Associate Dean of Nursing

Compensation Range:

Position Summary

National University’s School of Health Professions is seeking a visionary and dynamic Associate Dean of Nursing (ADON). The ADON provides strategic academic leadership and fosters innovation in nursing education for all academic programs and certificates across undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, and various instructional modalities within the nursing academic unit. This role supports innovation in nursing education, promotes academic excellence, and ensures programs’ compliance with accreditation and state standards. Collaborating closely with Academic Program Directors (APDs), faculty, and staff, the ADON fosters a culture of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service while representing the school and nursing education at state and national levels. Additionally, the ADON facilitates program development and quality improvement initiatives aligned with the school’s mission, accreditation, and best practices within the nursing discipline.

Essential Functions:

Leadership:

• Drives the strategy for all nursing programs in alignment with the school’s mission and strategic plan, and in alignment with accreditation standards.
• Leads the nursing academic unit.
• Demonstrates strong leadership skills, including organization, proactiveness, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.
• Serves on the School’s leadership team.
• Serves as the primary nursing liaison/representative to the School, University, and external constituencies.
• Mentors new Academic Program Directors (APDs) in the leadership and management of their respective programs.
• Facilitates a climate of open communication and cooperation among all members of the academic unit.
• Facilitates the development of the vision for all programs within the department, with short-term and long-term goals in collaboration with the APDs.
• Works with marketing and enrollment to support the development of short and long-range academic strategies to expand programs locally and nationally.
• In collaboration with the APDs, program faculty, the Director of Assessment & Accreditation, the Director of Curriculum, and the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs & Students, develops new and expands existing programs to meet market demands.
• Coordinates professional accreditation activities with the APDs and Director of Assessment & Accreditation, including internally and externally mandated reviews as needed and ensuring external accreditation forms and reports are submitted in a timely manner.
• Ability to use data/evidence for decision-making, receptiveness to diverse ideas and constructive feedback, high work ethics, and accountability.
• Prepares a variety of statistical and narrative reports, records, and files related to the nursing academic unit’s operations and programs.
• Supports the identification and assessment of new partnerships, facilities, and resources to advance the development of technologically innovative, adaptive learning environments that effectively enhance student learning outcomes.
• Supports professional development strategy for the school in collaboration with the Associate Dean of Faculty.

Administration:

• Serves as the CCNE Director of Nursing/Chief Nursing Officer, representing all CCNE accredited programs in the academic nursing unit.
• Develops and manages the academic unit’s budget in collaboration with the Manager of Dean Support.
• Collaborates with the University's compliance team to ensure the nursing academic unit’s practices and programs are in alignment with compliance standards.
• In collaboration with the Academic Program Directors (APDs) and program faculty, develops, implements, and upholds rigorous standards and consistent program quality within the nursing academic unit.
• Fosters an environment that attracts, retains, and prepares a diverse student body to effectively meet current and future workforce demands.
• Collaborates with Campus Operations and ensures ATI Testing Centers are operating efficiently and effectively.
• Collaborates with all nursing faculty and staff to attain academic excellence, positive student engagement, and continued growth of the nursing academic unit.
• Collaborates with the Associate Dean of Faculty to manage processes related to full-time and part-time faculty, including but not limited to Faculty Annual Plans (FAPs), Annual Activities Report (AAR), merit, and promotion.
• Encourages senior faculty to serve as mentors and positive role models for less experienced full-time and part-time faculty.
• In consultation with the Dean, recommends the appointment of new APDs.
• Assists with investigations or concerns regarding faculty or staff performance or conduct issues in conjunction with Human Resources and/or the Title IX Office as appropriate.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Direct supervisor to full-time and part-time Nursing faculty and the Senior Manager, Clinical Skills Lab positions.
• Ensure direct reports are successfully following appropriate program operations, protocol, policies, and procedures.
• Serves on hiring committees as needed, screen applications, interview candidates, and recommend individuals for hire.
• Makes recommendations for salary adjustments, merit increases (if applicable), promotions and reclassifications.
• In conjunction with HR, determines corrective action as needed for direct reports.
• Ensure all training requirements have been completed.
• Participates in the annual goal setting and performance evaluation process and nursing faculty annual plans.
• Responsible for the retention of nursing staff and nursing faculty.

