Program Director, Occupational Therapy Program

Beloit College•Beloit, WI

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Beloit College invites applications for a founding Program Director for its new Master of Occupational Therapy (OTM) program. This is an opportunity to build a program from the ground up at a nationally recognized liberal arts institution committed to intellectual curiosity, interdisciplinary thinking, and education that connects knowledge to real-world impact. The founding director will have significant latitude to shape the program's identity, curriculum, and culture in alignment with Beloit's distinctive liberal arts mission. The role will also require substantial entrepreneurial and foundational effort to stand up the program successfully and help pave the way for future graduate and professional programs at Beloit. About Beloit College Beloit College is a selective liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin, known for its commitment to experiential learning, global engagement, and producing graduates who think across disciplines. Beloit College was ranked #18 for most innovative schools by US News and World Report in 2026. The School of Health Sciences, the site of our career-focused and liberal arts-centered health professions preparation, reflects these values, preparing students to become health professionals who are not only clinically excellent but broadly educated and community-minded. An OTM program at Beloit offers the opportunity to reimagine occupational therapy education through a liberal arts lens. Position Summary The Program Director will report to the Director of the School of Health Sciences and will hold an appointment with responsibilities in both program administration and teaching. The Program Director will lead all aspects of program development and launch, including curriculum design, faculty recruitment, clinical partnership development, and ACOTE accreditation. The successful candidate will bring a clear vision for developing a strong occupational therapy education in the context of the liberal arts and the leadership skills to bring that vision to life within a collaborative, student-centered academic community. The successful candidate will, once the program is accredited by ACOTE, provide administrative leadership for the program and will also serve as a core faculty member for the program in a dual academic and administrative appointment. This position is a renewable 12-month appointment.

Requirements

Doctoral degree from a USDE-recognized accredited institution.
Licensed occupational therapist.
Minimum 8 years of OT experience including clinical, administrative, and scholarly work.
Minimum 4 years of postbaccalaureate-level teaching experience.
Evidence of leadership, vision, and the ability to build programs and teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading or contributing significantly to ACOTE accreditation processes
Experience launching or substantially developing a new academic program
Demonstrated commitment to interprofessional education and community-engaged practice
Interest in integrating liberal arts values (interdisciplinary thinking, ethical reasoning, global awareness) into OT education

Responsibilities

Lead all phases of OTM program creation and development, including curriculum design, policy development, and operational infrastructure.
Recruit, hire, mentor, and evaluate core and associated faculty and staff.
Oversee student recruitment, admissions, advising, and retention.
Manage program budget and resources in collaboration with institutional leadership.
Lead ACOTE candidacy and accreditation processes, including self-study, site visit preparation, and ongoing compliance.
Develop and sustain clinical education partnerships to support fieldwork and experiential learning.
Implement program evaluation and continuous quality improvement processes.
Teach in areas of expertise as core faculty in the OT program.
Maintain an active scholarly agenda appropriate to rank.
Contribute to departmental, college, and professional service.
Represent the program at state, regional, and national professional meetings.
Launch a new OTM program, the first of its kind at Beloit College.
Serve as the designated Program Director in compliance with ACOTE Standard A.2.1.
Provide leadership in planning, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
Ensure compliance with ACOTE accreditation standards.
Manage program budgeting and resources.
Recruit, hire, mentor, and evaluate faculty.
Oversee curriculum design and assessment, including DEIJ principles.
Teach courses in the OT program relevant to expertise.
Support student advising and well-being.
Represent the program internally and externally.