Location: Hickory, North Carolina
Faculty Position: Full-time, tenure-track position as Chair and Program Director, School of Occupational Therapy, tenured or tenure-track appointment.
Position Summary
The Master of Occupational Therapy (OT) program director is a full-time core faculty member of the occupational therapy educational program and has release time provided for this position. The primary responsibilities of the program director includes management and administration of the program including planning, evaluation, budgeting, selection of faculty and staff, maintenance of accreditation, and commitment strategies for professional development. The program director will be responsible for design and implementation of the educational curriculum, facilitation of all aspects of students' learning and student advisement for achievement of educational goals. This individual works with all OT faculty to ensure delivery of didactic content and fieldwork components within all classes. All positions are based on enrollment and subject to available funding. Promotion is per the Lenoir-Rhyne University Faculty Handbook.
Reporting
The Lenoir-Rhyne University Occupational Therapy program director reports to the dean of the College of Health Sciences.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Classroom teaching release time will be provided to perform the program director roles and responsibilities.
- Develop, review, and revise as necessary the mission statement, goals, and competencies of the program
- Contributes to student instruction and evaluation as course coordinator, lecturer, laboratory instructor, and/or small group discussion facilitator in areas appropriate to clinical experience and educational preparation, including actively taking part in assuring the availability of remedial instruction
- Contribute to the management of curriculum planning, development, delivery, mapping, and review
- Contribute to the admissions process and student recruitment and instructional or evaluative processes within the classroom
- Provide academic advising support to students throughout the educational program
- Support governance activities of the Occupational Therapy program and university by serving on standing and ad hoc committees, task forces, and other university governance bodies.
- Participate in service activities to the Occupational Therapy program, university and community appropriate to experience and areas of interest.
- Participate in leadership within professional organizations appropriate to experience and educational preparation
- Conduct scholarship and/or research in areas of academic interest
- Participate in professional development activities appropriate for areas of professional expertise
- Create a budget collaboratively with the dean that supports the occupational therapy program.
- Create schedules that support the ongoing delivery of classes for the occupational therapy program.
- Perform other duties deemed necessary by the dean or university.
Qualifications
- Required doctoral degree awarded by an institution that is accredited by a U.S Department of Education-recognized institutional accrediting agency
- Required degree earned from an accredited occupational therapy program
- Required certified occupational therapist who is licensed or eligible for licensing in the state of North Carolina and South Carolina
- Preferred experience as a program director in OT
- Preferred experience with an administrative role in OT
- Required minimum of 8 years of documented experience in the field of occupational therapy which must include clinical practice, administrative experience, such as program planning and implementation, personnel management, evaluation, and budgeting.
- Required four years of experience in a full-time academic appointment with teaching responsibilities at the master’s level
- Required strong organizational, problem-solving, and interpersonal communication skills
- Preferred record of professional, academic, and administrative achievement
- Preferred participation or leadership in local, regional, or national OT organization
- Required strong commitment to achieve the missions of the OT program and Lenoir-Rhyne University
- Preferred experience with accreditation management
Compensation
Lenoir-Rhyne University offers a competitive salary and benefits package. Salary transparency is a priority; detailed information will be provided to candidates during the interview process.
Application Process
To ensure full review, completed applications should contain:
- Letter of application specifically discussing how one’s professional experiences and perspectives relate to the needs of the position.
- Curriculum vitae or resume, including the names and emails of three references; references will only be contacted for finalists, and candidates will be notified in advance.
- Statement of teaching philosophy explaining a discussion of how you incorporate varied perspectives and traditions in your job and/or teaching and learning.
The University’s mission, vision, and values statements may be reviewed using About LR.
The search committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and will continue until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, please submit materials by March 15, 2026. Any questions regarding the position or the search process should be submitted electronically to the search chair, Dr. Tabitha Toney, Chair-School of Nursing, at [email protected].
Lenoir-Rhyne University promotes a welcoming campus environment that is integral to the university's commitment to excellence in engagement and education. We are particularly interested in candidates who have demonstrated experience nurturing a welcoming community, working with faculty, staff and/or students from all walks of life and/or incorporating varied perspectives and traditions in their current or previous positions. This commitment is rooted in our Lutheran tradition of fostering wisdom, nurturing vocation and preparing students for lives of purpose while serving the common good.
About College of Health Sciences
The College of Health Sciences provides current and practical knowledge and skills that prepare students for success in differing health science careers. The college offers four undergraduate degrees in exercise science, nursing, public health and sports management. At the graduate level, the college offers a Master of Science in Exercise Science, Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, Master of Public Health, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP/FNP).
About Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University is a co-educational, private, comprehensive institution founded in 1891, with its traditional campus located in Hickory, North Carolina, a city of more than 40,000. The university has additional graduate centers in Asheville, N.C., and Columbia, S.C. Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lenoir- Rhyne is less than an hour’s drive from Charlotte, and the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of about 365,000. The university now offers more than 45 undergraduate and 20 graduate degree programs to approximately 2,400 students. Lenoir-Rhyne University seeks to liberate mind and spirit, clarify personal faith, foster physical wholeness, build community, and promote responsible leadership for service to the world. Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Lenoir-Rhyne is open to people from all religious and non-religious backgrounds.
Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy
Lenoir-Rhyne University is committed to providing a workplace and educational environment, as well as other benefits, programs, and activities that are free from discrimination, harassment and retaliation.
LR is committed to creating a safe campus environment for all members of the LR community, including, but not limited to, those who identify as transgender and gender non-conforming. To that end, LR does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including sex stereotypes and sex characteristics), ethnicity, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable law.
To ensure compliance with federal and state civil rights laws and regulations and to affirm its commitment to promoting the goals of fairness and equity in all aspects of the educational program, activity and employment, LR has developed internal policies and procedures that provide a prompt, fair and impartial process for those involved in an allegation of discrimination or harassment, and for allegations of retaliation.
LR values and upholds the equal dignity of all members of its community and strives to balance the rights of the parties in the grievance process during what is often a difficult time for all those involved.
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
