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Inside Higher Ed · 3 weeks ago

CCHS - Founding Program Director Occupational Therapy Associate/Full Professor – Tenure/Tenur...

Tuscaloosa, AL

Full-time

Onsite

Director/Executive

8+ years exp

The University of Alabama is seeking a Founding Program Director for its new Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program. This role involves building the program from the ground up, leading all aspects of program development, accreditation, operations, and strategic growth, with a strong focus on expanding access to high-quality occupational therapy in rural communities.

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Responsibilities

Establish and articulate the OTD program’s mission, goals, and strategic plan with a strong focus on areas of need in the state, including rural regions

Recruit, hire, mentor, and evaluate core and associated faculty and staff; foster a collaborative and innovative culture of excellence in teaching, practice, research, and service

Oversee budget planning and fiscal management; allocate resources to support academic quality and student success

Ensure effective internal and external communication with UA leadership, faculty, students, clinical partners, alumni, and community stakeholders

Direct supervisory responsibilities for faculty and staff in the unit

Oversee student recruitment, retention, and success efforts

Lead all activities to achieve and maintain ACOTE accreditation (self-study, assessment system, outcomes reporting, site-visit preparation, and continuous quality improvement)

Ensure ongoing compliance with ACOTE Standards and Required Elements, institutional policies, and applicable state regulations

Design and implement a competency-based OTD curriculum that integrates rural/community-based clinical education and interprofessional practice

Build and sustain a robust clinical education network, with emphasis on areas of need, including rural settings across Alabama

Implement program evaluation and outcomes assessment (student learning, licensure, graduation, employment) and use results for continuous improvement

Cultivate partnerships with healthcare systems, community clinics, and rural providers to support clinical placements, service-learning, and pathway initiatives

Support faculty and student scholarship and seek extramural funding where appropriate

Represent the program at state, regional, and national meetings; advance the visibility and reputation of UA’s OTD program

Qualification

Occupational Therapy LicenseDoctoral DegreeACOTE AccreditationProgram DevelopmentClinical PracticeAcademic AdministrationCurriculum DevelopmentGrant WritingTeam BuildingLeadership SkillsCommunication SkillsStrategic Thinking

Required

Initially certified occupational therapist with an active, unencumbered OT license in a U.S. jurisdiction and eligibility for Alabama licensure

Doctoral Degree from a US Department of Education recognized institution (OTD, PhD, or equivalent)

Minimum eight (8) years of OT experience that must include: Clinical practice, Academic administrative experience (e.g., program planning and implementation, personnel management, evaluation, and budgeting), Scholarship of application or teaching and learning, Understanding the role of the occupational therapy assistant

Four (4) years of experience as a faculty member with teaching responsibilities at the postbaccalaureate level

Qualifications commensurate with Associate or Full Professor (tenure-track/tenured or clinical track), or exceptional candidates at advanced Assistant Professor rank

Preferred

Sustained leadership in rural health, community-engaged practice, or service with rural populations (e.g., building rural clinical partnerships, rural pathway programs, or distributed clinical education)

Success leading teams through initial ACOTE accreditation or substantial accreditation milestones

Experience creating, launching, or scaling new academic programs (faculty hiring, facilities planning, simulation, technology infrastructure)

Documented professional development/education in educational theory and methodology, instructional design, student evaluation, and program/outcome assessment

Experience with program evaluation, curriculum development, and accreditation processes; working knowledge of ACOTE expectations and timelines

Evidence of interprofessional education/practice and collaborative partnerships with health systems and community organizations

Experience with grant writing, external funding, and/or practice-based research; familiarity with value-based and population-health models relevant to rural care

Active engagement in AOTA or related professional organizations

Mission-driven leadership

Strategic thinker who is organized, collaborative, and outcomes-oriented, with excellent communication skills

Relationship-builder who can galvanize clinical partners statewide to expand rural training sites and graduate a workforce responsive to Alabama's needs