Baker College , in partnership with the national search firm Scott Healy & Associates , invites applications and nominations for the position of Program Director, MSOT Program . This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced occupational therapy educator and leader to provide strategic direction for Baker College's Master of Occupational Therapy program and help shape its continued academic excellence, professional impact, and success. The Program Director will play a central role in…
advancing the program's mission, supporting faculty and student achievement, strengthening community and clinical partnerships, and ensuring the program continues to meet the highest standards of occupational therapy education and accreditation.
Working collaboratively with
the Associate Program Director, faculty, staff, and Dean, the Program Director will have the opportunity to lead a dynamic academic program
while fostering a student-centered environment grounded in innovation, inclusion, and professional preparation. The Program Director will
serve as the institution's designated leader for accreditation and will provide oversight of program quality, faculty development,
resources, curriculum, assessment, and outcomes. This position offers an accomplished occupational therapy professional the opportunity to
bring their expertise and vision to Baker College while contributing meaningfully to the preparation of the next generation of occupational
therapy practitioners.
Responsibilities:
Program Leadership and Administration
- Serve as
the official ACOTE-designated Program Director for the MSOT program. - Work in formal partnership with the Associate Program Director,
who provides operational leadership of day-to-day program functions. - Retain final administrative authority and accountability for
accreditation, budgeting, and program outcomes while fostering succession planning through the Associate Program Director
role. - Exercise independent discretion by leading the instructional and clinical design elements of the MSOT program to ensure
strategic integration of advanced educational frameworks. - Ensure a robust administrative infrastructure that supports student
success, faculty retention, and continuous program sustainability. - Retain final authority for program budgeting and fiscal
oversight; collaborate with the Dean regarding personnel, facilities, equipment, and technology needs.
Accreditation and
Compliance
- Ensure continuous compliance with ACOTE 2023 accreditation standards, regulatory requirements, and institutional
policies. - Lead all accreditation activities, including self-study preparation, annual reporting, substantive change notifications,
and site visit coordination. - Serve as the primary liaison with ACOTE.
- Maintain accurate, centralized accreditation
documentation and proactively implement corrective actions for any identified deficiencies.
Curriculum and Program
Assessment
- Oversee curriculum design, implementation, and revision to ensure specific alignment with ACOTE standards and
evolving professional practice. - Retain final authority for MSOT curriculum design, implementation, and systematic revision, ensuring
evidence-based coursework that reflects modern OT practices. - Incorporate learning experiences that explicitly address
intraprofessional collaboration, delegation, and team-based practice models between OTs and OTAs. - Direct program-level assessment
processes, analyzing metrics including student progression, graduation rates, NBCOT pass rates, fieldwork performance, and graduate/employer
feedback. - Monitor and report external benchmarks, including NBCOT pass rates, fieldwork outcomes, and graduate performance.
Faculty Leadership and Development
- Ensure faculty qualifications, workload, and development meet ACOTE and
institutional requirements. - Manage faculty recruitment, workload assignment, onboarding, evaluation, and professional development,
ensuring all instructors meet ACOTE qualification metrics. - Foster an academic culture focused on excellence, scholarship, mentoring,
and professional identity formation.
Student Success
- Oversee student advising, remediation, and retention
processes, ensuring students are provided accurate pathways to certification and state licensure.
Teaching, Scholarship, and
Professional Service
- Deliver high-quality instruction within the MSOT curriculum as assigned.
- Maintain an active
program of scholarship consistent with institutional and program expectations. - Maintain an active agenda of scholarly activity
(teaching/learning, application, or clinical practice) consistent with institutional and accreditation expectations. - Engage in
professional service and leadership within the occupational therapy profession. - Participate in institutional governance, community
outreach, and professional service within the occupational therapy field.
Other Duties
- Other duties as assigned:
3 hours of release time per week.
