Open Role · Higher Education
Dean of Physical Therapy, Austin, TX
As Associate Dean of Physical Therapy, you will provide academic leadership and administrative oversight for all Physical Therapy programs across multiple campuses and delivery formats, unifying standards while driving accreditation, faculty development, and program growth. A retained search managed by Excelon Associates.
Dean of Physical Therapy Role Overview
Excelon Associates has been retained to recruit an Associate Dean of Physical Therapy on behalf of our client. This leader provides academic leadership and administrative oversight for all Physical Therapy programs across multiple campuses and delivery formats, based in Austin, TX or San Marcos, CA. The role guides program directors and faculty through program outcome assessment, accreditation activities, faculty evaluation and development, and curricular improvement.
What does a Dean of Physical Therapy do? A Dean of Physical Therapy leads the academic and administrative direction of an institution’s PT programs. The role oversees curriculum, faculty, accreditation, and program quality, unifying standards across campuses while supporting innovation, growth, and academic excellence for students and faculty.
Working closely with senior academic leadership, the Associate Dean helps shape strategic planning for PT programs with a focus on continuous quality improvement and alignment with institutional goals. The role serves as a spokesperson for advancing PT education and keeping programs innovative and competitive within the field. The position calls for a collaborative, student-centered approach and a leader who can unify programmatic standards across locations. PT education operates within accreditation and professional frameworks set by bodies such as the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, the American Physical Therapy Association, and the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.
Key Responsibilities
Academic Leadership and Program Oversight
- Provide academic leadership and administrative oversight for all Physical Therapy programs across multiple campuses and delivery formats.
- Guide program directors and faculty, unifying programmatic standards across locations.
- Coordinate program outcome assessments and lead program reviews, outcome analysis, and curricular revisions.
- Oversee inter-campus faculty meetings and retreats.
Faculty Development and Management
- Oversee faculty development, evaluation, and consistent performance reviews across campuses.
- Recruit program directors and support the onboarding of new directors.
- Manage workload equity and implement faculty retention and growth plans.
Accreditation, Compliance, and Quality
- Coordinate accreditation activities and ensure accreditation standards and federal and state regulations are met.
- Drive continuous quality improvement so PT programs remain contemporary and compliant.
- Ensure curricula are current and aligned with the needs of students, faculty, and the profession.
Strategy, Admissions, and Resources
- Shape strategic planning for PT programs in alignment with institutional goals.
- Serve as a spokesperson for advancing PT education and keeping programs competitive.
- Contribute to admissions standards, resource allocation, and budget development.
- Coordinate policy development and resource procurement with executive leadership.
Qualifications
- Earned academic or terminal doctorate (Ph.D., Ed.D., DPT, DHSc, or equivalent).
- Seven to ten years of progressive academic administrative experience in higher education.
- Professional experience in a health-related or rehabilitative discipline preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to manage accreditation processes, program development, and curricular improvements.
- Exceptional leadership, communication, and change management skills.
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, administrators, faculty, students, and external stakeholders.
- Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite and related academic technologies.
- Current clinical certification and licensure, or licensure eligibility, in a discipline-specific specialty highly preferred.
Who Thrives as a Dean of Physical Therapy
This is an academic leadership role with an accreditation backbone. The strongest candidates are fluent in program outcome assessment, CAPTE-aligned standards, and the federal and state regulations that govern PT education. They lead program reviews and curricular revisions with rigor and keep multi-campus programs contemporary, compliant, and competitive.
It is also a people-leadership seat across locations. People who do well here develop and evaluate faculty consistently, recruit and onboard program directors, manage workload equity, and unify standards without flattening what makes each campus work. A doctorate and roughly seven to ten years of progressive academic administration are what the role calls for, ideally paired with a health or rehabilitative background.
Finally, the best fit pairs operational discipline with a genuine student-centered outlook. The role shapes strategy and budget alongside senior leadership while preparing students to succeed in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape, so it rewards a leader who values excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service in equal measure.
About Excelon Associates
Excelon Associates is a retained executive search firm founded in 2007, headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina, with offices in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Florida. The firm recruits leadership and specialized talent across higher education, healthcare, financial services, and government, including academic leadership in the health sciences.
This Dean of Physical Therapy search is managed by an Excelon recruiter who serves as the single point of contact through screening, interviews, and offer. You can explore the firm’s higher education recruitment practice, browse current open roles, or review recent campaigns to see the kinds of searches Excelon runs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Dean of Physical Therapy role?
An academic leadership position, titled Associate Dean of Physical Therapy, responsible for the academic and administrative oversight of all Physical Therapy programs across multiple campuses, including curriculum, faculty, accreditation, and program quality.
Where is the position based?
The role is based in Austin, TX or San Marcos, CA, with oversight responsibility for PT programs across multiple campuses and delivery formats.
What qualifications are required?
An earned academic or terminal doctorate (Ph.D., Ed.D., DPT, DHSc, or equivalent), seven to ten years of progressive academic administrative experience in higher education, and demonstrated ability to manage accreditation, program development, and curricular improvement.
Is clinical licensure required?
Current clinical certification and licensure, or licensure eligibility, in a discipline-specific specialty is highly preferred, along with professional experience in a health-related or rehabilitative discipline.
How do I apply?
Apply directly through the live posting using the Apply Now button, or submit your resume to Excelon Associates and a recruiter will be in touch about this and similar opportunities.
How to Apply for This Dean of Physical Therapy Role
Submit your resume and an optional cover letter through Excelon’s secure application portal. Applications are reviewed by an Excelon recruiter, and qualified candidates are contacted directly.
Apply NowExcelon does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, marital or veteran status, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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