTE criteria, contemporary clinical practice, and educational evidence; serve as Chair of the Curriculum Committee directing all curricular affairs, policy changes, and the formal Annual Curriculum Review.
• Accreditation Oversight & Reporting: Maintain meticulous attention to detail to ensure all program activities remain in full compliance with CAPTE and institutional requirements; oversee data collection, analysis, and reporting for all academic, clinical, and resource components of the CAPTE Self-Study and Program Assessment Plan.
• Faculty Development & Mentorship: Educate and mentor core and adjunct faculty regarding curriculum integration, instructional design, effective course sequencing, and the development of rigorous learning objectives and assessment methods to ensure curricular excellence.
• Strategic Policy & Operational Management: Collaborate with the Program Director on the strategic planning and operational management of the program; develop, revise, and enforce program policies related to admissions, academic progression, and graduation.
• Internal Liaison & Data Analysis: Serve as a key liaison to university departments to ensure seamless operations and interprofessional initiatives; analyze assessment data (student learning outcomes, success, and satisfaction) to inform program and curricular improvements

II. Teaching (40% of Load)

• Instructional Delivery & Course Coordination: Serve as a core faculty member and a primary individual responsible for direct instruction, syllabus development, and student evaluation within assigned courses; ensure effective course sequencing and coordination of instructional units to maintain curricular integrity.
• Pedagogical Excellence & Faculty Support: Apply current educational theory, instructional design, and evidence-based teaching methods to enhance student learning; assist the Program Director with teaching assignment coordination and the instructional evaluation of core and adjunct faculty.
• Student Mentorship & Outcomes: Provide academic and professional guidance to students, focusing on their progress through the curriculum and the successful attainment of Student Learning Outcomes.

III. Scholarship (10% of Load)

• Scholarly Activity: Maintain an active and consistent agenda of scholarly inquiry in accordance with CAPTE core faculty requirements.
• Dissemination: Contribute to the profession through scholarly accomplishments, research, or the integration of evidence-based practice into the academic environment.
• Evidence-Based Practice: Ensure the curriculum reflects contemporary clinical practice and the best educational evidence.

IV. Service (10% of Load)

• Institutional Governance: Participate actively in the governance of the program and the broader university community.
• Committee Engagement: Serve on program, departmental, or university-level committees as assigned by the Program Director.
• Community & Professional Service: Actively engage in professional organizations, church leadership, and local community initiatives to promote the program's GRACE values and the physical therapy profession.

Qualifications

• Terminal Degree: Earned terminal academic doctorate (e.g., Ph.D., EdD) in an appropriate discipline OR a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree (or tDPT) with ABPTS specialization or other specialty experience relevant to teaching responsibilities.
• PT License: Licensed or eligible for licensure as a Physical Therapist in Minnesota and licensed in state of residence.
• Administrative Experience: A minimum of three years of full-time higher education experience is preferred, ideally as a core faculty member in a CAPTE-accredited entry-level physical therapist education program.
• Leadership Development: Demonstrated experience or formal training in key areas necessary for an Assistant Program Director, including:
• Educational theory, instructional design, student evaluation, and outcome assessment.
• Administration, management, and leadership.
• Program evaluation, assessment, and curriculum development.

Required Candidate Skills and Attributes

• Strategic Leadership: Strong leadership skills and proven ability to provide academic direction, facilitate change, and develop/execute strategic plans for the curriculum.
• Organizational Acumen: Superior organization skills and attention to detail to ensure compliance with CAPTE and institutional requirements.
• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills to effectively interact with all interested parties (students, faculty, administrators).
• Commitment to Mission: A demonstrated commitment to the program's core values of GRACE and the integration of faith and ethics in physical therapy education and practice.
• Problem-Solving: Excellent critical thinking, conflict resolution, and decision-making skills.

Additional Responsibilities:

Bethel's mission is to educate and equip students to lead lives of impact through transformative academics in a Christ-centered community. Bethel's employee community plays a central role in developing our students as whole and holy persons. To carry out this mission, Bethel uses the foundation of our guiding documents, the Affirmation of Faith, Community Covenant, and Key Policies. Bethel expects all employees to actively participate in creating our Christ-centered community by agreeing with and abiding by our core beliefs in the Affirmation of Faith and supporting all other beliefs as Biblical, responsible, and thoughtful approaches while avoiding dissension and divisiveness. Employees teach and mentor students and help one another uphold our Community Covenant commitments. As a result of these expectations, all University employees act as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ by actively partnering with the University to carry out its mission and foster Bethel's Christ-centered covenant community.

Other Duties: The essential functions, tasks and responsibilities of this position may change from time to time. Bethel University reserves the right to add or omit duties and responsibilities at the discretion of the University or its leadership. Additional tasks or duties required of the position, will be communicated to the incumbent with specificity to ensure the employee may perform their role with complete understanding. This job description is intended to describe the general level of work being performed; it is not intended to be all-inclusive.

Work Environment:

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as desktop and/or laptop computers, photocopiers and smartphones.

The work environment involves working for a suburban, Christian university in which all employees are expected to have a demonstrated commitment and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, a commitment to the mission and values of the University, and an agreement to abide by all University policies.

Travel:

Aligned with our hybrid instructional model, this position features the flexibility of working from home coupled with periodic travel to the St. Paul campus to lead in-person intensive labs and engage in on-site institutional governance.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. The job requires extended periods of sitting and traversing the Bethel Campus on a regular basis. Must be able to carry suitcases and large recruiting displays across large parking lots and up and down flights of stairs.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to ensure people are able to perform the essential functions.

The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

Expected Hours of Work:

Typically, days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, with the expectation to work specific schedules and hours as identified and communicated by management. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. This is a 40 hour per week, 12 months per year position.

Compensation

Salary and rank are commensurate with qualifications, education, and experience. Typical salary for Assistant Professor $63,938 - $80,549, Associate Professor $72,366 - $96,793, for 24 Load Credits a year. Assistant Professor of $85,251 - $107,399, Associate Professor $96,488 - $129,057 for 32 Load Credits.

Benefits

Bethel is committed to offering meaningful benefits to our employees including health insurance, retirement plans, and a generous time off package. Learn more about these offerings here.

Commitment to Diversity

Bethel seeks to recruit, retain, and develop a diverse workforce who contributes to our educational and Christ-centered mission. Learn more about our commitment to diversity in hiring.