Founding Program Director of Occupational Therapy

Founding Program Director of Occupational Therapy

ID

2025-1617

Job Locations

US-IL-Chicago

Category

Other

Position Type

Faculty

Overview

THE OPPORTUNITY

National Louis University is seeking a visionary leader responsible for establishing and maintaining high-quality Occupational Therapy program pathways aligned with market demand, accreditation standards, and institutional and college goals. Initial planning efforts will prioritize a Master's degree program, while also evaluating additional degree options to support long-term program growth and workforce needs.

National Louis University is embarking on an ambitious journey to build a cutting-edge healthcare professions portfolio, addressing critical healthcare disparities and the growing shortage of healthcare professionals. A key part of this mission is the launch of its Occupational Therapy Program (OTP), a priority area given the OT's vital role in providing accessible, high-quality patient care. NLU recognizes that Occupational Therapists are essential to addressing the complex needs of today's healthcare landscape. Their expertise in helping individuals regain independence, adapt to life changes, and engage meaningfully in daily activities positions them as key contributors to interdisciplinary care. With a growing demand for rehabilitative and community-based services, the OT profession plays a vital role in bridging gaps in care and advancing health equity, particularly in underserved communities.

NLU is seeking an enterprising and visionary leader to serve as the Founding Program Director for this program. This is an extraordinary opportunity to build a transformative program from the ground up, develop an innovative curriculum, form strategic clinical partnerships, and attract a diverse student body. If you are passionate about shaping healthcare education and want to create a program that will have a lasting impact, we invite you to join NLU in this inspiring mission.

The Founding Program Director will assume responsibility for the entirety of the developing Occupational Therapy (OT) program pathways. Duties include, but are not limited to, planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating the OT curriculum, policies, and procedures; working collaboratively with healthcare, school, and community partners to ensure ample and optimum clinical learning experiences for students; student advising and monitoring academic progress and retention throughout the program; participating in program- and university-level committees; and ensuring that accreditation standards are met at all times. The Program Director will also lead the efforts in hiring, training, mentoring, and evaluating a dynamic team of faculty dedicated to ensuring the success of their students.

This role involves comprehensive program oversight, including student recruitment, curriculum development, faculty evaluation, and strategic planning. The Founding Program Director will work closely with faculty, academic affairs, and other internal and community entities to ensure the program meets accreditation standards and prepares students for successful careers as certified Occupational Therapists. This position reports to the Provost and includes a dotted line to the Vice Provost of Academic Programs and Accreditation and collaborates with various departments to support student and program success.

Essential Responsibilities

Program Leadership :

Provide strategic direction, shaping the future of Occupational Therapy programs at NLU.

• Develop, manage and provide administrative oversight to the Occupational Therapy program(s).
• Lead programmatic accreditation, ensuring program(s) meet standards and maintain accreditation status.
• Oversee programmatic budget and resources.

Curriculum Development :

Continuous Programmatic Review and Analysis :

Student Recruitment and Support :

Faculty Management :

Interprofessional Collaboration :

Communication and Marketing :

Community Engagement :

Qualifications

Education and Certification :

Experience :

Clinical practice experience as an occupational therapist;

Skills and Abilities :

Commitment to Community and Service :

This is a full-time, 12-month faculty appointment and all applicants must be available to report in person at NLU's Chicago Campus.

NLU Inclusion Statement :

National Louis University is deeply committed to serving its community, advancing access and equity, and ensuring that all individuals are welcomed and valued. We are dedicated to fostering a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion remain at the core of who we are. These are more than just words to us : they are truly a way of life for the NLU community. We recognize that differences in abilities, age, ethnicity, gender (identity and expression), race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and background bring richness to our work environment. We affirm diverse perspectives, innovative contributions, and authentic presentations of self from every member within the NLU community. We believe inclusion is grounded in the actions we intentionally take each day. Our goal is to inspire and empower NLU employees and community members to cultivate an environment where we collectively focus on uplifting and advancing our institutional culture.

Compensation and Benefits

At National Louis University, we offer our employees an innovative environment to work together and inspire the ideas that will make an impact. As our external environment changes, our employees are provided the opportunities and tools needed to grow both personally and professionally to remain successful. NLU employees and dependents are offered a wide range of benefits, including but not limited to, Health Insurance benefits, Retirement benefits, Paid Time Off and Educational Opportunities. Additional information regarding full-time faculty benefits can be found here.

The salary for this position will range between $120,000 and $160,000 annually. Compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate. Offers are based on multiple factors permitted by law, including but not limited to : budgetary considerations, job-related knowledge / skills, experience, current / previous faculty rank, market considerations, tenure and standing with the university (applicable to current employees), and internal equity.

Application Instructions

Directions

To Apply :

Confidential review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position has been filled. Please submit a PDF version of your CV and a brief letter explaining your interest in and suitability for this position.

To apply online, go to https : / / theapplicantmanager.com / jobs?pos=su460

For more information or to offer recommendations or nominations :

Stephanie Rivas-Fowler

Senior Consultant

Summit Search Solutions, Inc.

Direct : 480-213-7078

srivasfowler@summitsearchsolutions.com