Chair and Aso/Full Prof

The University of Florida’s College of Public Health and Health Professions (PHHP) invites applications and nominations for the position of Chair of Occupational Therapy and Tenure/Tenure Track Professor or Associate Professor. The department seeks a dynamic leader whose key responsibilities include promoting department-wide excellence in education and scholarship through recruiting, developing and retaining outstanding faculty and staff, deploying resources and facilitating a positive culture. The chair will manage departmental operations, including governance, policy development, fiscal oversight, personnel management, and monitoring clinic operations. Reporting to the dean, the chair will work with college leadership to identify and implement strategic initiatives and partnerships. Final determination of title and tenure readiness will be made at time of hire. 

The Department of Occupational Therapy (http://ot.phhp.ufl.edu/) is a national leader in occupational therapy education and research, ranked in the top five public universities in the USA, according to the 2024 U.S. News and World Report rankings. The department offers outstanding academic and training programs that include a Doctor of Occupational Therapy program (OTD), a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science program (RSD), a BHS-OTD accelerated program and a post-professional certificate in Driver Rehabilitation Therapy. The department has active and federally funded research labs in productive aging, intellectual and developmental disabilities, sensory integration, rehabilitative and assistive technology, community mobility, and driving rehabilitation, all housed within the Institute for Driving, Activity, Participation, and Technology (IDAPT). The department has longstanding research and educational collaborations with the Gainesville VA and the Veterans Rural Health Resource Center. Located within the UF Gator Smart House, UF SmartDriver™ Rehab offers driver rehabilitation services for clients in the greater Gainesville area and throughout north-central Florida. The department also serves the occupational needs of the community through the student run, pro bono Occupational Therapy Equal Access Clinic.

The Department of Occupational Therapy is housed in the College of Public Health and Health Professions (https://phhp.ufl.edu). PHHP is comprised of eight departments: Biostatistics, Clinical and Health Psychology, Environmental and Global Health, Epidemiology, Health Services Research, Management and Policy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. The college has 196 faculty who contribute to its four missions — research, education, clinical care and service — and is united by a common focus on prevention. It is ranked 9^th in NIH research funding among public schools of public health, according to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research. The college houses 25 degree programs that span undergraduate, professional doctorate, master’s and doctoral programs including the Bachelor of Health Science, Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and Doctor of Physical Therapy.

PHHP is one of 16 colleges at the University of Florida (https://www.ufl.edu) and one of six health-related colleges which are all located on a single, contiguous campus that includes the colleges of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health and Health Professions, and Veterinary Medicine. The health colleges are adjacent to partner institutions UF Health Shands Hospital and the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center. Additional major institutes and centers at the University of Florida include the McKnight Brain Institute, the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, the Breathing Research and Therapeutics (Breathe) Center, the UF Health Cancer Center, and the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, all of which provide state-of-the-art environments and resources for faculty collaboration.

The University of Florida is a top-tier research institution ranked #4 among the nation’s best public universities by Forbes magazine and its faculty conducted a record $1.26 billion in research in fiscal year 2024.

Commensurate with experience.

The University of Florida (UF) offers an exceptional benefits package, including health, dental and vision insurance; state retirement plans; a generous leave program; and tuition assistance. UF is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer. For more information on benefits, please visit HR Benefits and Rewards (ufl.edu).

Doctoral degree or equivalent in an appropriate area of specialization from an accredited institution. 

The well-qualified candidate will have a distinguished record of scholarly achievement, extramural funding, teaching and mentoring, and leadership consistent with the rank of associate professor or professor. Ideal candidates will be recognized as a current or emerging leader in a discipline aligned with the department’s focus, a track record building synergistic teams, relevant administrative or management experience, and a strong commitment to fostering collaborations both within and outside the Institution. Demonstrated excellence in research and training essential.

Interested candidates should submit an application, which includes a current curriculum vitae (CV), a cover letter that describes leadership experience and philosophy, teaching, research and career interests, and contact information for three references.

Application review will begin immediately and continue until a suitable applicant pool has been established.

Final candidate will be required to provide official transcript to the hiring department upon hire.  A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible.  Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), which can be found at http://www.naces.org/.

The University of Florida is committed to non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information and veteran status in all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training.

If an accommodation is needed to apply for this position, please call 352/392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800/955-8771 (TDD). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the U.S. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida’s Sunshine Law.