Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and Professor of Occupational Therapy (OT)

Job Description:

Department: Occupational Therapy
Position Title: Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and Professor of Occupational Therapy
Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Salary: Starting at $70,304 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience

Pacific Oaks College is seeking an Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and Professor of OT for its Pasadena, California campus.

About Pacific Oaks College and Children's School

Pacific Oaks College and Children's School, located in Pasadena, California, is a nonprofit institution rooted in Quaker values and a strong social justice heritage. The College offers bachelor’s, master’s, a doctorate, and certificate programs in education, human development, counseling, and related fields, while the Children’s School is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in anti-bias education, emergent curriculum, and peaceful conflict resolution. Together, they foster inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments that honor the unique potential of every individual. Employees join a mission-driven community committed to respect, diversity, social justice, and lifelong learning.

About the Position

The Occupational Therapy Department is preparing to launch its Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program, marking an exciting phase of growth and innovation. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the development and implementation of a new doctoral-level curriculum, support program design and accreditation efforts, and help shape a high-quality, student-centered educational experience aligned with evolving professional standards.

Reporting to the OTD Program Director, this role involves teaching 12 credits annually, focusing on fieldwork and areas of professional expertise. While the position offers a hybrid schedule, regular on-site presence is required for labs, faculty-led fieldwork, accreditation activities, and administrative events.

Responsibilities

• Fieldwork Leadership & Compliance: Lead and oversee all Level I and Level II fieldwork education activities, ensuring strict compliance with ACOTE accreditation standards and seamless alignment with the OTD curriculum.

• Partnership Development: Develop and maintain strong partnerships with healthcare and community organizations, including establishing and managing formal fieldwork affiliation agreements to ensure student placement capacity.

• Experiential Learning Coordination: Coordinate high-quality fieldwork placements and experiential learning opportunities that directly support student success and clinical professional development.

• Curriculum Delivery: Teach fieldwork-related and specialty occupational therapy courses (12 semester credits annually) using innovative, student-centered instructional approaches in both on-campus and online environments.

• Student Advising & Mentorship: Advise and mentor OTD students regarding academic progress, professional conduct, fieldwork preparation, and the development of their doctoral capstones.

• Program Growth & Accreditation: Collaborate with the Program Director of OTD and faculty to support curriculum development, program learning outcome assessments, and essential accreditation activities for the new program launch.

• Scholarship & Professional Service: Engage in scholarship and professional service through research, publication, active involvement in professional associations (AOTA/OTAC), and participation in university-wide committee initiatives.

Note: While this list captures the core focus of the position, we look forward to sharing the full scope of responsibilities with finalists during our interview stages.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Doctoral degree (e.g., OTD, DrOT, EdD, PhD) from a USDE-accredited institution and an entry-level degree from an accredited OT program.

• Licensure & Certification: Initial NBCOT certification and a valid California Occupational Therapist license by start date.

• Clinical Experience: Minimum of two (2) years post-licensure clinical experience as an occupational therapist.

• Academic Experience: Prior teaching experience at the postsecondary level and experience as a fieldwork educator (or documented training in the role).

• Professional Engagement: Active membership in relevant state and national professional organizations (e.g., OTAC, AOTA).

Preferred Qualifications

• Specialized Training: AOTA Fieldwork Educator Certificate and experience supervising both Level I and Level II OT students.<