Founding Program Director, Occupational Therapy Program - National Louis University (Chicago, IL)
APPLY at the BOTTOM of this PAGE
National Louis University seeks a Founding Program Director, Occupational Therapy Program
Click here to view position profile: https://summitsearchsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NLU_OT_Prog_Dir_Profile.pdf
Location: Chicago, Illinois
The Position:
National Louis University is seeking a visionary leader responsible for establishing and maintaining high-quality Occupational Therapy program pathways aligned with market demand, accreditation standards, and institutional and college goals. Initial planning efforts will prioritize a Master’s degree program, while also evaluating additional degree options to support long-term program growth and workforce needs.
National Louis University is embarking on an ambitious journey to build a cutting-edge healthcare professions portfolio, addressing critical healthcare disparities and the growing shortage of healthcare professionals. A key part of this mission is the launch of its Occupational Therapy Program (OTP), a priority area given the OT’s vital role in providing accessible, high-quality patient care. NLU recognizes that Occupational Therapists are essential to addressing the complex needs of today’s healthcare landscape. Their expertise in helping individuals regain independence, adapt to life changes, and engage meaningfully in daily activities positions them as key contributors to interdisciplinary care. With a growing demand for rehabilitative and community-based services, the OT profession plays a vital role in bridging gaps in care and advancing health equity, particularly in underserved communities.
NLU is seeking an enterprising and visionary leader to serve as the Founding Program Director for this program. This is an extraordinary opportunity to build a transformative program from the ground up, develop an innovative curriculum, form strategic clinical partnerships, and attract a diverse student body. If you are passionate about shaping healthcare education and want to create a program that will have a lasting impact, we invite you to join NLU in this inspiring mission.
The Founding Program Director will assume responsibility for the entirety of the developing Occupational Therapy (OT) program pathways. Duties include, but are not limited to, planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating the OT curriculum, policies, and procedures; working collaboratively with healthcare, school, and community partners to ensure ample and optimum clinical learning experiences for students; student advising and monitoring academic progress and retention throughout the program; participating in program- and university-level committees; and ensuring that accreditation standards are met at all times. The Program Director will also lead the efforts in hiring, training, mentoring, and evaluating a dynamic team of faculty dedicated to ensuring the success of their students.
This role involves comprehensive program oversight, including student recruitment, curriculum development, faculty evaluation, and strategic planning. The Founding Program Director will work closely with faculty, academic affairs, and other internal and community entities to ensure the program meets accreditation standards and prepares students for successful careers as certified Occupational Therapists. This position reports to the Provost and includes a dotted line to the Vice Provost of Academic Programs and Accreditation and collaborates with various departments to support student and program success.
Compensation and Benefits:
At National Louis University, we offer our employees an innovative environment to work together and inspire ideas that will make an impact. As our external environment changes, our employees are provided with the opportunities and tools needed to grow both personally and professionally to remain successful. NLU employees and dependents are offered a wide range of benefits, including but not limited to, health insurance benefits, retirement benefits, paid time off and Educational Opportunities.
The salary range for this position is $120,000-$160,000. Offers are based on multiple factors permitted by law, including but not limited to: budgetary considerations, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, current/previous faculty rank, market considerations, tenure and standing with the university (applicable to current employees), and internal equity.
To Apply:
Confidential review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position has been filled. Please submit a PDF version of your CV and a brief letter explaining your interest in and suitability for this position.
For more information or to offer recommendations or nominations:
Stephanie Rivas-Fowler
Senior Consultant
Summit Search Solutions, Inc.
Direct: 480-213-7078
srivasfowler@summitsearchsolutions.com
National Louis University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer with a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of diversity among its faculty, staff, and students.
National Louis University seeks a Founding Program Director, Occupational Therapy Program
Click here to view position profile: https://summitsearchsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NLU_OT_Prog_Dir_Profile.pdf
Location: Chicago, Illinois
The Position:
National Louis University is seeking a visionary leader responsible for establishing and maintaining high-quality Occupational Therapy program pathways aligned with market demand, accreditation standards, and institutional and college goals. Initial planning efforts will prioritize a Master’s degree program, while also evaluating additional degree options to support long-term program growth and workforce needs.
National Louis University is embarking on an ambitious journey to build a cutting-edge healthcare professions portfolio, addressing critical healthcare disparities and the growing shortage of healthcare professionals. A key part of this mission is the launch of its Occupational Therapy Program (OTP), a priority area given the OT’s vital role in providing accessible, high-quality patient care. NLU recognizes that Occupational Therapists are essential to addressing the complex needs of today’s healthcare landscape. Their expertise in helping individuals regain independence, adapt to life changes, and engage meaningfully in daily activities positions them as key contributors to interdisciplinary care. With a growing demand for rehabilitative and community-based services, the OT profession plays a vital role in bridging gaps in care and advancing health equity, particularly in underserved communities.
NLU is seeking an enterprising and visionary leader to serve as the Founding Program Director for this program. This is an extraordinary opportunity to build a transformative program from the ground up, develop an innovative curriculum, form strategic clinical partnerships, and attract a diverse student body. If you are passionate about shaping healthcare education and want to create a program that will have a lasting impact, we invite you to join NLU in this inspiring mission.
The Founding Program Director will assume responsibility for the entirety of the developing Occupational Therapy (OT) program pathways. Duties include, but are not limited to, planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating the OT curriculum, policies, and procedures; working collaboratively with healthcare, school, and community partners to ensure ample and optimum clinical learning experiences for students; student advising and monitoring academic progress and retention throughout the program; participating in program- and university-level committees; and ensuring that accreditation standards are met at all times. The Program Director will also lead the efforts in hiring, training, mentoring, and evaluating a dynamic team of faculty dedicated to ensuring the success of their students.
This role involves comprehensive program oversight, including student recruitment, curriculum development, faculty evaluation, and strategic planning. The Founding Program Director will work closely with faculty, academic affairs, and other internal and community entities to ensure the program meets accreditation standards and prepares students for successful careers as certified Occupational Therapists. This position reports to the Provost and includes a dotted line to the Vice Provost of Academic Programs and Accreditation and collaborates with various departments to support student and program success.
Compensation and Benefits:
At National Louis University, we offer our employees an innovative environment to work together and inspire ideas that will make an impact. As our external environment changes, our employees are provided with the opportunities and tools needed to grow both personally and professionally to remain successful. NLU employees and dependents are offered a wide range of benefits, including but not limited to, health insurance benefits, retirement benefits, paid time off and Educational Opportunities.
The salary range for this position is $120,000-$160,000. Offers are based on multiple factors permitted by law, including but not limited to: budgetary considerations, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, current/previous faculty rank, market considerations, tenure and standing with the university (applicable to current employees), and internal equity.
To Apply:
Confidential review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position has been filled. Please submit a PDF version of your CV and a brief letter explaining your interest in and suitability for this position.
For more information or to offer recommendations or nominations:
Stephanie Rivas-Fowler
Senior Consultant
Summit Search Solutions, Inc.
Direct: 480-213-7078
srivasfowler@summitsearchsolutions.com
National Louis University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer with a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of diversity among its faculty, staff, and students.
Institution: National Louis University
This is a full time position
Jobs page provided by 