Program Director Jobs in Wheat Ridge, CO (NOW HIRING)

Position Title: Director, Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program — Assistant/Associate Professor
Number of openings: 1
Department/Program: Academic Affairs 41000
Work Location: Remote/Hybrid
Campus Location: Arapahoe Campus
Reports to: Dean of the Graduate School
FLSA Classification: Exempt/Salaried
FTE: 100% (40 hrs/week)
Compensation: $70,000 - $80,000 depending on experience

Application Deadline: 6/1 or until filled

Job Summary

Naropa University seeks a full-time Director to lead the online Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program. The Director provides academic, strategic, and operational leadership for a contemplatively grounded graduate program that prepares ethical, inclusive public service leaders for government, nonprofit sectors and cooperative management. This role combines program administration, curriculum oversight, faculty leadership, assessment, and teaching. The successful candidate will advance Naropa’s mission to create a more just and regenerative world by integrating mindfulness-based leadership, social equity, and evidence-informed decision-making across the MPA curriculum.

Job Duties & Responsibilities
• Provide overall leadership and management of the MPA program, including vision, planning, operations, and quality assurance.
• Lead curriculum design and continuous improvement to ensure ongoing alignment with NASPAA Universal Competencies and Naropa’s contemplative pedagogy.
• Oversee program assessment, including student learning outcomes, course evaluations, and annual effectiveness reporting.
• Coordinate admissions, recruitment, and retention strategies in partnership with Admissions, Marketing, and Student Success teams.
• Recruit, supervise, mentor, and evaluate adjunct/part-time faculty; facilitate faculty development in online teaching and contemplative pedagogy.
• Manage program budget, scheduling, and resources; ensure timely collaboration with Academic Affairs, Registrar, and other university offices.
• Teach graduate courses (standard load is reduced to 6–9 credits per year to account for administrative release time involved in program leadership and launch) in areas such as organizational management, leadership, policy analysis, budgeting/public finance, data and evidence-based decision-making, and capstone supervision.
• Ensure high-quality online delivery in Canvas; promote best practices for accessibility, inclusive design, and student engagement.
• Cultivate partnerships with public agencies and nonprofits to support internships, capstone projects, and community-engaged learning.
• Support dual BA–MPA pathway coordination with undergraduate programs (e.g., Political/Justice Studies), including advising and course sequencing.
• Maintain an active agenda of scholarship, applied research, or professional practice in public administration or related fields.
• Advance JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) commitments through curriculum, mentorship, hiring practices, and community engagement.
• Hold regular office hours; advise students on degree progress, professional development, internships, and capstone work.
• Prepare course syllabi and materials; uphold copyright and academic integrity standards.
• Participate in university committees and initiatives; represent the MPA program internally and externally.
• Stay current with developments in public administration, online education, and contemplative pedagogy; pursue relevant professional development.

Required Qualifications:

• Doctorate (e.g., DPA, PhD) in Public Administration, Public Policy, Political Science, or closely related discipline; or equivalent combination of advanced degree (MPA) and substantial professional leadership experience in public sector/nonprofit administration.
• Three years of experience with teaching online courses, using multiple learning modalities.
• Evidence of successful graduate-level teaching, preferably in online/asynchronous formats.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and utilize student learning assessment data (KPIs) to drive curricular improvement.
• Record of scholarship in Public Administration or closely related disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience in academic or program leadership (e.g., chair, director, coordinator) including curriculum development, assessment, budgeting, and faculty supervision.
• Commitment to contemplative pedagogy, mindfulness-based leadership, social equity, and ethical public service consistent with Naropa’s mission.
• Strong multicultural competency and experience working effectively with diverse communities and stakeholders.
• Proficiency with learning management systems (Canvas preferred) and contemporary online teaching tools and practices.
• All job candidates must demonstrate an appropriate level of understanding of and appreciation for the values of Naropa University and the capacity to demonstrate an integration and embodiment of these values as evidenced in work, communication, collaboration styles, and other general workplace behaviors.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with NASPAA standards, accreditation processes, and/or external program evaluation.
• Applied experience in government or nonprofit leadership, budgeting and public finance, policy analysis, data/evidence-based decision-making, and performance management.
• Experience creating, scaling, and assessing online graduate programs; Quality Matters or similar training a plus.
• Grant writing, fundraising, or partnership development experience.
• Bilingual or multilingual capabilities.

Physical Requirements & Environmental Conditions

During regular daily activities, employee must be able to do the following with or without reasonable accommodations: stand, sit, and interruptions/distractions

Naropa recognizes the following holidays throughout the year: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Fall Break, 4th Thursday and Friday in November, and Winter Break, the last two weeks in December encompassing the Christmas holiday as well as New Year’s.

Naropa’s health and welfare benefits include the following: medical, dental, vision, FSA, HSA, employer-paid short-term and long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment, an employer-sponsored pre-tax retirement savings plan, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching, and a variety of voluntary, employee-paid supplemental insurance plans.

A comprehensive benefits package is available to full-time employees who work a minimum of 30 hours each week. Employees who work 20 – 29 hours each week are eligible for only the employer-paid short-term & long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance & accidental death and dismemberment, and the retirement plan, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching.

Employees who work fewer than 20 hours per week are eligible to participate in Naropa’s retirement plan only, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching.

All regular full-time and part-time faculty and staff, including student workers, accrue sick leave benefits. Full-time and part-time staff positions accrue vacation and personal time. All leave accrual rates vary based on the position, hours worked, and years of service.

The University recognizes the importance of including its employees in its organizational mission and values and welcomes employees into the classroom to “touch the magic.” Specifically, regular employees are provided generous tuition remission opportunities for themselves and their family members.

Naropa University participates in the Council of Independent Colleges Tuition Exchange Program (CIC-TEP). CIC-TEP is a network of CIC colleges and universities willing to accept, tuition-free, students from families of full-time employees of other CIC participating institutions (full-time as designated by the employer/institution). Additional information can be found here: https://www.cic.edu/member-services/tuition-exchange-program.

Naropa University is an equal opportunity, non-discriminatory employer and Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits gender discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual and relationship violence. This law applies to all students, faculty, and staff.