Program Director - Health Care Administration-Houston

Job Description

Program Director, Health Care Administration

Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business and Entrepreneurship

Position Summary:

The Director of the Health Care Administration (HCA) Program provides visionary, strategic, and operational leadership for the Master of Health Care Administration (MHA) program at Texas Woman's University. Based at the Houston Center, the Director oversees programmatic delivery across both the Houston and Dallas campuses and leads the program's efforts to maintain academic excellence, CAHME accreditation, industry relevance, and student success.

The Director is responsible for strategic planning, faculty development, curriculum oversight, external engagement, and alignment of the program with national professional standards, including NCHL competencies. This role requires a forward-thinking academic leader committed to health care innovation, workforce development, and interdisciplinary collaboration in one of the most dynamic healthcare markets in the country. The Director will possess an earned doctorate in Health Care Administration or a related discipline, and have an academic record that would support a tenured/tenure-track appointment at the Associate or Full Professor level. Reporting to the Executive Dean of the Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business and Entrepreneurship, the program director will provide innovative and insightful leadership to the HCA program, strengthen partnerships that enhance the program's reputation and academic ties to the healthcare community, and have an outstanding record of program management along with the ability to teach a variety of courses in health care administration.

The program is delivered on both the Dallas and Houston campuses, and the Director is located on the TWU Houston campus and an Associate Director is located on the TWU Dallas campus. The Director leads the faculty at both locations and fosters a climate of academic excellence among the faculty, staff and students. The director should have strong administrative, management and problem-solving skills that will position the HCA program as a leader in healthcare management education. Faculty are located on both the Dallas and Houston campuses. The Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business and Entrepreneurship houses the Master of Health Administration (MHA) program, which can be pursued as a standalone degree or as part of a dual MHA/MBA option. The Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business and Entrepreneurship is a vibrant, multi-campus college offering innovative undergraduate and graduate programs in Denton, Dallas, and Houston. Known for its commitment to leadership, applied learning, and entrepreneurial thinking, the College prepares students to make meaningful impact across industries.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Leadership & Strategic Oversight

• Provide comprehensive leadership for the HCA program across all campuses, ensuring mission alignment, academic quality, and operational efficiency.
• Lead strategic planning and execution to advance the program's national reputation, graduate outcomes, and interdisciplinary partnerships.
• Ensure continuous compliance with CAHME accreditation standards and lead all aspects of reaccreditation efforts.
• Oversee academic quality, curriculum design, program assessment, and learning outcomes across campuses.
• Supervise the Associate Director and support leadership development among campus coordinators and faculty.
• Lead faculty hiring, onboarding, mentoring, and promotion processes in collaboration with department and college leadership.
• Oversee academic schedules, faculty workload planning, and resource allocation for Dallas and Houston campuses.
• Develop and manage the program's operating budget, grants, and special initiatives.
• Serve as the primary representative of the HCA program on university and system-level committees.

Academic Excellence & Faculty Engagement

• Teach 2 graduate courses per semester, including hybrid, online, and executive formats, as needed.
• Foster a culture of teaching excellence, innovation, and high-impact practices among HCA faculty.
• Support development and evaluation of instructional technology, simulation, and immersive learning tools.
• Lead initiatives to improve graduation rates, student retention, and professional readiness.
• Promote a robust scholarly environment and support faculty research, grant activity, and conference participation.

External Relations, Partnerships & Advancement

• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with major healthcare systems, providers, and professional organizations in Houston and beyond.
• Serve as a public-facing ambassador for the MHA program, engaging in alumni relations, community outreach, and media opportunities.
• Lead initiatives to expand internship pipelines, preceptorships, and executive mentoring programs.
• Collaborate with the university's advancement and grants offices to pursue funding opportunities and endowments.
• Chair the HCA Advisory Board and incorporate industry insights into program development.
• Support student recruitment, employer engagement, and workforce development in partnership with enrollment and career services teams.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Doctoral degree (PhD, DHA, DrPH, or related) in Health Care Administration, Public Health, Business, or a closely related field.
• Academic qualifications and professional experience commensurate with appointment at the Associate or Full Professor level.
• Demonstrated record of excellence in teaching, research, and service.
• Proven experience with CAHME accreditation processes and competency-based curriculum development.
• Significant leadership experience in academic administration, preferably at the graduate program level.

Preferred:

• Experience in managing multi-campus programs or executive education.
• Established network in the Houston healthcare ecosystem.
• Experience with hybrid and online learning models.
• Demonstrated success in external fundraising, industry partnership development, or alumni engagement.
• Experience in working with CAHME

Texas Woman's University, an AA/EEO employer, provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected category, class or characteristic.

All offers of employment will be contingent on the candidate's ability to provide documents which establish proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Positions at Texas Woman's University deemed security-sensitive require background checks and verification of all academic credentials.

If you are a male between the age of 18 and 25, federal law requires that you must be registered with the U.S. Selective Service System, unless you meet certain exemptions under Selective Service law. Under HB 558, enacted by the 76th Texas State Legislature, if you are currently of the age and gender requiring registration with Selective Service, but knowingly and willfully fail to do so, you are ineligible for employment with an agency in any branch of Texas state government. For additional information regarding registration or status, you can contact the Selective Service System at 847-688-6888 or www.sss.gov.

About Us

TWU is the nation's largest university system focused on women and a federally recognized Hispanic-Serving Institution. TWU is situated approximately 30 miles north of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and is home to approximately 16,433 graduate and undergraduate students across three campuses; Denton, Dallas, and Houston respectively. This diverse academic student community is guided by faculty committed to excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. TWU is ranked among the nation's top ethnically diverse institutions according to U.S. News & World Report (2022).

Additional information about the University is available at http://www.twu.edu