Description

Dean of Nursing

General Description:

The Dean of Nursing provides strategic, academic, and operational leadership for the College’s nursing program. This position oversees curriculum quality, faculty development, regulatory compliance, and clinical partnerships to ensure students are well-prepared for professional nursing practice. The Dean leads efforts to advance student success, retention, and licensure pass rates while aligning program operations with the College’s mission, vision, and strategic goals.

Reporting to the Campus Provost and coordinating closely with the Vice President of Academic Affairs/Chief Academic Officer, the Dean of Nursing serves as a key member of the College’s administrative leadership team and represents the nursing program to internal and external stakeholders.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Program & Pathway Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership for the design, development, and continuous improvement of nursing courses and programs, including new curricula, innovative delivery formats, and transfer or workforce pathways.
• Lead program review and accreditation processes in compliance with Virginia Board of Nursing, ACEN, and other regulatory requirements.
• Use data to assess program viability, enrollment trends, and student outcomes; develop action plans to address identified needs.
• Collaborate with other deans, faculty, and campus leadership to address low-enrollment programs and improve retention, completion, and licensure pass rates.
• Organize and lead nursing discipline meetings at least once per semester; follow up on progress toward division goals and student success initiatives.

2. Faculty Leadership, Hiring & Development

• Recruit, hire, onboard, mentor, supervise, and evaluate nursing faculty and staff in accordance with NOVA hiring practices and VCCS policies.
• Promote faculty professional development and the use of innovative, evidence-based teaching strategies in classroom, lab, and clinical settings.
• Address performance or behavioral concerns promptly in coordination with the Provost and Human Resources.
• Ensure faculty are appropriately credentialed and maintain current clinical qualifications as required.
  
  

3. Curriculum & Course Oversight

• Approve prerequisite waivers, course substitutions, and Credit for Prior Learning proposals for the nursing pathway.
• Oversee the development and updating of Course Content Summaries and nursing curricula to ensure regulatory compliance and alignment with program outcomes.
• Coordinate with the Dual Enrollment Office to credential and support dual enrollment nursing instructors.
• Ensure program compliance with clinical partner requirements, including health screenings, vaccinations, and CPR certifications.

4. Scheduling & Enrollment Management

• Develop efficient, student-centered course and clinical schedules using a data-driven approach; ensure alignment with program completion pathways.
• Collaborate with other campus and college leaders to resolve scheduling conflicts and optimize classroom and lab usage.
• Monitor enrollment patterns and make adjustments to scheduling or faculty assignments to support student demand and budget efficiency.

5. Student Support & Success

• Serve as a resource for resolving student concerns, appeals, grievances, and academic issues within the nursing program.
• Implement strategies to improve student retention, completion, and NCLEX pass rates.
• Promote nursing programs through marketing efforts and community outreach.

6. Budget, Facilities & Resource Management

• Prepare, manage, and monitor the nursing division budget in alignment with College priorities.
• Oversee the maintenance and enhancement of classrooms, skills labs, and simulation facilities.
• Recommend and allocate resources to support program quality, innovation, and compliance requirements.

7. External Relations & Clinical Partnerships

• Develop and sustain partnerships with healthcare organizations to secure clinical placements that meet regulatory standards and program needs.
• Represent the College and nursing program to external stakeholders, including accrediting bodies, community organizations, and government agencies.

8. Compliance & Governance

• Ensure all nursing program operations comply with College, VCCS, state, and federal policies as well as accrediting and licensing body standards.
• Communicate policy updates to faculty and staff and ensure consistent application across the division.
• Serve on College committees, workgroups, and councils, and as Administrator in Charge (AIC) when assigned.

Employees must reside in Virginia, Maryland, or the District of Columbia.

Required KSAs:

• Knowledge of nursing education standards, practices, and accreditation requirements (e.g., Virginia Board of Nursing, ACEN).
• Knowledge of supervision and effective personnel development principles and strategies.
• Knowledge of budget planning, fiscal management, and resource allocation.
• Knowledge of program evaluation, curriculum design, and instructional assessment.
• Knowledge of leadership, organizational management, and strategic planning principles.
• Knowledge of clinical placement requirements, partnerships, and healthcare regulations.
• Knowledge of higher education governance, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of instructional technology, simulation labs, and learning management systems (e.g., Canvas).
• Knowledge of student success strategies and retention/completion best practices.
• Skilled in written and oral communication, including public speaking and professional writing.
• Skilled in relationship-building with faculty, staff, students, and external healthcare partners.
• Skilled in monitoring, mentoring, and evaluating faculty and staff performance.
• Skilled in conflict resolution, mediation, and problem-solving.
• Skilled in reviewing, interpreting, and applying data to decision-making.
• Skilled in developing, implementing, and communicating policies and procedures.
• Skilled in project management and coordination of academic initiatives.
• Ability to exercise discretion and sound judgment in complex decision-making situations.
• Ability to lead diverse teams with empathy, integrity, and vision.
• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to adapt to changing regulations, industry demands, and academic trends.
• Ability to foster a collaborative and inclusive environment that supports faculty and student success.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Nursing. Qualifying academic degree must be awarded by a regionally accredited institution.
• Active, unexpired Commonwealth of Virginia licensure as a registered nurse with no restrictions is required as a condition for hire and for continued employment if hired. If current licensure is with another state or is not active, then you must be able obtain or renew licensure with the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Three (3) years of full-time teaching experience in a professional nursing and/or health science education program. Part-time experience will be converted to its full-time equivalency.
• Three (3) years of full-time administrative or leadership experience in an educational, government, or healthcare/business setting. Part-time experience will be converted to its full-time equivalency.
• Experience with accrediting and licensing agencies and processes such as ACEN, CCNE, and the Virginia Board of Nursing, as well as accreditors for other clinical programs.
• Experience with developing and implementing an LPN program.

Additional Considerations:

• Doctoral degree (DNP or PhD in Nursing). Qualifying academic degree must be awarded by a regionally accredited institution.
• Five (5) years of combined administrative experience in nursing practice and/or nursing education.
• Experience serving as a site visitor for a specialized programmatic accreditation authority or a regional accreditation authority.
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to associate degree programs, including curriculum development and teaching at the community college level.
• Experience in resource development, including grant writing, fundraising, and partnership development.

For further information and to Apply: https://jobs.vccs.edu/postings/88455

Background Check Statement: The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include: fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks (relevant to employment). Additionally, selected candidates may be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, please follow this link: http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/

EEO STATEMENT: The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non-merit factors.