Program Director, Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program

University of Minnesota; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 165,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Minnesota is seeking a DPT Program Director to provide comprehensive leadership for the Division of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science. The role includes executive supervision of faculty and staff, governance, and strategic initiatives to advance the DPT program.

Juggling accreditation, curriculum, student outcomes, and budgetary responsibilities, the PD collaborates with department leadership to sustain program quality and growth while aligning with graduate school

Qualifications

• Earned doctoral degree from an accredited institution.
• Active scholarly publications and external service.
• Qualified for Academic Track Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
• Minnesota physical therapy licensure eligibility.
• Graduate of an accredited physical therapy program.
• Minimum of 6 years of full-time higher education experience, including 3 years in a DPT program.

Responsibilities

• Oversee CAPTE accreditation compliance, self-studies, site visits, progress reports, and annual reporting.
• Lead program governance, faculty meetings, and retreats; advocate for the program to external bodies.
• Supervise and mentor program faculty and administrative staff; manage workloads and promotions.
• Lead curriculum oversight, policy enforcement, and student engagement activities.
• Drive strategic planning, budgeting, and expansion opportunities for the DPT program.

Skills

Scholarly activity

Leadership

Communication

APTA member

Program governance

Education

Doctoral degree (Ph.D./Ed.D./D.Sc.)

Graduate of accredited physical therapy program

Job description

About the Job

The DPT Program Director (PD) holds a comprehensive leadershipposition within the division, carrying oversight responsibility forall aspects of the DPT program.

Reporting directly to the Division Director the Program Directorprovides executive supervision to dedicated program faculty andstaff while co-supervising cross-appointed core faculty. This rolerequires an academic strategist capable of managing programworkloads, ensuring competent student progression, navigatinguniversity governance, maintaining fiscal integrity, and drivingforward-thinking initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Accreditation, Governance, & Program Oversight

• Maintain primary accountability and oversight for continuousCAPTE accreditation compliance, self-studies, site visits, progressreports, and annual reporting.
• Lead all internal program communication and governance,including organizing and facilitating regular DPT faculty meetingsand annual faculty retreats.
• Represent the DPT program in institutional leadership meetingsand serve as the primary advocate for the program to the state APTAchapter, ACAPT, clinical partners, and professionalstakeholders.
• Serve as the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) / Director ofProfessional Studies (DPS) for the DPT program, ensuring alignmentwith institutional graduate school policies.
• Provide leadership across all standing DPT program committees(e.g., Admissions Student Affairs etc.).

Faculty Workload, Supervision, & ProfessionalDevelopment

• Manage DPT workload allocations across core academic, clinical,and tenure-track faculty to ensure equitable and compliant coverageof all program needs.
• Provide direct supervision, mentoring, annual performancereviews, and promotion guidance for program-dedicated faculty andadministrative staff.
• Co-supervise remaining DPT core faculty (including tenure-trackfaculty, Vice Chairs, and other Program Directors) with respect totheir instructional and service roles within the DPTcurriculum.
• Lead recruitment and hiring processes for academic-track DPTcore faculty, collaborating with department leadership onclinical-track and tenure-track appointments.
• Shared supervision of the DPT Program Coordinator to streamlineday-to-day administrative workflow.

Curriculum Delivery & Student Outcomes

• Maintain oversight of the DPT curriculum design, evaluation,and evolution, ensuring effective delivery by qualifiedinstructional personnel.
• Oversee the establishment, monitoring, and enforcement of allDPT-specific academic and professional policies.
• Oversee student engagement and student life within the program,including conducting semester-by-semester student cohortmeetings.
• Track and optimize key program outcomes, including studentretention, national licensure (NPTE) pass rates, andpost-graduation employment.

Strategic Planning, Budget, & Program Expansion

• Provide data-informed budgetary input to the Division Director/ Department Head on program resource requirements, and manage allDPT operational expenditures within allocated budgets.
• Drive strategic visioning for the program in alignment withdepartment goals, including evaluating and executing long-termgrowth opportunities such as:
  • Hybrid learning pathways or satellite campus expansions.
  • Joint/dual-degree programs (e.g., DPT/ATC, DPT/PA).
  • Post-professional clinical residencies and fellowships.
  • Undergraduate pathway programs and strategic clinicalemployment partnerships.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Academic Credentials: Earned academic doctoral degree (Ph.D.,Ed.D., D.Sc., or equivalent terminal research degree) from anaccredited institution.
• Active record of scholarly activity, peer-reviewedpublications, and external service.
• Demonstrated qualifications for appointment as an AcademicTrack Associate Professor in the University of Minnesota MedicalSchool.
• Licensure: Eligible for or currently holds physical therapylicensure in the state of Minnesota.
• Professional Designation: Graduate of an accredited physicaltherapy program.
• Academic & Faculty Experience: Minimum of 6 years offull-time higher education experience, including at least 3 yearsof full-time faculty service within an accredited DPT program.
• Accreditation Expertise: Thorough operational understanding ofCAPTE accreditation standards and continuous assessmentmethodology.
• Leadership Capabilities: Exceptional interpersonal,communication, and relationship building skills, demonstratedability to manage personnel, allocate workloads, and overseeprogram budgets.
• Professional Membership: Active membership in the AmericanPhysical Therapy Association (APTA).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience in administrative leadership for an accreditedDPT Program.
• Demonstrated experience navigating complex matrixed supervision(managing shared faculty across tenure, clinical, and academictracks).
• Proven track record in program innovation (e.g., developingprograms).

About the Department

The Division of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at theUniversity of Minnesota is an academic unit with 21 core facultylines, numerous associated faculty, and an 85-year history withinthe School of Medicine. Regarding quality graduates, scientificproductivity, and professional leadership, the Universityof Minnesota upholds a strong national reputation. Degree programsinclude a DPT and DPT/PhD joint degree. The Division, integratedwith the Rehabilitation Science program, also offers a PhD/MS andhouses an accredited Geriatric Clinical Residency, as well ascollaborations with other advanced physical therapy residencies andfellowships. As a major public research institution, the Universityof Minnesota has substantial opportunity for collaborative workacross the University, in the local community, and with nationaland international institutions. The University offers substantialresources, including the Center for Educational Innovation, asystem-wide resource offering opportunities in curriculum,pedagogy, technologies, educational research, and facultydevelopment to advance effective teaching and engagedlearning.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range:

$147,475 faculty salary depending oneducation/qualifications/experience + $20,000 augmentation forDirector role

Time Appointment:

75%-100% Appointment

Position Type:

Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for moreinformation regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package thatincludes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional trainingand degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition BenefitProgram
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counselingat no cost
• Employee TransitPass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metroarea

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversityand inclusion in enriching the employment experience of itsemployees and in supporting the academic mission. The University iscommitted to attracting and retaining employees with varyingidentities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to andopportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment withoutregard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender,age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteranstatus, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successfulcompletion of a background check. Our presumption is thatprospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminalconvictions do not automatically disqualify finalists fromemployment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among thelargest public research universities in the country, offeringundergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude ofopportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of oneof the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities,students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit fromextensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers,international corporations, government agencies, and arts,nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized bythe Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbesas Best Employers for Women and one of America’s Best Employers(2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020),Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer byState (2019, 2022).