Director of Doctor of Ministry Program

Position Description The Director of the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) Program provides leadership for the vision, growth, administration, and academic quality of Talbot School of Theology’s DMin program. As an administrative faculty member, the Director is responsible for advancing Talbot’s mission by strengthening the program’s contribution to the preparation of Christian leaders for faithful and effective ministry. The Director oversees program operations, faculty and student support, curriculum development, accreditation and assessment processes, and budget management. A central responsibility of the position is the strategic expansion of the DMin program through the development of new initiatives, academic tracks, partnerships, and delivery models that increase enrollment, broaden the program’s reach, and enhance the student experience while maintaining academic excellence. Candidates must be willing to relocate in order to work in residence at Talbot’s campus in La Mirada, CA or Phoenix, AZ. Alignment with Theological Positions The person who fills this position must be someone who personally agrees with Biola’s Articles of Faith, Statement of Biblical Principles, and Eschatology Teaching Position. As such, this person may not speak against or act in a manner inconsistent with these positions during the course of their employment at Biola. Department Talbot School of Theology Educational Requirements Earned doctoral degree in theology, ministry, leadership, practical theology, or a related field; PhD or equivalent research doctorate preferred. Work Requirements Exempt (01), full-time - 40 hours per week, 12 months per year This position is based in La Mirada, CA or Phoenix, AZ. Availability for occasional evening or weekend work, as needed. Ability to travel as needed to support student recruitment, partnership development, and program initiatives. Essential Duties Strategic Leadership and Program Growth Provide overall leadership and direction for the DMin program, ensuring alignment with the mission and strategic priorities of Talbot School of Theology and Biola University. Develop and implement a multi-year strategy for significant program growth, including enrollment expansion, new program offerings, and increased market visibility. Assess ministry and higher education trends to identify opportunities for new DMin tracks, concentrations, and strategic partnerships. Lead efforts to strengthen recruitment and retention, working collaboratively with admissions, marketing, and school leadership. Evaluate and adapt the current cohort model to support growth objectives while providing greater flexibility for students. Oversee the development and implementation of marketing and promotional initiatives for the DMin program and its various tracks. Academic Leadership and Faculty Oversight Supervise the academic quality and effectiveness of the DMin program and its tracks. Serve as a dissertation supervisor/first reader for doctoral projects. Provide academic and professional advisement to DMin students. Recruit, evaluate, and oversee the hiring of track leaders, adjunct faculty, and doctoral project readers. Monitor faculty teaching assignments, course enrollments, and instructional effectiveness. Review and assess faculty teaching evaluations and implement appropriate follow-up and support. Convene and lead program and track-specific faculty meetings. Establish expectations and guidelines for doctoral project readers, including standards related to student progress and time-to-completion. Other duties as assigned. Accreditation, Assessment, and Curriculum Development Lead ongoing assessment and evaluation of the DMin program, curriculum, and academic tracks. Develop and assess new and existing courses to ensure the achievement of program learning outcomes and institutional goals. Evaluate program effectiveness through assessment data and other measures of student and program success. Prepare reports and documentation for school leadership, university administration, and accrediting agencies. Ensure compliance with accreditation standards and university policies related to doctoral education. Budget and Resource Management Manage the DMin program budget and oversee routine monthly and quarterly financial reporting. Develop annual budgets that support the strategic priorities and growth objectives of the program. Create multi-year financial plans that align resources with enrollment growth and program development goals. Exercise responsible stewardship of program resources while pursuing opportunities for sustainable expansion. Required Qualifications Earned doctoral degree in theology, ministry, leadership, practical theology, or a related field; PhD or equivalent research doctorate preferred. Minimum 5–7 years of progressive experience in theological education, academic administration, ministry leadership, or a related leadership role, preferably within higher education. Significant leadership and administrative experience in higher education, ministry, or nonprofit environments. Demonstrated leadership experience, including oversight of academic programs, faculty, adjunct instructors, or ministry teams. Commitment to the mission of Biola University and the integration of faith and learning. Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the mission of Talbot School of Theology. Evidence of a mature Christian faith and lifestyle consistent with Biola’s standards of conduct. Active involvement in a local church. Demonstrated success in strategic planning, program development, student recruitment, enrollment growth, and organizational growth. Ability to recruit, develop, supervise, and evaluate track leaders, adjunct faculty, doctoral project readers, and other program personnel. Experience supervising dissertations, doctoral projects, graduate research, or other terminal-degree capstone work. Experience providing academic advising, mentoring, and professional development to graduate and doctoral students. Experience directing or administering doctoral, cohort-based, or professional doctorate programs preferred. Experience with accreditation processes, assessment, or institutional reporting preferred. Significant ministry leadership experience in church, parachurch, denominational, or nonprofit contexts preferred. Demonstrated success in developing strategic partnerships, launching new academic initiatives, and expanding enrollment and program reach strongly preferred. Experience teaching in practical theology, ministry, leadership, or a related field, with the ability and willingness to teach graduate and doctoral courses, including online instruction. Demonstration of excellent teaching, leadership, and administrative skills. Evidence of strong leadership experience within an academic setting. Candidates must demonstrate commitment to excellence in teaching, evidence of scholarly activity, and potential to make significant contributions to their scholarly fields. Proven ability to lead complex academic programs and initiatives while maintaining attention to student success and program quality. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including professional presentation, reporting, and stakeholder communication. Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to build trust and influence faculty, students, ministry leaders, and external partners. Ability to collaborate effectively with academic leadership, faculty, staff, and ministry partners. Demonstrated ability to engage a diverse constituency and contribute to a collaborative, service-oriented environment. Demonstrated dependability, integrity, and accountability. Positive, approachable, and collegial, contributing to a strong team culture. Flexibility, adaptability, and a learning-oriented, teachable posture. Ability to travel as needed to support student recruitment, partnership development, and program initiatives. Talbot School of Theology is one of eight schools that comprise Biola University. As a part of the University, Talbot serves both graduate and undergraduate students. Biola University is a protestant evangelical Christian university in which faculty affirm personal faith in Jesus Christ, endorse a university statement of Christian faith and community values, and are committed to the integration of faith and learning. Candidates must be willing to support Biola’s mission and preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate a clear commitment to the integration of faith into their scholarship and teaching. See Biola's Theological Positions at www.biola.edu/about/theological-positions and Talbot's Statement on Men and Women at Talbot www.biola.edu/talbot/men-and-women . Applicants for this job must believe to be true all of the tenets contained in each of those documents. Biola is accredited by the Western Association of Schools Colleges (WASC) and is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). Talbot is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). Biola University and Talbot School of Theology do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic group identification, sex, age, or physical disability. However, as a private religious institution, the university reserves the right to exercise preference on the basis of religion in all of its employment practices. Salary range: $90,000 - $120,000* ($79,200 - $105,600 - AZ) *Pursuant to California pay transparency requirements, a salary range is provided for this position. Actual compensation will be determined based on qualifications, experience, education, skills, and other factors permitted by law. Salary ranges may vary depending on the employee's primary work location. Accordingly, the salary range posted for positions located in California may differ from the salary range applicable to positions located in Arizona or other states. Candidates will be informed of the salary range applicable to their work location during the recruitment process.