Program Director, Couple and Family Therapy Program

Program Director, Couple and Family Therapy Program

Samuel Merritt University’s College of Health Sciences invites applications for the inaugural Program Director of the Couple & Family Therapy (CFT) Program.

We seek a visionary and collaborative leader committed to advancing the University’s mission of preparing skilled, compassionate, and culturally responsive healthcare professionals.

• Provide visionary, mission-driven leadership for the development and continuous improvement of the CFT Program.
• Lead strategic planning, enrollment planning, and program evaluation to ensure sustainability and growth.
• Oversee faculty recruitment, hiring, onboarding, mentoring, and annual evaluations.
• Manage program operations, including budgets, scheduling, workload assignments, and physical/clinical resources.
• Ensure compliance with university policies, state regulatory standards, and COAMFTE accreditation requirements.
• Cultivate a collaborative, supportive, and inclusive program culture for faculty, staff, and students.

• Lead the design, implementation, assessment, and continuous enhancement of the CFT curriculum.
• Ensure that coursework, clinical training, and program outcomes align with professional competencies, accreditation standards, and best practices.
• Support and model innovative, evidence-informed teaching approaches, including interprofessional learning, digital tools, and active learning strategies.
• Oversee academic integrity, program assessment, student progression, and quality assurance processes.

• Develop and oversee clinical training pathways, including partnerships with community agencies and clinical supervisors.
• Ensure clinical placements meet COAMFTE standards and provide high-quality training experience.
• Support the recruitment, training, and evaluation of clinical supervisors and adjunct faculty.

• Represent the program on university committees, professional organizations, and accreditation bodies.
• Engage in outreach to build community partnerships, enhance clinical opportunities, and elevate the program’s visibility.
• Advocate program needs, priorities, and accomplishments at institutional and community levels.

• Doctoral degree from a COAMFTE-accredited program (required).
• Demonstrated administrative or leadership experience in higher education, preferably in a graduate program.
• Strong record of clinical practice, graduate-level teaching, and clinical training in Marriage & Family Therapy.
• Established scholarly record consistent with appointment at the rank of Associate Professor (3+ years) or Full Professor.
• Comprehensive knowledge of and experience with the COAMFTE accreditation process, including self-study preparation.
• Demonstrated excellence in communication, conflict resolution, team leadership, and stakeholder engagement.

• Effective leadership and strategic planning capabilities.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to inspire, mentor, and support faculty and students.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage budgets, resources, and personnel effectively.

Regular

United States of America (Exempt)

Full time

$119k to $127k annual

Individual compensation will ultimately be determined based on a variety of relevant factors including but not limited to qualifications, geographic location, and other relevant skills.