Tenure Track Assistant Professor - Occupational Therapy

Appointment:
The University of Puget Sound School of Occupational Therapy invites applications for a full-time, tenure track faculty position; rank appointment at assistant professor; or earned academic rank considered. 

The mission of the School of Occupational Therapy is to prepare culturally sensitive graduates who provide client-centered, evidence- and theory-informed occupational therapy to diverse individuals, groups, and populations, enhancing clients' participation in meaningful, everyday activities. Graduates use critical analysis of theory and multiple sources of evidence to make sound professional judgments resulting in science-based and creative solutions to the challenges of professional practice.

We are seeking a doctorally-prepared occupational therapist who values experiential learning, has a strong grounding in the use of occupation-based theory to guide clinical reasoning, and is experienced with implementing the occupational therapy process, utilizing evidence to inform clinical decision making, and translating research and evidence into practice. Experience as a practicing occupational therapist and previous experience teaching in an established entry-level OTD program, including mentoring doctoral capstone projects, are highly valued. The School of Occupational Therapy uses a co-teaching model, thus a strong value for and effectiveness in collaboration, teamwork, collegiality and communication are essential. Systems-level thinking will support shared governance roles within the department and across campus.
 

Responsibilities:
The primary responsibility of this position is teaching in our entry level MSOT and OTD programs. Standard teaching assignment is six units per year. Primary teaching responsibility will involve some combination of the following: research methods, evidence-based practice and theory, critical appraisal of published literature, anatomy, neurology, adult physical dysfunctions and health conditions, work hardening, and ergonomics. Other duties include student advising, supervision of student evidence projects and doctoral capstone projects, departmental admissions, departmental and university service and governance, curriculum evaluation and development, continuous and periodic self-study activities to maintain program accreditation, and implementing an agenda of productive scholarly work.

Other essential functions: 

• Review, prepare, teach and revise assigned courses while assuring their alignment with the overall curriculum
• Pursue excellence in teaching, service, and scholarship
• Maintain a commitment to enacting culturally responsive and antiracist teaching practices
• Demonstrate agreement with the missions of the University of Puget Sound and the School of Occupational Therapy
• Display professionalism and fulfill responsibilities in a manner consistent with the expectations of the University of Puget Sound School of Occupational Therapy
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• PhD (or equivalent research doctorate);
• demonstrated excellence in research and teaching or clinical experience;
• two or more years of professional clinical experience;  
• a record of peer-reviewed scholarly work;
• a commitment to liberal arts education; and
• have, or qualify for, a Washington State Occupational Therapist license. 

Candidates who are near completion of a research doctorate, will be considered. 
 

Application Deadline: 
Interested individuals are encouraged to submit application materials no later than November 15 to ensure full consideration. To apply, please submit the required documents via the online job portal.

Compensation and Benefits:
Rank: Assistant Professor or earned academic rank considered. 

Salary is commensurate with education and experience. 

Faculty salaries at the University of Puget Sound are based on a common salary scale based on experience. Assistant Professor salaries in 2026-2027 begin at $85,677 for an assistant professor with a terminal degree in their first year of full-time post-doctorate teaching through $97,917 annualized based on experience. 

Puget Sound offers a generous benefits package. For more information, visit: Summary of 2026 Benefits for Faculty Members.pdf - Google Drive

Puget Sound has a well-established Shared Faculty Appointments Policy, https://www.pugetsound.edu/policies/faculty-policies/shared-faculty-appointments

About Puget Sound: 
The University of Puget Sound is located in Tacoma, Washington, a vibrant, diverse mid-sized urban port city. Within, and near, Tacoma there is ready access to urban, rural, and natural areas as well as opportunities to participate in a wide variety of cultural activities.

About the School of Occupational Therapy: 
The School of Occupational Therapy has a legacy of more than 80 years of excellence in producing graduates who are exceptionally prepared to enter practice. We are proud to have the first fully accredited OTD program in Washington state and to have celebrated our first graduates of the program in 2023. The US News and World Report ranks Puget Sound in the top 50 Best Occupational Therapy Schools. We believe that the liberal arts emphasis at the university serves to enhance the study of occupational therapy. Nurtured in a collaborative and academically rigorous environment, our students learn to think critically and analytically, develop professional values and goals, and become intellectually autonomous. Students benefit from innovative project opportunities, comprehensive fieldwork experiences, and a curriculum designed to develop professional reasoning skills, build exceptional documentation skills, and exceed the minimum requirements for entry-level practice. Community partnerships and experiential learning are hallmarks of the program. Occupational therapy students participate in unique Fieldwork I experiences through community and onsite clinical experiences in mental health, adult physical disabilities and pediatrics. Occupational therapy faculty work as part of a supportive community and have the advantage of working collaboratively both within the School of Occupational Therapy as well as with other departments across campus. Occupational therapy faculty have had the opportunity to provide input and expertise as Puget Sound seeks to prepare for future challenges in higher education and strategically add new graduate programs.

Full-time teaching is scheduled August through May. Faculty also provide a small amount of summer teaching which is mainly focused on advising and grading student projects. A majority of the summer is generally open for research, course preparation and professional development. Puget Sound provides a range of opportunities for faculty support including the ability to apply for research funds, release units, conference participation support, and sabbaticals as well as opportunities to support development as a teacher/scholar.  
 

University Diversity Statement:

• We acknowledge the richness of commonalities and differences we share as a university community; the intrinsic worth of all who work and study here; that education is enhanced by the investigation of and the reflection upon multiple perspectives.
• We aspire to create respect for and appreciation of all persons as a key characteristic of our campus community; to increase the diversity of all parts of our University community through commitment to diversity in our recruitment and retention efforts; to foster a spirit of openness to active engagement among all members of our campus community.
• We act to achieve an environment that welcomes and supports diversity; to ensure full educational opportunity for all who teach and learn here; to prepare effectively citizen-leaders for a pluralistic world.

Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. To learn more please visit: http://www.pugetsound.edu/about/diversity-at-puget-sound/

Required Documents:
Applicants submitted without the required attachments will not be considered.

• Curriculum vitae
• Letter of Interest
• Teaching statement
• Research statement
• Diversity Statement (see prompt below)
• Contact Information for 3 References. You will be prompted to enter the contact information for three (3) reference providers. The system will automatically email these reference providers to request a letter.

Note: In the online application system, please submit curriculum vitae when prompted to submit resume. Additional documents can be attached within the application.

For assistance with the online application portal, please contact or 253.879.3369. 

Applicant's Diversity Statement:
As a department and university, we are strongly committed to creating an inclusive and effective teaching, learning, and working environment for all. In their diversity statement, applicants should reflect on how they will advance the values articulated in the University Diversity Statement in all aspects of their future work as faculty and members of the university community.

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of a background inquiry.

The University of Puget Sound is an equal opportunity employer.

Given the current Executive Order and the $100,000 petition fee for new H-1b visas, at the moment sponsoring a new H-1b is cost-prohibitive to us. Therefore, unless the executive order is rescinded or blocked by the courts, we are unable to commit to new H visa sponsorship at this time. Applicants with questions about visa sponsorship are encouraged to reach out to Human Resources.