Director of Direct Entry MSN FNP Program

Director of Direct Entry MSN FNP Program

Main Campus - Boston, MAMain Campus - Boston, MA
R08428

Located in Boston's historic Fenway area, Simmons has a strong tradition of empowering women and of challenging traditional gender roles. Simmons University was one of the first higher education institutions to focus on preparing women to become leaders and has evolved to become a university offering a women-centered undergraduate program, with graduate programs open to all. Nursing education at Simmons dates back to 1933. At that time, Simmons implemented a five-year baccalaureate program in nursing and became a charter member of the National League for Nursing. Simmons continues its proud tradition of educating nurses. Today, Simmons Department of Nursing offers a traditional 4-year BSN program, a 16-month accelerated BSN program for students with a prior baccalaureate degree, a 2-year Dix scholars program for adult learners, an online RN to BSN program, and a 4 + 1 BSN-MSN FNP program, while graduate nursing programs offer paths for a direct-entry MSN, Post Licensure MSN FNP, and doctoral education.

The School of Nursing is housed in the College of Natural, Behavioral and Health Sciences (CNBHS). CNBHS is a collegial and supportive community of teachers and scholars within a uniquely multidisciplinary College. Simmons faculty and staff are truly committed to our mission of preparing students to become champions of social justice and leaders in their professions and their communities. This commitment and pride make for a dynamic workplace. Simmons University strives for inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual's community experience: One of our strategic goals is to become the most inclusive campus in New England. As a University committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we seek candidates with a demonstrated ability to work with students across a broad range of social and personal identities and perspectives. We particularly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups.

Job Summary: The Director of the Direct Entry (DE) MSN FNP program is employed by the University and reports to the School of Nursing (SON) Department Chair & Associate Dean for the SON. The Director is responsible for supervision of the pre- and post- licensure components of the Direct Entry MSN FNP program. The Director will collaborate extensively with the Director of Undergraduate Nursing and the Director of Advanced Practice around the pre- and post- licensure components of the DE program as appropriate. The Director also has collaborative oversight of faculty, staff, and Academic Advisors in matters regarding the efficient and effective functioning of the DE MSN FNP program. The Director of the Direct Entry MSN FNP program will have administrative and advisement responsibilities, and no required teaching commitments. Collaborating with the Chair & Associate Dean of the SON, the Director ensures academic rigor and curricular alignment of the DE program, while meeting the needs of current and prospective students and aligning with the overall vision and standards of the College and the standards of the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

The Director of the Direct Entry MSN FNP program is responsible for overall program design, development, and delivery, with the goal of creating the optimal student experience and desired student outcomes. In collaboration with a core team across several functional areas of the college (Strategic Initiatives, Student Financial Services, Registrar, Technology, Finance, Operations, Legal) and in collaboration with Simmons strategic partner, 2U, the Director must focus on several areas of the program to ensure quality: marketing, curriculum, faculty, student support, operations, and profitability.

Curriculum Management Responsibilities

• Oversee Direct Entry program curriculum in collaboration with the Associate Dean, SON chair, Director of Undergraduate Nursing, Director of Advanced Practice, clinical director & course coordinators.
• Monitor and maintain academic policies within the SON and specific to the DE program.
• Ensures that the academic rigor and curriculum of the DE program are in alignment including selecting appropriate clinical experiences to meet the stated course objectives with the appropriate clinical faculty, in collaboration with the appropriate Clinical Placement Team for pre- and post- licensure phases of the program.
• Review, evaluate, and recommend course offerings and course size in collaboration with Associate Dean, SON chair & course coordinators.
• Promote development of interdisciplinary curricula and research.
• Advocate and support faculty and students in research and scholarship activities.
• Coordinate and lead faculty mentoring and faculty development programs.
• Oversee adherence to professional standards and best practices, in consultation with the SON chair, the clinical director, and course coordinators.
• In consultation with the SON Chair and Associate Dean, assure that all requirements for the Direct Entry Program accreditation and approval for the pre-licensure component are being met.
• Participate in the SON accreditation and/or board approval activities.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate the DE program evaluation plan in collaboration with the SON Chair, Associate Dean, Director of Undergraduate Nursing, Director of Advanced Practice, & the Operations team.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Ensure welfare of the DE Program through managing and planning budget in coordination with the SON Chair, Associate Dean for SON, Operations Director, and Dean.
• Collaboratively assign and monitor faculty workload to ensure compliance with University policies and College needs.
• In collaboration with the Director of Undergraduate Nursing or the Director of Advanced Practice, coordinate and complete the annual review process for the undergraduate and graduate nursing faculty (that teach in the DE Program), advisors, and support staff (who have responsibilities in the DE program).
• Provide leadership in creating conditions conducive to the improvement of the overall infrastructure of the DE Program through the maintenance of effective systems and processes within the College.
• Facilitate DE faculty meetings in conjunction with the administrative assistant.
• Maintain active, responsive, and positive communication with nursing faculty, staff, chair, directors, and other university members.
• Assist the Dean, Associate Dean, and SON Chair with the maintenance of a culture of quality, trust, and accountability.
• Work with nursing faculty, staff, advisors, Chair of SON, Director of Operations, Dean, and Associate Dean to strengthen, coordinate, integrate, and implement strategic goals established by the SON and CNBHS.
• Identify and secure clinical placement sites in collaboration with the appropriate pre- or post-licensure clinical placement team.​

