Program Director, Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program

Program Director, Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program

Fairleigh Dickinson University, in partnership with the national search firm Scott Healy & Associates, invites applications and nominations for the full-time Program Director of the Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program.  The Program Director of the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program will work alongside University administration, including the Dean of the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and other members of the School leadership team, to develop and launch the newly established program in occupational therapy.  The director will also spearhead the accreditation for the program, working with Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) to establish the parameters for accreditation and bring the school through this longitudinal process.  This position includes responsibility for program administration, building a faculty and administrative team and teaching within the OTD program.  The position is a tenure-track, 11-month appointment at the rank of associate professor or above.

The Program Director will be responsible to:

• Lead the effort to implement the OTD program, building a program that addresses the current and emerging role of occupational therapy as an expanding discipline;
• Plan and establish strategic goals and milestones for the program and oversee daily operations;
• Manage the curriculum for the program, assuring the program is both relevant and attractive to potential students, partners and employers;
• Develop a plan for the recruitment and retention of faculty, students and partners within the program to assure its long-term success and sustainability;
• Manage the ongoing process of accreditation with the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), including developing a timeline and plan for accreditation, initiating contact and communication with the accrediting body, developing a rapport with the commission and managing the overall accreditation process;
• Support tracking of individual student performance data in meetingaccreditation requirements;
• Collaborate with the appropriate committees, faculty members, and administrators indeveloping coursework, experiential learning, assessment of student outcomes and identifying strategies for continuous quality improvement; 
• Cultivate and maintain strong contacts with the community, local and national corporations, health care systems, school systems and professional associations to develop a strong network of occupational therapy practice sites;
• Teach within the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program.

The ideal candidate should have/be:

• An earned Doctoral Degree in Occupational Therapy or related field (PhD, ScD, EdD, etc.) is required;
• A credentialed and licensed Occupational Therapist with eligibility in New Jersey and minimum of 8 years of experience in the field of occupational therapy;
• Demonstrated record of excellent teaching and scholarship;
• Demonstrated aptitude in the ACOTE accreditation procedures;
• Five or more years' progressive levels of leadership, responsibility and expertise in teaching, preferably in higher education;
• At least 3 years of full-time teaching experience in a post-baccalaureate or graduate program with ACOTE accreditation;
• Administrative experience including, but not limited to, program planning and implementation, personnel management, evaluation, and budgeting;
• Evidence of leadership and innovation within the field of occupational therapy or a closely aligned discipline.
• Experience with the occupational therapy accreditation process, including a familiarity with the self-study process, submission guidelines and timelines for accreditation.
• Academic experience with skills and experience with instructional design and course development.

Fairleigh Dickinson University:

The largest private university in New Jersey, FDU is a not-for-profit, nonsectarian, multicampus institution. Founded in 1942, FDU achieved four-year status in 1948 and approval as a university in 1956.  The University offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including doctoral programs in pharmacy, nursing practice, clinical psychology and school psychology; and an AACSB-accredited business school. Degree programs are offered on two New Jersey campuses and at two FDU locations outside the U.S.: Wroxton College, in Oxfordshire in England, and the Vancouver Campus, in British Columbia, Canada.

FDU's 11,500 full- and part-time students pursue quality career-oriented programs on schedules tailored to their needs -- days, evenings and weekends.  The curriculum reflects a mission of global education and a foundation of a world-renowned University Core.

The Fairleigh Dickinson University School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences:

The mission of FDU’s School of Pharmacy & Health Sciences is to create a values-based, student-centered learning experience that prepares graduates who are committed to improving the health of individuals and populations through leadership roles in pharmacy practice, healthcare research and related healthcare fields.

The Community:

In Madison, NJ, the Florham Campus is a friendly small-college environment on picturesque grounds near historic Morristown. The campus is dedicated to giving students an exceptional learning experience, including residential and honors programs.

Applications:

All correspondence relating to the position of Program Director of the Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program at Fairleigh Dickinson University should be directed in confidence to the University’s executive recruitment consultant:

Mr. Christopher S. Healy, Vice President

Scott Healy & Associates

chris@scotthealy.com

The full and complete application should contain the following information:

1. A cover letter outlining your experience as an occupational therapist in higher education.  Special attention will be paid to those applicants who have started, developed, and/or expanded a Masters or Doctoral program for OT.
2. A complete CV outlining your career in higher education and within health-related areas. 
3. The names of three professional references including their relationship to you, their position, email, and direct phone numbers.  References will not be contacted without written permission.

Applications submitted by May 13, 2019, will receive priority consideration. This search will remain open until the position is filled.