Assistant Professor & Program Director – Physical Therapist Assistant

Position summary:

The Program Director serves as the academic and administrative leader of the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program and is accountable for ensuring the program operates with the highest level of integrity, organization, and compliance. This 12-month faculty position reports to the Dean of Health Sciences and includes a 6–9 hour teaching load per semester. The Program Director is responsible for the consistent and timely execution of all program functions, ensuring full compliance with institutional policies, accreditation standards (CAPTE), and regulatory requirements. This role requires a high level of dependability, attention to detail, and commitment to maintaining program quality, student success, and operational excellence.

Position responsibilities:

• Program Leadership & Accountability
  • Provides direct oversight and accountability for all aspects of the PTA program, ensuring continuous compliance with CAPTE accreditation standards, Kilgore institutional policies, and state regulations.
  • Ensures all program operations, documentation, and reporting requirements are completed accurately, thoroughly, and within established timelines.
  • Maintains readiness for accreditation reviews, site visits, and audits at all times.
• Faculty Oversight & Performance Management
  • Responsible for the hiring, supervision, evaluation, and ongoing accountability of all faculty and staff.
  • Ensures faculty meet instructional expectations, maintain compliance with course requirements, and adhere to Kilgore institutional standards.
  • Provides consistent orientation, mentorship, and performance feedback, addressing deficiencies in a timely and professional manner.
• The above duties are not all-inclusive; rather, they illustrate the type of work assigned to a position incumbent. All listed duties are considered essential functions of the job.
   
• Curriculum Oversight & Program Evaluation
  • Leads the development, implementation, and continuous evaluation of curriculum to ensure alignment with CAPTE standards and workforce expectations.
  • Ensures all program outcomes are systematically assessed, documented, and used to drive continuous quality improvement through the annual program review process.
  • Maintains full accountability for the integrity, rigor, and effectiveness of the curriculum.
• Accreditation & Compliance Management
  • Oversees all accreditation-related activities, including reporting, documentation, record-keeping, and communication with accrediting bodies.
  • Ensures strict adherence to CAPTE standards across all areas of the program, including curriculum, faculty qualifications, clinical education, and student outcomes.
  • Proactively identifies and addresses compliance risks to maintain program standing.
• Clinical Coordination Oversight
  • Works in collaboration with the Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education (ACCE) to ensure all clinical affiliation agreements are current, compliant, and sufficient to meet enrollment needs.
  • Ensures clinical placements align with program capacity and accreditation requirements.
• Fiscal & Resource Management
  • Develops, monitors, and maintains full accountability for the program budget, ensuring responsible and compliant use of institutional and grant funds.
  • Oversees inventory, maintenance, and replacement of equipment and supplies to support program operations and student learning.
• Enrollment Management & Program Sustainability
  • Monitors and manages enrollment based on available clinical placements and program capacity.
  • Ensures recruitment, retention, and completion strategies are aligned with program goals and workforce demand.
• Instructional Responsibilities
  • Teaches assigned courses effectively, demonstrating preparedness, organization, and appropriate use of instructional time.
  • Develops and implements clear grading policies and student assessment methods that accurately measure student performance and progression.
  • Maintains accurate and timely records of student attendance, performance, and progression.
• Student Engagement & Professional Standards
  • Upholds and enforces all college policies and procedures, ensuring a professional and respectful learning environment.
  • Provides clear communication to students, faculty, and college administration regarding course expectations, program requirements, and academic progress.
  • Refers students to appropriate resources as needed and supports student success while maintaining academic standards.
• Institutional Engagement & Dependability
  • Demonstrates consistent attendance, preparation, and participation in all required meetings, including faculty, department, committee, and administrative meetings.
  • Completes all assigned institutional duties in a timely and professional manner.
  • Maintains effective communication and collaboration with college leadership, faculty, staff, and external partners.

Minimum Position Requirements:

• Master's degree required; Doctorate preferred
• Hold’s an active, unencumbered PT license or PTA license
• Minimum of 5 years full-time post-licensure experience that includes 3 years minimum of full-time clinical experience
• Experience in classroom, lab, or clinical teaching experience
• Experience in administration, management, and leadership. Experience can be derived from clinical experiences
• Professional development or education in all of the following: educational theory and methodology, instructional design, student evaluation, and outcome assessment

Skills & Abilities:

• Proficiency in curriculum design, program administration, evaluation, instruction, and academic advising
• Maintains current knowledge of discipline and educational methodologies through professional development
• Has attention to detail and prioritizes tasks to multitask Professor effectively
• Able to demonstrate good customer service and professionalism
• Proficiency in typing, Microsoft Office, and email etiquette
• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral)
• Proficiency in problem resolution and critical decision making
• Uses interpersonal communication to establish and maintain effective working relationships as well as effective student-teacher relationships

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• 1 Full-Time Direct Reports    2-3 Part-Time Direct Reports

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office and classroom environment.
• No or very limited physical effort required; however, the employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
• No or very limited exposure to physical risk.

Safety:

Provide resources for safe operation of units. Create and support workplace safety.

Salary & Benefits: 

• 36-hour work week for a healthy work life balance as well generous paid leave time.
• Health, life, and income protection insurance are provided.
• An excellent retirement program through the Teacher Retirement System or Optional Retirement Plan ‘ORP’ for full time faculty.
• Full Time employees have free use of the college’s recreational/fitness facilities
• Full Time employees are eligible for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PLSF) after 10 years of service.
• Tuition scholarships are for the employee and dependents. 
• Compensation for this 12-month position is based on years of teaching at institutions of higher education, and highest level of education. Base pay for no experience ranges from $59,648 for a master's degree to $69,191 for a doctorate.

Kilgore College does not participate in the federal Social Security program.