Qualifications:
- Minimum of eight (8) years of
documented experience in the field of occupational therapy. This experience must include:- Clinical practice as an occupational
therapist; - Administrative experience including, but not limited to, program planning and implementation, personnel management,
evaluation, and budgeting; o Understanding of and experience with occupational therapy assistants; and - At least four (4) years of
experience in a full-time academic appointment with teaching responsibilities at the postsecondary level.
- Clinical practice as an occupational
- Minimum of a
doctorate degree awarded by an institution that is accredited by a regional or national accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department
of Education (USDE). The doctorate degree is not limited to a doctorate degree in occupational therapy. - Documented record of
scholarship (e.g., scholarship of teaching and learning, application, or practice) consistent with institutional and ACOTE
expectations. - Active licensure in the State of Michigan at the time of appointment.
- Licensed by Michigan Licensing and
Regulatory Affairs at the time of appointment. - Current certification with NBCOT.
Required
Skills:
- Demonstrated, deep understanding of the complementary roles of the Occupational Therapist and Occupational
Therapy Assistant, including supervision principles, delegation, and distinct contributions within service delivery. - Comprehensive
knowledge of higher education assessment, curriculum design, learning management systems, and ACOTE accreditation protocols. - Strong
fiscal aptitude with experience managing programmatic budgets, resource allocation, and cost- benefit analysis. - Exceptional written,
verbal, and collaborative communication skills to interface effectively across administrative units, institutional leadership, and clinical
partnerships. - Commitment to student-centered education, diversity, equity, inclusion, and ethical professional
practice. - Strong leadership, conflict resolution, performance management, and team-building capabilities.
- Skilled in
collecting and analyzing program metrics, establishing clear facts, and drawing valid conclusions to make well-informed instructional and
administrative decisions.
About Baker College:
Baker College, founded in 1911, is one of Michigan's largest
private, nonprofit colleges, offering associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees across Michigan and online. Guided by a
longstanding commitment to student success, Baker College provides an inclusive, innovative, and supportive environment where students
receive personalized attention through small class sizes, mentorship, student success teams, and comprehensive support services. At the
heart of the institution is its mission: to provide an inclusive, innovative and transformative educational experience which allows students
to positively impact their lives and the world around them. With career-focused programs and a student-first philosophy, Baker College
prepares learners to achieve their academic and professional goals while contributing meaningfully to their communities.
About the Community:
Royal Oak,
Michigan, is a vibrant, welcoming community in Metropolitan Detroit known for its walkable downtown, locally
owned businesses, arts and cultural scene, and more than 100 years of history. Downtown Royal Oak offers an impressive mix of restaurants,
cafes, shopping, nightlife, and year-round events, while attractions such as the Detroit Zoo, Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak Farmers
Market, and nearly 50 parks provide plenty to see and do. The city has a strong and diverse economy, with major employers including Corewell
Health, Royal Oak Public Schools, the Detroit Zoo, Consumers Energy, Henry Ford Health, and Dassault Systèmes, as well as convenient access
to Detroit and the Detroit Metro Airport. Royal Oak is perhaps best known beyond the region for the annual Woodward Dream Cruise, the
world's largest one-day classic car event, which brings more than one million spectators to the area each August.
Application and Nomination Process:
All correspondence relating to the position of Program
Director, MSOT Program at Baker College should be directed in confidence to the College's executive search
consultant:
Jamie Marcus, Vice President
Scott Healy & Associates
A complete application should
include the following:
- Cover Letter outlining your interest and qualifications for the position;
- Updated
CV; - Contact information for three (3) professional references with title, institutional affiliation, email address and direct phone
numbers. (No references will be contacted without written permission from the candidate.)
Applications received by
October 30, 2026 will receive priority consideration. The search will remain open until the position is filled.
Non-discrimination Statement:
It is the policy of Baker College not to discriminate on the basis of race,
color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and conditions related to pregnancy), national origin, citizenship, age, disability, weight,
height, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or transgender status, misdemeanor arrest
record (not resulting in conviction), or any other status protected by law in any employment decision or in providing and administering
educational programs, services, or activities.

