Founding Program Director of Occupational Therapy

Overview

THE OPPORTUNITY

 

National Louis University is seeking a visionary leader responsible for establishing and maintaining high-quality Occupational Therapy program pathways aligned with market demand, accreditation standards, and institutional and college goals. Initial planning efforts will prioritize a Master’s degree program, while also evaluating additional degree options to support long-term program growth and workforce needs.

 

National Louis University is embarking on an ambitious journey to build a cutting-edge healthcare professions portfolio, addressing critical healthcare disparities and the growing shortage of healthcare professionals. A key part of this mission is the launch of its Occupational Therapy Program (OTP), a priority area given the OT’s vital role in providing accessible, high-quality patient care. NLU recognizes that Occupational Therapists are essential to addressing the complex needs of today’s healthcare landscape. Their expertise in helping individuals regain independence, adapt to life changes, and engage meaningfully in daily activities positions them as key contributors to interdisciplinary care. With a growing demand for rehabilitative and community-based services, the OT profession plays a vital role in bridging gaps in care and advancing health equity, particularly in underserved communities.

 

NLU is seeking an enterprising and visionary leader to serve as the Founding Program Director for this program. This is an extraordinary opportunity to build a transformative program from the ground up, develop an innovative curriculum, form strategic clinical partnerships, and attract a diverse student body. If you are passionate about shaping healthcare education and want to create a program that will have a lasting impact, we invite you to join NLU in this inspiring mission.

 

The Founding Program Director will assume responsibility for the entirety of the developing Occupational Therapy (OT) program pathways. Duties include, but are not limited to, planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating the OT curriculum, policies, and procedures; working collaboratively with healthcare, school, and community partners to ensure ample and optimum clinical learning experiences for students; student advising and monitoring academic progress and retention throughout the program; participating in program- and university-level committees; and ensuring that accreditation standards are met at all times. The Program Director will also lead the efforts in hiring, training, mentoring, and evaluating a dynamic team of faculty dedicated to ensuring the success of their students.

 

This role involves comprehensive program oversight, including student recruitment, curriculum development, faculty evaluation, and strategic planning. The Founding Program Director will work closely with faculty, academic affairs, and other internal and community entities to ensure the program meets accreditation standards and prepares students for successful careers as certified Occupational Therapists. This position reports to the Provost and includes a dotted line to the Vice Provost of Academic Programs and Accreditation and collaborates with various departments to support student and program success.

Essential Responsibilities

Program Leadership:

• Provide strategic direction, shaping the future of Occupational Therapy programs at NLU.
• Develop, manage and provide administrative oversight to the Occupational Therapy program(s).
• Lead programmatic accreditation, ensuring program(s) meet standards and maintain accreditation status.
• Oversee programmatic budget and resources.

Curriculum Development:

• Design and manage program curriculum, creating cohesion across mission, goals, and learning outcomes.
• Develop clinical site partnerships, policies, and procedures.

Continuous Programmatic Review and Analysis:

• Lead academic quality and program evaluation efforts, including using formative and summative assessments to analyze student and program outcomes data, informing continuous improvement of the program.
• Prepare accreditation self-study and annual internal program evaluation reports.

Student Recruitment and Support:

• Collaborate with enrollment team and develop externship partnerships to recruit academically prepared students.
• Develop programmatic efforts and provide direct support to prepare students for a rigorous graduate program and certification exam.

Faculty Management:

• Recruit, hire, supervise and evaluate program faculty.
• Mentor faculty and commit to strategies for professional development.
• Foster a collaborat