Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Director

The Missouri Health Professions Consortium has five campuses throughout the state of Missouri, including East Central College in Union, Moberly Area Community College in Columbia, North Central Missouri College in Trenton, State Fair Community College in Sedalia, and Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff. State Fair Community College is the OTA Program's fiscal agent.

Position Purpose: The Missouri Health Professions Consortium Professions Director provides leadership, management, and oversite of the OTA program to ensure education quality, student success, and compliance with institutional policies and accreditation standards set by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. Responsibilities include program and curriculum development, budgeting and resources allocation, evaluation of program outcomes, supervision of faculty and staff, maintenance of accreditation, and promotion of ongoing professional development for self and program faculty.

Essential Job Functions:

Administrative:

• In collaboration with programfaculty, develop and implement the program's strategic plan and outcomes consistent with institutional mission, vision, and goals of the Consortium.
• Ensure curriculum design, implementation, and ongoing evaluation align with ACOTE Standards and support entry-level OTA competency.
• Assign faculty to didactic and clinical instruction based on academic preparation, expertise, and experience.
• Conduct systematic, documented annual performance evaluations of program faculty and staff.
• Maintain accurate program records and ensure timely submission of all required institutional and accreditation reports.
• Recruit, select, and orient qualified faculty to ensure compliance with ACOTE Standards related to faculty qualifications and role expectations.
• Provide ongoing supervision of program faculty and staff to support instructional quality and program effectiveness.
• Ensure faculty are oriented to program mission, curriculum design, delivery methods, and student learning outcomes.
• Ensure program compliance with ethical standards of occupational therapy practice and promote adherence among faculty and students.
• Coordinate student recruitment and admissions processes in collaboration with institutional partners to ensure equitable and transparent practices aligned with published criteria.
• Establish, review, and apply program admission criteria in collaboration with consortium and institutional stakeholders.
• Identify, evaluate, and advocate for adequate program resources, including classroom space, laboratory equipment, instructional materials, library holdings, and technology, to support student learning and ACOTE compliance.
• Develop, administer, and monitor the program budget to ensure effective allocation of resources in support of program operations and outcomes.
• Develop and maintain policies ensuring safe, accessible, and functional learning environments, including classrooms, laboratories, and equipment.
• Maintain ongoing compliance with ACOTE Standards, including preparation, submission, and response to accreditation documentation, reports, and self-studies.
• In collaboration with program faculty, develop and implement a structured student advising system to support academic progression, retention, and successful program completion.

Curriculum and Instruction (Academic and Fieldwork):

• Teaching courses in area of expertise
• In conjunction with Program faculty, develop and update course syllabi for all Program courses
• In conjunction with Program faculty, review and select all instructional resources (textbooks, online resources, and instructional materials)
• Develop and implement system for periodic review of courses, content, teaching-learning strategies
• In conjunction with Program faculty develop repertoire of teaching-learning strategies and activities to foster students' learning via distance education
• Supervise outcomes of students' Fieldwork experiences and Fieldwork Program

Professional and Leadership:

• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and other health care professionals in Region and State
• Chair Program advisory committee, conduct meetings at regular intervals
• Actively serve on Consortium and College committees as needed
• Develop annual Professional Development plan, pursue and complete activities as approved by the budget
• Model, encourage and foster professional development skills and activities in program faculty
• To be familiar with and uphold the MHPC OTA Program mission which is as follows: The mission of the Missouri Health Professions Consortium (MHPC) Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is to educate and prepare occupational therapy assistants to provide occupational therapy interventions to the citizens of Missouri and neighboring states, especially those in rural and underserved areas. We educate and prepare generalists to have the knowledge, skills and professional behaviors that are necessary to work in both traditional and emerging areas of practice.
• A willingness to take on additional responsibility and work collaboratively, both within the unit and campus wide
• Other duties as deemed necessary for the function of the Missouri Health Professions Consortium program.

The preceding duties have been provided as examples of the essential types of work performed by positions within this job classification. Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind work assignments as needed.

Required Qualifications:

Education/Experience:

• Masters or Doctoral degree in occupational therapy or masters/doctoral degree in related field with B.S. degree in occupational therapy
• Licensed in the state of Missouri
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in the field of occupational therapy, including practice as an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, administrative or supervisory experience
• Minimum of 3 years of experience as a full-time academic faculty member appointment with teaching responsibilities at the postsecondary level.

Skills:

• Administrative experience including, but not limited to, program planning and implementation, personnel management, evaluation, and budgeting.
• Scholarship (e.g., scholarship of application, scholarship of teaching and learning).
• Understanding of and experience working with occupational therapy assistants
• Documented expertise with computer technology and electronic teaching/learning and communication activities, knowledge of distance education methods

Physical Requirements:

• Work involves light to moderate work:

• Prolonged sitting (meetings, curriculum planning, computer work)

• Standing for extended periods (lecturing, lab instruction, presentations)

• Walking between offices, classrooms, and lab

• Occasional bending, reaching, or lifting (20-30 pounds)

• Instructional Physical requirements:

• Demonstrating transfers

• Modeling therapeutic techniques or exercises

• Assisting with simulation labs involving adaptive equipment

• Fine motor skills for demonstrating tasks

• Travel Requirements:

• MHPC OTA Lab visits to Sedalia, MO, Columbia, MO and Union, MO

• Clinical site visits as needed

• Accreditation meetings or conferences

• Community partnerships

• Willingness to take on additional responsibilities and work collaboratively

• Employee accommodation for physical or mental disabilities will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Please apply electronically. Completed applications will include cover letter, resume, three contact references, and unofficial transcripts (official transcripts must be requested upon hire). Employment will require a criminal background check at college expense. Preference is given to Missouri residents.

AA Statement: SFCC is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of State Fair Community College not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ancestry, national origin, or veteran status in its educational programs, activities or employment as required by law in regard to admissions, awarding financial aid, access to courses and programs, and all student services as well as the recruitment, admission and retention of students.