Requirements:

Education & Experience:

• Terminal degree required in primary discipline taught or in a discipline that is recognized within the field as related (i.e., DNP, PhD, EdD).
• Master’s degree in nursing, required.
• Unincumbered registered nursing license required. California registered nursing license preferred.
• Experience leading the CCNE accreditation process, including writing self-study and site visit, required.
• 5+ years of experience supervising professional faculty and/or staff including planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating daily, required.
• 8+ years of experience full time teaching in higher education required.
• 10+ years of management experience preferred.
• Experience with state and/or national nursing accreditation processes required.
• Experience in using online instructional delivery systems required.
• Expertise in curriculum development and teaching, preferably at all three levels (BSN, MSN, and Doctorate) in academic nursing, preferred.
• Experience in academic program evaluation, including meeting accreditation standards, required.
• Experience in higher education as a department chair, director, program coordinator or comparable leadership position required.
• A strong record of teaching, research/scholarship, and professional service preferred.
• Evidence of effective teaching in higher education settings, including working with adult and non-traditional learners required.
• Experience in teaching in a Competency Based Curriculum preferred.
• Knowledge of NCLEX preparation tools (i.e., ATI) preferred.
• Knowledge of Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) standards preferred.

Competencies/Technical/Functional Skills:

• Strong demonstrated ability to drive teaching through engagement for adult learners in an online environment, using multiple modalities, leveraging technology, and providing feedback to students that is meaningful, timely, balanced and individualized. 
• Accepts personal accountability, proactively seeks resolution for personal limitations head-on; and supports honesty and respect towards others, the company and oneself.
• Actively seeks to influence, build effective relationships, and gain alignment with peers, functional partners, and/or external partners to accomplish business objectives.
• Develop new insights into situations; questions conventional approaches; recognize opportunities for change; encourages new ideas and innovations; designs and implements new or cutting-edge courses.
• Encourages and supports innovative and diverse thinking. Maintains strong working relationships during times of transition.
• Work collaboratively to foster a cooperative spirit within a large and/or small team of diverse cultures, while working in a fast-paced environment with multiple projects, deadlines, and frequently changing priorities.
• Communicates effectively, actively listens, adapts communication to audience and fosters effective communication with others. Demonstrates the ability to be consistently open, honest, and candid when communicating with others.
• Ability to demonstrate an understanding of underlying organizational issues and strategies.
• Experienced leader with the ability to anticipate and plan for change and communicate a vision to the team.
• Ability to develop and achieve measurable and challenging goals to support the organization’s vision, mission, strategic goals, and objectives.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of individual constituencies in a diverse community.
• Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills to simplify complex data that informs departmental and program strategies.
• Strong demonstrated experience with online teaching and audio/video platforms.
• Solid consulting and mentorship skills that result in teamwork and diplomacy.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governing body regulations.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills, with a proven ability to provide timely, accurate information on a variety of academically oriented subjects to both internal and external constituents.

Travel: Travel to LA, Fresno, & San Diego campuses may be required up to 4 times a year, as well as commencement activities.

Location: Remote, USA

#LI-Remote

Candidate receiving offers will be offered a salary/pay rate commensurate with experience that vary based on a candidate’s qualifications, skills, and competencies.  Absent exceptional circumstances, candidates will be offered a salary within this range for this position. The minimum salary will be offered based on the minimum exemption threshold based on state of residency. Base pay is one component of National University’s total rewards package, as we are dedicated to supporting the needs of the “whole you” with our holistic approach to employee benefits by offering comprehensive well-being benefits for you and your family.  For full details about our benefit plan offerings, please visit benefits.nu.edu. For Part-time benefits, please click here.

National University is committed to maintaining a high-quality workforce representative of the populations we serve. National University employs more than 4,500 faculty and staff and serves over 45,000 students. We are united in our mission to meet the global education demands of the 21st Century and are dedicated to creating a supportive academic and work environment that allows students, faculty and staff to develop their interests and talents while experiencing a sense of community. With programs available both online and at our many campus locations, National University is a leader in creating innovative solutions to education and meeting the needs of our student population, including adult learners and working professionals.

National University (NU) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant per applicable federal, state and local laws. At NU, a mix of highly talented, innovative and creative people come together to make the impact of a lifetime for each of our student learners. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment, education, and admission at National University.