Chair and Associate Professor/Professor, Occupational Therapy

The chair position has an appointment length of 5 years, with the possibility of renewal. The concurrent Associate/Full professor position is a continuing appointment with no end date.

Location - This role is in-person at North Campus Edmonton.

Working for the University of Alberta:

The University of Alberta, its buildings, labs, and research stations are primarily located on the traditional territory of Cree, Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Iroquois, Dene, and Ojibway/Saulteaux/Anishinaabe nations; lands that are now known as part of Treaties 6, 7, and 8 and homeland of the Métis. The University of Alberta respects the sovereignty, lands, histories, languages, knowledge systems, and cultures of First Nations, Métis and Inuit nations.
The University of Alberta (U of A) is one of Canada’s top teaching and research universities, with an international reputation for excellence across the humanities, sciences, creative arts, business, engineering, education, and health sciences. Ranked 4th best university in Canada and 96th in the world (2027 QS Ranking), the U of A is home to over 46,000 students (including 8,400 graduate students) from 156 countries, more than 11,000 faculty and staff and a growing community of 340,000 alumni worldwide. Edmonton, Alberta’s capital city, is a vibrant, growing city with a population of over 1.4 million and one of the fastest growth rates in Canada. Edmonton is youthful and diverse, offering newcomers a welcoming community and a strong sense of belonging. Situated along the North Saskatchewan River, Edmonton’s river valley is the largest urban parkland in North America, 22 times the size of New York’s Central Park. The city is home to over 50 festivals, five art districts, 20 recreation centers, and 8 post-secondary institutions.

Position Summary

The Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta invites applications for the position of Chair, Department of Occupational Therapy (OT). The successful candidate will be hired as a full-time tenured Associate Professor or Professor in the department commensurate with experience. The U of A is committed to fostering equitable, diverse, and inclusive work and learning spaces and encourages interest from candidates who can contribute to the further diversification of ideas in the Department of Occupational Therapy.
The University of Alberta’s Department of Occupational Therapy is one of three departments in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Health Sciences. The department offers a 26 month entry-level, course-based Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MScOT) program designed to develop leaders in occupational therapy through excellence in research, education and citizenship. Using a distributed educational model, the department offers the MScOT program simultaneously on three campuses in Alberta: Edmonton (80 students), Calgary (28 students) and Camrose (16 students) - facilitating and fostering innovation, responsiveness, and accountability in education to 124 students annually. Students meet the 1,000 hour clinical practicum requirement to complete the program through fieldwork opportunities in a variety of settings.

The successful Chair will lead a dynamic department recognized for excellence in research, teaching, scholarship, service, and professional leadership, with strong clinical partnerships in education and research. The Chair works closely with the Associate Chair to further the professional program and support students. The department currently consists of 19 full- time faculty members, (10 in research-intensive, tenure-track positions; 9 in academic teaching-intensive positions), and is supported by staff at the department and Faculty level. Faculty members have diverse research programs in areas such as prevention and management of chronic conditions, mental health and neuroscience, military and veterans’ health, childhood disability, health equity and literacy, assistive technology, and sexuality and disability. Faculty members also supervise and mentor MSc and PhD students from the thesis-based programs in Rehabilitation Science, offered through the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. The department has formal affiliations with numerous clinical sites throughout the province. Faculty members also have close connections with research and clinical institutes such as the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute and other Faculties within the College of Health Sciences.

The successful candidate will have a record of academic leadership, with the ability to align their goals and vision to strengthen the department’s outstanding educational programs, research endeavors, and community partnerships guided by departmental, faculty and institutional strategic plans. In addition, the successful candidate must be able to engage and inspire faculty, staff, and students, communicate and make decisions in a transparent, inclusive and collaborative manner, and be highly knowledgeable about the discipline of occupational therapy.

The successful candidate must have a PhD in a relevant discipline and a strong scholarly record in teaching, research and service. They must be eligible for licensure by the professional college, the Alberta College of Occupational Therapists (ACOT), within 1 year of the position start date.

Application Instructions

Candidates are requested to prepare a letter of interest, a CV, and a Statement on Indigenous Initiatives and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (1-2 pages in length).

The Committee will begin considering candidates on November 15, 2026, with the new Chair to take office in the summer of 2027. This position will remain open until filled. This position will be located at the University of Alberta, Corbett Hall, 8205-114 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G4.

The successful candidate will be offered a tenured appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor, including a comprehensive benefits package.

The terms and conditions of this appointment are governed by Schedule A of the collective agreement between the Board of Governors of the University of Alberta and the Association of Academic Staff of the University of Alberta.

The Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine is Canada’s only free-standing faculty dedicated to rehabilitation. It offers accredited professional programs in Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology, along with a substantial research and continuing education portfolio. With campuses in Edmonton, Calgary, and Camrose, the faculty serves approximately 1,000 graduate students and is a national leader in advancing rehabilitation practice and outcomes.

The University of Alberta, its buildings, labs and research stations are primarily located on the territory of Néhiyaw (Cree), Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Métis, Nakoda (Stoney), Dene, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and Anishinaabe (Ojibway/Saulteaux), lands that are now known as part of Treaties 6, 7 and 8 and homeland of the Métis. The University of Alberta respects the sovereignty, lands, histories, languages, knowledge systems and cultures of all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people - from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. If suitable Canadian citizens or permanent residents cannot be found, other individuals will be considered.

At the University of Alberta, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates. If you require accommodations to participate in the interview process, please let us know at the time of booking your interview and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.

All University employees have a responsibility to foster a workplace that prioritizes safety in all its forms - physical, cultural, and psychological. This is achieved by promoting a safe environment, adhering to all safety laws, policies and procedures, completing all required safety training, identifying hazards and implementing controls, reporting incidents, and contributing to a culture of belonging and respect, while endeavoring to ensure that all colleagues feel valued and safe to express their thoughts, perspectives and concerns.

The University of Alberta is committed to creating a university community where everyone feels valued, barriers to success are removed, and thriving connections are fostered. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women, First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons, members of visible minority groups, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply.

L’Université de l’Alberta s’engage à créer une communauté universitaire où chaque personne se sent valorisée, où les obstacles à la réussite sont éliminés et où des connexions enrichissantes peuvent se développer. Nous accueillons les demandes de toutes les personnes qualifiées. Nous encourageons les femmes; Premières nations, Métis et Inuits; membres des groupes minoritaires visibles; personnes handicapées; personnes de toute orientation sexuelle ou identité et expression de genre; et toutes les personnes qui peuvent contribuer à la diversification des idées et à l'université à postuler.