Career Center

Program Director and Head, Department Occupational Therapy

Associate Professor / Professor with Tenure

College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota (UMN) College of Pharmacy is seeking a bold, collaborative leader for the role of Program Director and Head, Department of Occupational Therapy (OT).  The selected individual will lead a world class doctoral occupational therapy program within a dynamic department that blends nationally recognized expertise with resources from a very high research activity institution to innovatively study and teach occupational therapy. 

OT seeks a leader with a broad and progressive vision for the future of occupational therapy with strong knowledge of the profession, education of future occupational therapists, client services, and OT- related trends in healthcare. The successful candidate will be skilled in building strong interpersonal relationships, stimulating action-oriented collaborations, and connecting groups to form partnerships, including clinical practitioners, health systems, advocacy organizations, and community groups. They will have a track record of leadership, mentoring and empowering faculty to influence occupation therapy education, practice, and scholarship at both local and national levels.

This is an exciting opportunity to build on strong institutional and individual faculty commitments to advance the profession of occupational therapy through practice, education, and research/scholarship. OT faculty individually and collectively have a legacy of an innovative curriculum, and recognized leadership in the profession. The Program has been a leader in hybrid education, delivering and studying hybrid educational strategies at the MOT and now the OTD degree for over 15 years. Faculty within the fully accredited OTD program value innovation, teamwork, and excellence in all its work . 

A long-standing spirit of collaboration between the College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota Health Science Schools, local health systems and Minnesota communities throughout the state provides an environment for rich partnerships seeking to create innovation in occupational therapy practice and education and influential scholarship and research. All of which aim to further the profession while improving the health of individuals throughout the state.

Desired candidates will have evidence of strong leadership skills and scholarly record, including success in leading teams, garnering extramural funding, producing nationally recognized scholarly works, and a demonstrated ability to collaborate and educate.

Summary of Position:
The Program Director who will also serve as the Department Head is a full time faculty
member in the College of Pharmacy. As the program director and department head, the
individual will provide leadership and oversight of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Program, and provide leadership and oversight of the Department of Occupational
Therapy.

General management and administrative responsibilities as program director and
department head include curricular oversight, graduate student advising, program
maintenance and development, collaboratively working to set the vision for the
department and the program, to hold individual faculty and the collective faculty of the
department accountable for the performance of furthering the University's and College of
Pharmacy’s programs of research, teaching, and service missions, perform the personnel
and fiscal management functions necessary for the operation of the Department and
represent the interests of the Department with the broader collegiate community.

Together the Department Head and Program Director roles within this position description
manage and administer the OTD program, including planning, evaluation, budgeting,
selection of faculty and staff, maintenance of accreditation, and commitment to strategies
for professional development. As a faculty member within the University system,
responsibilities include teaching, research and professional/university services.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
50% Program Director of Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program

● Plan and Implement OTD curriculum
   â—‹ Represent the Educational Program to the leadership in the
College of Pharmacy and University
   â—‹ Represent the Program regarding regional workforce needs.
   â—‹ Coordinate with the Professional Education Division to
â–  plan the course offering schedule for each semester and
summer sessions with input from faculty and staff..
â–  support development of affiliation agreements with health
care institutions to provide clinical education opportunities.
   â—‹ Assign teaching responsibilities based on faculty-allocated effort
for teaching.
   â—‹ Asses program needs including physical environment, support
services, personnel, support services, and community partners.
● Manage Resources
    â—‹ Negotiate educational program needs with the Sr Associate Dean
for Academic Affairs, the Dean and other University. Make
recommendations to the College Executive Associate Dean for
Education related to academic policies of the OTD program.
   â—‹ Work with recruitment/admissions and student services to ensure
appropriate robust systems are in place for/to
â–  student recruitment including selection, evaluation, and
advisement.
â–  academic advising and mentoring of preâprofessional and
professionalâlevel students.
â–  support and promote student government,
preâprofessional and professional student occupational
therapy clubs.
â–  advocate student rights and responsibilities including
notification and implementation of student policies and
procedures (e.g. academic progress).
â–  orient new students so they feel welcomed and understand
program expectations.
● Evaluate Program
   â—‹ Oversee curriculum outcomes evaluation processes as written in
the evaluation plan to monitor the effectiveness of the overall
curriculum design and the effectiveness of the Program as a
whole. Generate the Program’s annual report and its
representation to the Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
   â—‹ Oversee institutional and professional accreditation activities and
reports.
â–  Understand accreditation standards and expectations
specific to the program and adhere to policies and
procedures to meet or exceed such standards. In
collaboration with the OT faculty, prepare the self-study.
â–  Oversee the preparation of materials and documentation
required for accreditation of the OTD program by the
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
(ACOTE) and adhere to policies and procedures to meet or
exceed these standards.
   â—‹ With Program faculty, establish and implement program
objectives, and changes to the Program’s curriculum. Assess the
impact of changes on other Programs.

