Program Director, Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program

Position Description

Fairleigh Dickinson University, in partnership with the national search firm Scott Healy & Associates, invites applications and nominations for an 11-month, tenure track Program Director, Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program to begin April-May 2022. Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Department of Occupational Therapy, located in Florham Park, New Jersey, seeks excellence through inclusiveness and invites members of underrepresented groups to apply. The Occupational Therapy Department is housed in the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences located in the heart of the U.S. pharmaceutical industry in Morris County, New Jersey. The Program Director 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 Program director will also spearhead the accreditation for the program, working with the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education to establish the parameters for accreditation and bring the school through this longitudinal process.

Responsibilities:

• 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 meeting accreditation requirements. 
• Collaborate with the appropriate committees, faculty members, and administrators in developing 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.
• Manage annual budget for the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program in coordination with the Dean of the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; and
• Teach within the OTD program (appointment at the rank of associate professor or above).

Qualifications

• A minimum of 8 years of documented experience in the field of occupational therapy. This experience must include: Clinical practice as an occupational therapist; administrative experience including, but not limited to, program planning and implementation, personnel management, evaluation, and budgeting; scholarship (e.g., scholarship of application, scholarship of teaching and learning); understanding of the role of the occupational therapy assistant; at least 3 years of experience in a full-time academic appointment with teaching responsibilities at the postbaccalaureate level.
• A doctoral degree awarded by an institution that is accredited by a regional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). The doctoral degree is not limited to a doctorate in occupational therapy.
• Must be licensed or eligible for licensure as an OT in the state of NJ.
• Record of accomplishment in scholarship, teaching and/or service eligible for academic appointment at the rank of associate or full professor. 
• 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. 
• Ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Excellent organizational skills. 
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with faculty. 
• Ability to develop and maintain effective and constructive collaborative relationships with faculty and administration in the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and throughout the University.
• Ability to work independently and as an effective team member.
• Employment is contingent upon a satisfactory background check.  Candidates for hire will be required to sign a waiver authorizing the background check and produce a Social Security Card.  
• The program director must be an initially certified occupational therapist who is licensed, otherwise regulated, or eligible to be licensed in New Jersey.

About The Institution

About 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.

About 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.

About 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.

Application Process

All correspondence relating to the position of Program Director, 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. Cover letter;
2. Updated CV; and
3. Contact information for three professional references.

Applications submitted by April 15, 2023 will receive priority consideration. This search will remain open until the position is filled.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status.  Fairleigh Dickinson University takes affirmative action in support of its policy to employ and advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.