Regular/Temporary
Regular
Employee Class
Instr Fac/TC and Coord Cmp
About the Job
Program Director and Head, Department Occupational Therapy Associate Professor / Professor with Tenure College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota (UMN) College of Pharmacy is seeking a bold, collaborative leader for the role of Program Director and Head, Department of Occupational Therapy (OT). The selected individual will lead a world class doctoral occupational therapy program within a dynamic department that blends nationally recognized expertise with resources from a very high research activity institution to innovatively study and teach occupational therapy. OT seeks a leader with a broad and progressive vision for the future of occupational therapy with strong knowledge of the profession, education of future occupational therapists, client services, and OT- related trends in healthcare. The successful candidate will be skilled in building strong interpersonal relationships, stimulating action-oriented collaborations, and connecting groups to form partnerships, including clinical practitioners, health systems, advocacy organizations, and community groups. They will have a track record of leadership, mentoring and empowering faculty to influence occupation therapy education, practice, and scholarship at both local and national levels. This is an exciting opportunity to build on strong institutional and individual faculty commitments to advance the profession of occupational therapy through practice, education, and research/scholarship. OT faculty individually and collectively have a legacy of an innovative curriculum, and recognized leadership in the profession. The Program has been a leader in hybrid education, delivering and studying hybrid educational strategies at the MOT and now the OTD degree for over 15 years. Faculty within the fully accredited OTD program value innovation, teamwork, and excellence in all its work . A long-standing spirit of collaboration between the College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota Health Science Schools, local health systems and Minnesota communities throughout the state provides an environment for rich partnerships seeking to create innovation in occupational therapy practice and education and influential scholarship and research. All of which aim to further the profession while improving the health of individuals throughout the state. Desired candidates will have evidence of strong leadership skills and scholarly record, including success in leading teams, garnering extramural funding, producing nationally recognized scholarly works, and a demonstrated ability to collaborate and educate. Summary of Position: The Program Director who will also serve as the Department Head is a full time faculty member in the College of Pharmacy. As the program director and department head, the individual will provide leadership and oversight of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program, and provide leadership and oversight of the Department of Occupational Therapy. General management and administrative responsibilities as program director and department head include curricular oversight, graduate student advising, program maintenance and development, collaboratively working to set the vision for the department and the program, to hold individual faculty and the collective faculty of the department accountable for the performance of furthering the University's and College of Pharmacy's programs of research, teaching, and service missions, perform the personnel and fiscal management functions necessary for the operation of the Department and represent the interests of the Department with the broader collegiate community. Together the Department Head and Program Director roles within this position description manage and administer the OTD program, including planning, evaluation, budgeting, selection of faculty and staff, maintenance of accreditation, and commitment to strategies for professional development. As a faculty member within the University system, responsibilities include teaching, research and professional/university services.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities: 50% Program Director of Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program
* Plan and Implement OTD curriculum Represent the Educational Program to the leadership in the College of Pharmacy and University Represent the Program regarding regional workforce needs. Coordinate with the Professional Education Division to plan the course offering schedule for each semester and summer sessions with input from faculty and staff.. support development of affiliation agreements with health care institutions to provide clinical education opportunities. Assign teaching responsibilities based on faculty-allocated effort for teaching. Asses program needs including physical environment, support services, personnel, support services, and community partners. * Manage Resources Negotiate educational program needs with the Sr Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Dean and other University. Make recommendations to the College Executive Associate Dean for Education related to academic policies of the OTD program. Work with recruitment/admissions and student services to ensure appropriate robust systems are in place for/to student recruitment including selection, evaluation, and advisement. academic advising and mentoring of pre-professional and professional-level students. support and promote student government, pre-professional and professional student occupational therapy clubs. advocate student rights and responsibilities including notification and implementation of student policies and procedures (e.g. academic progress). orient new students so they feel welcomed and understand program expectations. * Evaluate Program Oversee curriculum outcomes evaluation processes as written in the evaluation plan to monitor the effectiveness of the overall curriculum design and the effectiveness of the Program as a whole. Generate the Program's annual report and its representation to the Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Oversee institutional and professional accreditation activities and reports. Understand accreditation standards and expectations specific to the program and adhere to policies and procedures to meet or exceed such standards. In collaboration with the OT faculty, prepare the self-study. Oversee the preparation of materials and documentation required for accreditation of the OTD program by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) and adhere to policies and procedures to meet or exceed these standards. With Program faculty, establish and implement program objectives, and changes to the Program's curriculum. Assess the impact of changes on other Programs.
25% Department Head for Occupational Therapy
* Mission/Mission/Strategic Plan of Department and OTD Program Develop or refine the mission, vision and goals, and strategic plans for the OT Department and the OTD program that is consistent with that of the College and University. Maintain a current Departmental Strategic Plan including, minimally, its annual review. * Faculty Hiring, Oversight and Development Oversee the implementation of faculty policy and procedures. Work with the Dean and University to attain and maintain sufficient and appropriate faculty and faculty lines. Participate in the recruitment, selection, management, and evaluation of a team of outstanding faculty and other staff who are appropriately experienced in higher education and/or occupational therapy. Commit resources to strategies for professional development of faculty and staff in the department. Mentor junior faculty in a way that enables them to develop skills within their faculty role and advance their career in academia. Coordinate the Department's professional teaching within the College, including recommendation of personnel for specific courses, consistent with other faculty responsibilities as established in the faculty development plan. Work with faculty and leadership to coordinate committee assignments and/or serve as an ad hoc member of committees associated with the OTD program and department. Advocate faculty rights and responsibilities. * Manage Departmental Operations With approval of the Dean, appoint and delegate authority and/or responsibility to other faculty and administrative staff, who shall assume responsibility for various activities in the program and department. Fiscal Management: Develop departmental and program fiscal plans and approve non-salary expenditures, and allocate other resources. Preside over Departmental meetings, organize communication within the Department, and provide a communication link between individuals in the Department and administration. Oversee office processes including but not limited to ordering books, reimbursements,, and other office tasks as needed. * Represent the Department Externally Assist Dean, Department Heads, and Program Directors of the college in promoting interprofessional scholarly activities and learning opportunities in fulfillment of the mission of the University and its programs. Collaborate with the faculty, staff, and others within the College, University, and with community stakeholders and partners resulting in positive/constructive outcomes Lead and promote public engagement and research opportunities through regional partnerships and relationships. Work with departmental staff and as appropriate the Office of Communication to facilitate multi-modal program messaging (e.g., website, newsletters, videos, emails, etc.) that highlights the achievements of the program and department. Work with the dean, alumni affairs, the development office and the core event team to support student events, as well as alumni and donor initiatives/events.
