Founding Program Director, Physician Assistant Program

Carroll College invites applications and nominations for the position of Founding Program Director of its developing Physician Assistant (PA) Program. This is a full-time, 12-month faculty and administrative appointment reporting directly to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (SVPAA). The successful candidate will provide visionary leadership and operational oversight as the PA program advances through its final stages of development toward an anticipated May 2028 matriculation.

Program Context and Status

Carroll College has applied for Accreditation - Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Carroll College anticipates matriculating its first class in May 2028, pending achieving Accreditation - Provisional status at the October 2027 ARC-PA meeting.

[Accreditation - Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program's ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards, or when a program holding Accreditation - Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.]

The program has made substantial progress toward this goal and has completed or initiated the following key developments:

Designed a comprehensive systems-based didactic curriculum and a robust clinical education structure.
Developed student learning outcomes, program competencies, and a longitudinal assessment and evaluation plan.
Created a four-term didactic phase with integrated components including professional practice, simulation, and interprofessional education.
Hired key faculty and staff, including a Medical Director and Director of Clinical Education.
Engaged an experienced PA education consultant to support accreditation and program design.
Secured clinical partnerships and program support with healthcare institutions around the region.
Begun collaboration with enrollment and marketing teams to prepare for student recruitment and admissions.

The Founding Program Director will join a supportive and mission-aligned leadership team and will play a critical role in finalizing the program’s accreditation efforts and launching a successful inaugural cohort.

Primary Responsibilities

Program Leadership and Development

Serve as the Founding Program Director, providing strategic oversight of all aspects of the PA program.
Function as Department Chair, leading academic governance and representing the department within the college’s academic structure.
Ensure the continued development and delivery of a mission-aligned curriculum that meets ARC-PA Standards.
Recruit, hire, and mentor a diverse and effective team of faculty and staff.

Accreditation and Compliance

Lead the program through the ARC-PA’s Provisional Accreditation process and ensure continued compliance with accreditation requirements.
Implement and oversee a comprehensive evaluation and continuous quality improvement plan.

Academic Administration

Oversee semester schedules, teaching assignments, and operational planning in collaboration with faculty and staff.
Manage the day-to-day operations of the program, including supervision of program personnel.

Budget and Resource Management

Develop and manage the program’s budget in alignment with institutional priorities.
Communicate and advocate for program resource needs to senior leadership.

Student Recruitment and Support

Collaborate with enrollment, admissions, and marketing teams to attract a qualified and diverse applicant pool.
Ensure effective advising, support services, and communication of academic and professional expectations.

Faculty Development and Culture

Foster a collaborative and respectful program culture that emphasizes faculty mentorship, scholarship, and service.
Support faculty development and opportunities for professional advancement.

Institutional and External Engagement

· Represent the PA program to internal and external stakeholders, including campus leadership, community partners, and national PA organizations.

· Build the program’s regional and professional reputation through strategic engagement and advocacy.

Qualifications

· Master’s degree required; doctoral degree preferred (e.g., DMSc, EdD, PhD).

· Current certification as a Physician Assistant/Associate (NCCPA).

· Minimum of three years of full-time higher education experience at the time of appointment.

· Demonstrated experience in curriculum development, accreditation, and/or program administration.

· Eligible for licensure as a PA in the State of Montana.

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to help shape the future of physician assistant education within a mission-driven, student-centered academic community. At Carroll College, we are dedicated to developing a high-impact PA program that prepares graduates to exemplify academic excellence, ethical leadership, and a deep commitment to serving others

About Carroll College:

Carroll College is a leading liberal arts college in the American West. Carroll’s campus, featuring iconic gothic, Romanesque architecture, rests on 63 acres at the edge of downtown and historic Helena, the capital city of Montana. The surrounding beauty of the Rocky Mountains and Montana fosters wonder and awe, giving the perfect backdrop to a worldly education. The Carroll campus is less two miles from access to over 1 million acres of National Forest and recreational opportunities.

A commitment to excellence is foundational to learning at Carroll. As an academically prestigious institution, Carroll demands the best from its students and upholds the dual goal of vocation and enlightenment. Students are challenged to pursue universal knowledge, not merely information or skills. The College instills an enduring wonder for knowledge that prepares students for leadership in a chosen profession, while simultaneously encouraging and expecting an integration of knowledge through broad formation in a variety of academic disciplines. Carroll’s leadership, faculty, and staff are intentional about cultivating virtue, communication skills, and leadership qualities that lead to a transformative, beautiful life journey – all reasons why Carroll College enjoys the distinction of holding the U.S. News and World Report rank of the #2 Regional College in the West and has been #1 or #2 for the last 12 years.

Founded in 1909, Carroll College warmly embraces its identity as a diocesan, Catholic college, and the centuries-old Catholic Intellectual Tradition. Carroll represents a beacon of light in the culture, welcoming all persons of good will in a cooperative journey toward knowledge and virtue.

About the Community:

Helena is a vibrant community with outstanding activities and events for everyone to enjoy, from local theatre productions, to arts festivals, to local shopping in historic downtown, to rodeos or music events. Situated in west-central Montana and surrounded by the Rocky Mountains and the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Helena is also home to the historic Gothic Cathedral of St. Helena which has been ranked as one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the United States.

Helena is known as a world-class outdoor recreation destination; National Geographic ranks Helena in the Top 20 Mountain Biking Town, Great Values College places Carroll College at #33 in their Great Affordable Colleges for Outdoor Enthusiasts list, and ranks Helena #27 on their Top 100 Best Places to Live. Helena is home to a number of popular trail runs and the Governor’s Cup Marathon. You’ll find more than 75 miles of hiking and biking trails just minutes from Carroll’s campus, and Helena is in close proximity to the Continental Divide Trail, natural hot springs, Great Divide Ski Area, three large lakes, world class fly fishing, and the Missouri River. Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park are also just a few hours away.

Application and Nomination Process:

All correspondence relating to the position of Physician Assistant Program Director and Department Chair at Carroll College should be directed in confidence to the College’s executive search consultant:

Mr. Jamie Marcus, Vice President

Scott Healy & Associates

jamiemarcus@scotthealy.com

A complete application should include the following:

Cover Letter outlining your interest and qualifications for the position;
Updated CV;
Three (3) professional references with contact information, title, institutional affiliation, email address and direct phone numbers. (No references will be contacted without written permission from the candidate.)
Finalists for the position will be asked to provide a written response to Carroll College’s mission statement: https://www.carroll.edu/mission-catholic-identity/mission-statement

Applications received by June 30, 2025 will receive priority consideration. The search will remain open until the position is filled.

Carroll College is an equal opportunity employer, committed to compliance with state and federal anti-discrimination laws, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Acts of discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and retaliation are prohibited and will be addressed consistent with this policy.

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Founding Program Director, Physician Assistant Program