Assistant Professor - Occupational Therapy

The University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas Medical Branch is seeking a full‑time Program Director for its Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program. The role involves leadership in accreditation, curriculum development, and student mentorship. Candidates must have a doctoral degree, over 8 years of OT experience, and strong administrative skills.

This position requires collaboration in managing educational standards, overseeing student progression, and fulfilling academic responsibilities while fostering faculty development.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of OT experience with at least 3 years in an academic role.
• Licensed or eligible for licensure as an OT in Texas.
• Demonstrated administrative and leadership ability.

Responsibilities

• Serve as institutional liaison to ACOTE and ensure compliance with standards.
• Lead evaluation of OTD curriculum and track program outcomes.
• Collaborate to ensure fieldwork and capstone experiences meet standards.

Skills

Accreditation Leadership

Curriculum Development

Teaching and Mentoring

Leadership and Administration

Strong Communication Skills

Compliance with ACOTE Standards

Education

Doctoral degree (OTD, PhD, DHSc, DrPH, DSc, or related)

Job description

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.

Preferred 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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

UTMB Health strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. As a Federal Contractor, UTMB Health takes affirmative action to hire and advance protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.