25% Department Head for Occupational Therapy

● Mission/Mission/Strategic Plan of Department and OTD Program
   â—‹ Develop or refine the mission, vision and goals, and strategic plans
for the OT Department and the OTD program that is consistent
with that of the College and University.
   â—‹ Maintain a current Departmental Strategic Plan including,
minimally, its annual review.
● Faculty Hiring, Oversight and Development
   â—‹ Oversee the implementation of faculty policy and procedures.
   â—‹ Work with the Dean and University to attain and maintain
sufficient and appropriate faculty and faculty lines.
   â—‹ Participate in the recruitment, selection, management, and
evaluation of a team of outstanding faculty and other staff who
are appropriately experienced in higher education and/or
occupational therapy.
   â—‹ Commit resources to strategies for professional development of
faculty and staff in the department.
   â—‹ Mentor junior faculty in a way that enables them to develop skills
within their faculty role and advance their career in academia.
   â—‹ Coordinate the Department’s professional teaching within the
College, including recommendation of personnel for specific
courses, consistent with other faculty responsibilities as
established in the faculty development plan.
   â—‹ Work with faculty and leadership to coordinate committee
assignments and/or serve as an ad hoc member of committees
associated with the OTD program and department.
   â—‹ Advocate faculty rights and responsibilities.
● Manage Departmental Operations
   â—‹ With approval of the Dean, appoint and delegate authority and/or
responsibility to other faculty and administrative staff, who shall
assume responsibility for various activities in the program and
department.
   â—‹ Fiscal Management: Develop departmental and program fiscal
plans and approve nonâsalary expenditures, and allocate other
resources.
   â—‹ Preside over Departmental meetings, organize communication
within the Department, and provide a communication link
between individuals in the Department and administration.
   â—‹ Oversee office processes including but not limited to ordering
books, reimbursements,, and other office tasks as needed.
● Represent the Department Externally
   â—‹ Assist Dean, Department Heads, and Program Directors of the
college in promoting interprofessional scholarly activities and
learning opportunities in fulfillment of the mission of the
University and its programs.
   â—‹ Collaborate with the faculty, staff, and others within the College,
University, and with community stakeholders and partners
resulting in positive/constructive outcomes
   â—‹ Lead and promote public engagement and research opportunities
through regional partnerships and relationships.
   â—‹ Work with departmental staff and as appropriate the Office of
Communication to facilitate multi-modal program messaging (e.g.,
website, newsletters, videos, emails, etc.) that highlights the
achievements of the program and department.
   â—‹ Work with the dean, alumni affairs, the development office and
the core event team to support student events, as well as alumni
and donor initiatives/events.

25% Faculty contribute to the teaching, scholarship and service missions of the
program, college and University.

● Teach (10-15% effort):

Teach in assigned core content areas within the
curriculum including assigned Capstone advisees. Design and develop
innovative curriculum experiences that contribute to the profession,
academic community, the communityâatâlarge, and society. Prepare
education experiences for structures (instructional design) optimal
learning of clinical/students including course goals and objectives, course
materials, educational experiences, and assessments toward the
achievement of stated program outcomes. Use effective and innovative
technology enhanced learning strategies for optimal application in course
delivery.

● Scholarship/research (10-15% effort):

Create and maintain an active line
of research in an area of professional expertise. Present research
findings at appropriate local, regional, and/or national/international
professional meetings. Publish research findings and/or teaching
innovations in refereed professional journals (premium placed on first or
anchored authorship roles). Obtain financial support for personal
scholarly topics and those of mentored students. Serve as primary
investigator or coâinvestigator on funded grants and scholarship
contracts.
● Service (see program director and department head duties)
● Model ethical and competent professional behaviors.

Working Conditions:
The majority of the work in this position is performed in a hybrid office setting with the
primary office on the Minneapolis campus.

Supervision:
Supervises departmental staff members including departmental administrator, student
workers, teaching specialists and lecturers.
Supervises contract, tenure track/tenure, and adjunct faculty in the department

* The Employer retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

Required Qualifications:
Earned doctorate level degree (Ph.D. or equivalent).

Expertise in Occupational Therapy as evidenced by:
   o Original certification by the National Board for Certification in Occupational
Therapy (NBCOT) and licensed for occupational therapy practice in
Minnesota.
   o Eight years of experience in occupational therapy at least three years of
which is in a fullâtime academic appointment with teaching responsibilities
at the postsecondary level that includes teaching courses, conducting and
managing learning experiences, evaluating student achievement, providing
input into curriculum development,

Eligible for tenure at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor in the Department of
Occupational Therapy.

Demonstrated experience in, and an ongoing commitment to creating and maintaining
working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.
Experience in policy and procedure formulation, and evaluation of program effectiveness.

Knowledge of education and administration as well as current accreditation/certification
procedures relevant to their program.

Preferred Qualifications:
Previous experience as an OT assistant program director or program director

Demonstrated evidence of strong research and scholarly activity, and an understanding of
clinical practice.

Strong record of experience in administration, including financial and personnel
management.

A record of successful leadership and mentoring.

Experience with online or hybrid teaching.

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

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