Program Director and Instructional Faculty in Occupational Therapy

Program Director and Instructional Faculty in Occupational Therapy - Department of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences

Temple University College of Public Health is seeking a dedicated, enthusiastic non-tenure track faculty member and Program Director for our Occupational Therapy educational program in our Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. This role is pivotal in ensuring compliance with ACOTE standards and maintaining the integrity of our program. The ideal candidate will hold a doctoral degree, have extensive clinical and administrative experience, and demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence. Emphasizing community-based practice, the Program Director will foster innovative partnerships with local organizations and agencies, enhancing experiential learning opportunities for students and addressing the needs of diverse populations.

The College of Public Health’s mission is to educate, innovate, and transform to bring about healthy, equitable, and thriving communities. We engage in interprofessional education, community and clinical practice, impactful research, and service learning, approaching our work with cultural humility as we advocate for positive change and prepare leaders to address the most pressing issues of our time. Social justice has always driven our efforts, and we understand that individual health outcomes are intricately tied to the larger systems we inhabit.

QUALIFICATIONS. The successful candidate will have a Doctoral degree, a current Pennsylvania Occupational Therapist license or eligibility for such a license, a minimum of eight years of clinical practice experience and at least three years of administrative experience in program planning, personnel management and budgeting, as well as proven expertise in teaching responsibilities and knowledge of occupational therapy curricular content.

THE DEPARTMENT AND PROGRAM. The Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (HRS) is unlike any other similar department in the country. Located on a single urban campus in Philadelphia, the department’s faculty provide instruction in 13 degree programs including clinical doctorates in athletic training (post- professional), occupational therapy (entry-level and post-professional), and physical therapy; a doctor of philosophy in neuromotor science; master of science degrees in athletic training, recreational therapy, and neuromotor science; and undergraduate degrees in health professions, health studies, recreational therapy, kinesiology, and exercise and sport science. HRS also works closely with disciplines in other departments including public health, nursing, social work, and communication sciences and disorders.

The department is at the forefront of developing innovative academics and research aimed at promoting overall health and well-being; preventing injury and disability; and helping those with illness, injuries, physical, psychological, intellectual, or cognitive disabilities lead full, satisfying, and meaningful lives.

The Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program offers entry-level and post-professional pathways. The Program Director will teach, oversee daily operations, and ensure compliance with ACOTE and institutional policies. Responsibilities include leading accreditation processes, annual reporting, and program assessments. The Director will collaborate with department administration on scheduling, graduation clearances, and course completion verification. They will advise on faculty assignments and staff hiring, serve as the primary contact for students, and engage in marketing and recruitment activities to enhance program visibility and foster community partnerships.

THE COLLEGE. Our CEPH-accredited College of Public Health embraces public health in all its disciplinary forms, fostering impactful teaching, scholarship, and interdisciplinary collaborations within and outside the college. The College consists of academic units in the public health disciplines, health professions, and the School of Social Work, enrolling approximately 4,200 students. We value differences among our faculty and believe that we can better serve and understand our communities through the diversity of our faculty.

The College seeks to empower emerging leaders, advance excellence in interprofessional teaching and applied practice, drive innovation in research, develop sustainable community partnerships, lead through diversity and inclusion, and engage our CPH community worldwide. We focus much of our work on social determinants of health and social justice with strengths in cancer, obesity, HIV, substance abuse, mental health conditions, mobility research, cognition and language, developmental disabilities, organ transplantation, and aging. College research is funded by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, major private foundations, and state and federal agencies. The College is staffed by a robust complement of seasoned professionals within our Offices of Communications and Marketing, Information Technology, Research Administration, and Academic Affairs. Temple’s Center for the Advancement of Teaching provides outstanding programs and one-on-one mentoring to instructors to promote and support excellent teaching.

THE UNIVERSITY. Temple University is an urban, research-intensive Carnegie R1 university located in historic and culturally rich Philadelphia, the nation’s 6th largest city. The city was ranked third by The New York Times as a world tourist destination. The National Science Foundation ranks Temple among the top 100 universities in the country for research expenditures. Temple is the 6th largest provider of professional education in the nation and includes Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, Podiatry, Law, and Dentistry, as well as research centers. It is also home to Fox Chase Cancer Center, one of the nation’s first National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers.

Applicants should email: a cover letter detailing their interest; curriculum vitae; a statement of teaching philosophy with specific attention to diversity, equity and inclusion; and the names and contact information of 5 references to Dr. Cynthia Abbott-Gaffney at . Dr. Abbott-Gaffney also is available should you have questions or wish to make a nomination. Application review begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled, with a projected faculty start date in Summer 2025.

Temple University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution. People of color, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Schedule: Full-time

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