25% Faculty contribute to the teaching, scholarship and service missions of the program, college and University. * Teach (10-15% effort): Teach in assigned core content areas within the curriculum including assigned Capstone advisees. Design and develop innovative curriculum experiences that contribute to the profession, academic community, the community-at-large, and society. Prepare education experiences for structures (instructional design) optimal learning of clinical/students including course goals and objectives, course materials, educational experiences, and assessments toward the achievement of stated program outcomes. Use effective and innovative technology enhanced learning strategies for optimal application in course delivery. * Scholarship/research (10-15% effort): Create and maintain an active line of research in an area of professional expertise. Present research findings at appropriate local, regional, and/or national/international professional meetings. Publish research findings and/or teaching innovations in refereed professional journals (premium placed on first or anchored authorship roles). Obtain financial support for personal scholarly topics and those of mentored students. Serve as primary investigator or co-investigator on funded grants and scholarship contracts. * Service (see program director and department head duties) * Model ethical and competent professional behaviors.
Working Conditions: The majority of the work in this position is performed in a hybrid office setting with the primary office on the Minneapolis campus.
Supervision: Supervises departmental staff members including departmental administrator, student workers, teaching specialists and lecturers. Supervises contract, tenure track/tenure, and adjunct faculty in the department
* The Employer retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications: Earned doctorate level degree (Ph.D. or equivalent). Expertise in Occupational Therapy as evidenced by: o Original certification by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and licensed for occupational therapy practice in Minnesota. o Eight years of experience in occupational therapy at least three years of which is in a full-time academic appointment with teaching responsibilities at the postsecondary level that includes teaching courses, conducting and managing learning experiences, evaluating student achievement, providing input into curriculum development, Eligible for tenure at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy. Demonstrated experience in, and an ongoing commitment to creating and maintaining working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming. Experience in policy and procedure formulation, and evaluation of program effectiveness. Knowledge of education and administration as well as current accreditation/certification procedures relevant to their program. Preferred Qualifications: Previous experience as an OT assistant program director or program director Demonstrated evidence of strong research and scholarly activity, and an understanding of clinical practice. Strong record of experience in administration, including financial and personnel management. A record of successful leadership and mentoring. Experience with online or hybrid teaching.
About the Department
The is consistently recognized as one of the best pharmacy schools in the nation (we are currently ranked #3 by U.S. News & World Report). Founded in 1892, our college is the only pharmacy school in Minnesota, with campuses in theTwin Cities and in Duluth. We improve health through innovative education, pioneering research, and interdisciplinary practice development that attends to the diverse needs of the people of Minnesota and the world. The University of Minnesota's program is the only public doctoral-level OT program in Minnesota and one of the oldest OT programs in the United States. Our graduates use a science-driven, evidence-based approach to help children and adults who have physical, cognitive, emotional, social or environmental impairments participate in activities that they value, achieve life goals, and live as meaningfully as possible. Occupational Therapy (OT) is one of many health-related programs in the Academic Health Sciences at the University of Minnesota (UMN). OT spans two University of Minnesota Twin Cities locations- Minneapolis and Rochester with its 14 faculty and 49 students located in both settings. Occupational Therapy is well established at the UMN and recently celebrated its 75th anniversary, now offering the OTD degree using hybrid course delivery to maximize student access and support the workforce needs of outstate Minnesota. Students engage in scaffolded learning where online synchronous and asynchronous instruction prepares them for high-fidelity experiential training that takes the form of faculty-supervised fieldworks, classroom-based labs, simulations, and performance-based assessment. Researchers find supportive partnerships across campus with institutional strengths in biomedical engineering, biomechanics, informatics, neurodiversity, health & wellness, elder health, primary care and more.
Benefits
Working at the University At the University of Minnesota, you'll find a flexible work environment and supportive colleagues who are interested in lifelong learning. We prioritize work-life balance, allowing you to invest in the future of your career and in your life outside of work. The University also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
- Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the
- Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
- Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
- University HSA contributions
- Disability and employer-paid life insurance
- Employee wellbeing program
- Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
- Financial counseling services
- Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
Please visit the for more information regarding benefits.
How To Apply
Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume. Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section. A complete application consists of the following:
- Curriculum Vitae;
- Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three professional references;
- A brief description of the applicant's philosophy of leadership and vision for the future of occupational therapy.
- A signed letter of interest addressing each minimum and preferred qualifications, relating personal qualifications to the responsibilities of the position;
For best consideration, applications must be received by September 27, 2023; however, the position will remain open until filled. For specific questions about this position, please contact the search committee chair, Dr. Donna Spannaus-Martin, at . To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-UOHR (8647).
Diversity
The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds. The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U:
Employment Requirements
Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.
About the U of M
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC) The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.
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