Director of Clinical Education Department of PA Studies

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: Brenau University is an equal opportunity employer and educator. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, citizenship, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable federal or state laws in its employment practices or educational programs.

HIRING PROCESS: All submitted application materials are forwarded to the appropriate department for review. Hiring recommendations are made at the departmental level.

DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE: Brenau University is a drug-free workplace as certified by the Georgia Workers Compensation Board. 

ELIGIBILITY: Successful applicants must be eligible to work in the United States on or before the confirmed start date. This includes being a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or a foreign national with work authorization that doesn't require employer sponsorship. Individuals must maintain this eligibility throughout employment.

Position Summary:

The Director of Clinical Education for the Department of Physician Assistant (PA) Studies plays a pivotal role in shaping the clinical training and educational experiences of PA students. This leadership position is responsible for overseeing the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of clinical education programs to ensure alignment with accreditation standards and industry best practices. The director collaborates closely with clinical preceptors, faculty, and healthcare partners to facilitate high-quality, hands-on learning opportunities that prepare students for successful careers in healthcare. Additionally, the role involves strategic planning to expand clinical placement sites and enhance student support services, ensuring a comprehensive and effective clinical education environment. Ultimately, the director ensures that the clinical education program produces competent, compassionate, and well-prepared PA graduates who meet the evolving needs of the healthcare community.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies from an ARC-PA accredited program.
• Current certification as a Physician Assistant (PA-C) with active licensure or livense-eligible in the state of Georgia.
• Minimum of five years of clinical experience as a practicing PA.
• Experience in clinical education, including coordination or leadership roles within PA or health professions programs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of accreditation standards for PA education (e.g., ARC-PA).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree (e.g., EdD, PhD, DSc) in health professions education or a related field.
• Experience with curriculum development and assessment in health professions education.
• Strong background in interprofessional education and collaborative practice.
• Proven success in building and maintaining clinical partnerships and preceptor networks.
• Experience with educational technology and learning management systems.

Job Duties & Responsibilities:

• Develop, coordinate, and manage all aspects of the clinical education curriculum for the Department of PA Studies (DPAS) PA program.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with clinical sites and preceptors to secure diverse and high-quality clinical rotation opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with accreditation standards and institutional policies related to clinical education.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to clinical faculty, staff, and preceptors, including training and evaluation.
• Supervise the clinical staff and discuss issues with the Chair/PD and/or Assistant Program Director (APD).
• Monitor student progress during clinical rotations and address any academic or professional issues that arise; assess students' readiness for completion of the program and graduation.
• Collaborate with program leadership to integrate clinical education with didactic coursework to enable students to meet overall program goals and student learning outcomes.
• Develop clinical education budgets and manage resources and scheduling to optimize program efficiency.
• Participate in program assessment, data collection, and reporting to support ongoing self-assessment and continuous quality improvement.
• Serve as instructor for the clinical courses (rotations) and other didactic courses, as assigned. 
• Assess student progress in courses, prepare and submit final grades, communicate with students’ faculty advisors notifying APD and/or Chair/PD of any “at-risk” students.
• Evaluate student performance in clinical courses and clinical simulation formative and summative examinations.
• Assist with student tutorial/remediation sessions, as required.
• Serve as advisor to students, as assigned, bringing student issues impacting successful progress in the program to the Chair/PD, Assistant Program Director, and/or the Continuous Self-Assessment Committee and/or Committee on Student Progress, as appropriate. 
• Participate in ARC-PA accreditation reviews and visits.
• Attend and appropriately contribute to university, ICHS, and departmental faculty meetings. 
• Participate in the development, revision, and updating of the program’s mission statement and curricular materials.
• Participate in student admissions and interviewing processes.
• Initiate the updating of the program's material in the Catalog, related to the clinical courses, as well as the updating of the DPAS Clinical Handbook.
• Oversee the management of CORE ELMS, the DPAS' clinical tracking softwware. 

