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 requirements and institutional and college goals, beginning with the launch of a Master’s degree program.

 

The Founding Program Director will assume the 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 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 collaborative academic environment and student-centered approach.

Interprofessional Collaboration:

• Facilitate collaboration with other departments and external healthcare, school, and community entities.
• Promote interprofessional education to foster cross-disciplinary perspectives and service delivery.

Communication and Marketing:

• Ensure effective day-to-day communication within the program and across the University.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Admissions to enhance the program's visibility and attract prospective students.

Community Engagement:

• Build partnerships across healthcare, school, and community entities and within the University to further program mission and goals.

Qualifications

Education and Certification:

• Doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy or a related field awarded by an accredited institution required
• Degree awarded in Occupational Therapy from an ACOTE accredited program required
• Certification as an Occupational Therapist from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, with current license or eligibility to be licensed in Illinois required

Experience:

• Minimum of eight (8) years of professional experience in the field of Occupational Therapy, including:
  • Clinical practice experience as an occupational therapist;
  • Administrative experience including, but not limited to, program