Assistant Professor - Occupational Therapy

About the role

Institution: UT Medical Branch at Galveston

JOB DESCRIPTION: 
The Department of Occupational Therapy at UTMB invites applications for a full-time Program Director at the Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor rank within its residential entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program. We seek an accomplished leader who combines administrative excellence, accreditation expertise, and a commitment to preparing the next generation of occupational therapy practitioners.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Accreditation Leadership: Serve as the primary institutional liaison to ACOTE; maintain continuous compliance with all standards; direct self-study reports, annual reports, and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) processes.
• Curriculum & Program Outcomes: Lead ongoing evaluation and refinement of the OTD curriculum; track and optimize program outcomes including NBCOT pass rates, graduation rates, employment rates, retention, and time-to-completion.
• Clinical Education & Capstone: Collaborate with the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator (AFWC) and Doctoral Capstone Coordinator (DCC) to ensure all fieldwork and capstone experiences meet ACOTE educational standards.
• Student Progression: Oversee student academic progression, advising, and mentorship; manage professional behavioral concerns and programmatic grievances per institutional policy.
• Operations & Strategic Planning: Direct day-to-day program operations and long-term strategic planning; ensure all program policies and public-facing materials remain accurate and compliant.
• Teaching & Scholarship: Teach and advise students in the OTD curriculum; mentor capstone and scholarly projects; engage in scholarship and professional service consistent with rank.
• Faculty Development: Recruit, mentor, and evaluate faculty; foster a collaborative culture supporting teaching excellence and professional growth.
• Service: Participate in departmental, school, university, and professional committees; represent the program at professional conferences and community events.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum qualifications for Occupational Therapy Program Director, as defined by ACOTE.
• Doctoral degree (OTD, PhD, DHSc, DrPH, DSc, or related)
• Licensed or eligible for licensure as an OT in Texas
• Minimum 8 years of OT experience, including at least 3 years in a full-time academic appointment with teaching responsibilities at the post-baccalaureate level
• Demonstrated administrative and leadership ability
• Knowledge of and experience with ACOTE accreditation standards and processes
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and collaborative skills

PERFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Prior experience as a Program Director or academic leadership role in an ACOTE-accredited program

• Expertise in one or more areas: Adult Rehabilitation, Neurologic Rehabilitation, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Mental Health, Geriatrics, Pediatrics, 

  Lifespan Development, Movement Science, Research Methods, or OT Theory & Foundations

• Experience with curriculum development, instructional design, or hybrid/online education
• Record of scholarly activity, professional engagement, and service to the profession
• Experience with program assessment, outcomes measurement, and CQI

SALARY:
Commensurate with experience.