Skills:

The Director of Clinical Education utilizes strong leadership and organizational skills daily to manage complex clinical education programs and coordinate multiple stakeholders effectively. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential for building and sustaining relationships with clinical partners, faculty, staff, and students, ensuring clear expectations and collaborative problem-solving. Analytical skills are applied to assess program outcomes, interpret accreditation requirements, and implement data-driven improvements. The role also demands proficiency in project management and resource allocation to optimize clinical placement scheduling and budgeting. Additionally, the director leverages educational expertise and technological tools to enhance curriculum delivery and support faculty, staff, preceptor, and student development.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Supervises, manages, and motivates the clinical staff in the DPAS in collaboration with the Chair/PD. 

Work Hours:

• Full-time. 37.5 hours per week.  Generally, Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Hours may be extended to meet the needs of the department.  Nights/weekends as needed. 

Appointment Length:

• 12 months, continuous 

Environmental and Working Conditions/ Physical Demands and Aptitudes:

• Sedentary work. Work is performed in an office environment and requires the ability to operate standard office equipment and keyboards. Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Must have the ability to travel short distances, and/or drive a vehicle to deliver and pick up materials. Exerting up to 15 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading.

Title IX Implications:

• Responsible employee
  Any employee who is not a confidential employee. Brenau University requires that all Responsible Employees MUST report any possible sexual harassment or discrimination based on sex to the Title IX Coordinator when the employee has information about conduct that reasonably may constitute sex discrimination or sex-based harassment under Title IX or this part. Employees are encouraged to report these concerns in writing via email. When an employee or a student (or a person who has a legal right to act on behalf of a student) informs any employee (including both Responsible and Confidential employees) of the employee’s or student’s pregnancy or related conditions, that employee must promptly provide that person with the Title IX Coordinator’s contact information and inform that person that the Title IX Coordinator can coordinate specific actions to prevent sex discrimination and ensure the employee’s or student’s equal access to the Recipient’s education program or activity.

Payroll Status:  

• Salary- Exempt (paid bi-weekly)

Campus Designation:

• This is an on-site position based at the Downtown Center Gainesville Campus located in Gainesville, Georgia.

Remote Work Available: 

• No 

Travel Requirements:   

• Occasional local travel and operation of a university vehicle and/or one’s own vehicle required. Must be at least 21 years of age, possess a valid Georgia driver’s license, and good driving record. 

Benefits:
Dependent upon employment status, years of service and worker category. Explore all that Brenau offers for Your Health, Your Mind, Your Finances, & Our Community here: https://intranet.brenau.edu/human-resources/job-opportunities/. 

Special Requirements:
Brenau University conducts various screenings to ensure a safe and secure environment. These checks are a condition of employment and may be performed at different times throughout employment. (1) Background Checks: All new hires must undergo a criminal background check. To maintain employment, individuals must have and maintain a favorable criminal history. The university may also conduct random background checks. Additional checks may be performed for certain roles. (2) Credit Checks: required for positions that handle university funds or credit cards or as otherwise required. (3) Motor Vehicle and Driving Checks: employees who operate a university vehicle or drive on university business must have a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) run as part of the new hire process or as the requirement to drive is added to job responsibilities. To be approved for university travel, employees must meet the following criteria: be at least 21 years old, have and maintain a valid Georgia driver's license, and have and maintain a good driving record. As a condition of employment, employees must report any arrest (within five days of its occurrence) to the Office of Human Resources, including traffic violations for those listed on our auto insurance policy.  Disclosure of subsequent legal action (conviction, dismissal of charges, etc.) must also be reported to the Office of Human Resources. It will be evaluated considering continued employment with the immediate supervisor. (4) Drug Screening: pre-employment/post-offer drug screens and random drug screens are performed for certain sensitive positions. Random drug screens are also performed on those who travel regularly, or those who operate a university vehicle. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug screening.

Additional Requirements:
N/A

Licensure Requirements:
Proof of any professional degree, license, or certification (collectively, “Credentials”) required to competently perform the work for which the employee is hired must have been submitted at the time of application for the position. Discovery during the course of employee’s employment that applicable Credentials have lapsed, been terminated, were misrepresented, or were falsified may result in immediate termination of employee’s employment.