College Management Responsibilities, Including Student-Facing

• Serve as a resource & liaison with Admissions, 2U, Student Affairs, Accessibility Services, Office of Advising, Career Education Center, faculty, students, and clinical partners.
• Assist faculty leaders with complex student issues.
• Collaborate with the Operations team in providing leadership for programming, special events and ceremonies, and graduation celebrations.
• Participate in the College-wide strategic planning as well as that of the DE Program.
• Participate in the development of strong campus and community partnerships.
• Provide visionary leadership for the DE Program and grant funded educational initiatives and partnerships.
• Participate (with Dean, Associate Dean, SON Chair, and faculty leaders) in recruitment and admissions of students.
• Participate in and convene as needed an Academic Standards Committee or other SON and College-level student review processes taking into consideration College, board of nursing, and accreditor policy requirements.
• Work with SON chair, Associate Dean, pre- and post-licensure clinical placement teams, faculty and staff to coordinate student success initiatives as appropriate for the DE program.
• Promote and support innovative and interdisciplinary research and courses.

Faculty Management Role

• Oversee the DE Program faculty hiring processes (in collaboration with Operations Director, Dean, Associate Dean, SON Chair, HR, and the Provost's Office). Promote consistency and policy compliance, strong candidate pools, and success in the hiring of tenure and non-tenure stream, clinical, and adjunct faculty.
• Oversee the recruitment, selection & scheduling of pre-licensure clinical nursing faculty in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Nursing.
• Plan, monitor, and evaluate the instruction provided by pre-licensure nursing adjunct faculty.
• Ensures all documentation required by the MA Board Of Nursing for pre-licensure clinical faculty is present and up to date.
• In concert with the Director of Undergraduate Nursing, Director of Advanced Practice, SON Chair, Associate Dean, and Dean manage and coordinate the DE faculty review processes, including annual, mid-point, tenure, promotion, voucher, and Periodic Developmental Multi-Year Reviews.
• Work with the academic leadership team in relation to sensitive faculty dismissal processes when necessary.
• Advocate for equitable allocation of capital resources required to support faculty scholarship and student learning objectives consistent with professional standards and best practices (laboratory facilities, instrument facilities, etc).
• Provide leadership and promote professional development within the faculty who teach in the DE program.​

External Role

Serve as a communication link in conjunction with the Chair of the SON, Associate Dean, College, University, 2U, and other external constituents including but not limited to employers, alumni, donors, clinical partners, and professional associations.

Other Duties

• Other responsibilities as determined by the SON Chair, Associate Dean, or Dean.
  

Qualifications/Skills:

• Master's degree in Nursing & board certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner required
• Must have terminal degree (PhD, DNP, DNSc)
• 5-10 years of experience as faculty including online experience
• 3-5 years of experience leading and coordinating the work of faculty and academic units
• Ability to build and manage budgets
• Creative problem solver
• Strong and effective communicator
• Ability to motivate and build consensus among faculty
• Ability to effectively collaborate with the SON Chair, Associate Dean for the SON, and Operations to strengthen, coordinate, integrate, and implement the goals established by the program and CNBHS.

Term of Service:

The Director of the Direct Entry MSN FNP program is a Boston-based 12-Month Administrative role that will hold Faculty rank.

Required Application Materials:

To apply, please submit a cover letter (including the title of the position for which you are applying), a CV, a teaching statement, and a leadership statement. Additional supporting materials to document excellence in teaching, such as course evaluations and syllabi of courses taught, are optional and welcomed.

Instructions to Applicants: Please upload all applicable application materials (e.g. resume/cv, cover letter, writing sample, teaching philosophy, etc.) in the Application Materials box on page 2 ("My Experience") of this application. Documents can be uploaded individually or as a combined document (e.g. PDF).

Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual's community experience. As a university committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices-at all levels, for all positions-ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.


To apply, visit https://simmons.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Simmons-Careers/job/Main-Campus---Boston-MA/Director-of-Direct-Entry-MSN-FNP-Program_R08428

Located in Boston’s historic Fenway area, Simmons College is a small, private, non-sectarian College which has educated students for enriching careers and purposeful lives since 1899. Working at Simmons means joining a collaborative, diverse and mission-driven community of educators and professionals.

We prepare students to be leaders for themselves, their communities and the world. Our faculty and staff members lead by example - sharing a commitment to excellence and putting the students first.