Director Of Advanced Practice - FNP Program - Remote Eligible

Located in Boston's historic Fenway area, Simmons University has a strong tradition of empowering women and challenging traditional gender roles. Simmons was founded for equality 125 years ago as one of the first higher education institutions dedicated to helping women become leaders. Today, our university continues to grow and evolve and now offers Boston's only women's undergraduate program and graduate programs open to all.

You're joining our community at an especially exciting time as we continue to innovate for the future. Simmons recently launched a six-school academic structure that leverages our expert faculty and longstanding expertise in professions that make our communities stronger. In addition, we continue to highlight our high-value education proposition that is delivering greater ROI to students and putting them on the fast track to career growth and success. You'll find that people who work here truly believe in our mission of preparing students to become social justice-oriented leaders who excel in their professions and their communities. This commitment and pride make for a dynamic workplace.

As a university that values 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.

Director of Advanced Practice - FNP Program, School of Nursing

Located in Boston's historic Fenway area, 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 1902. Simmons continues its proud tradition of educating nurses. Today, Simmons School of Nursing (SON) offers BSN, MSN, DNP degrees and Post-Graduate Certificate programs.

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 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. As a University, we seek candidates with a demonstrated ability to work with students across a broad range of social and personal identities and perspectives.

Job Summary:

This individual is employed by the University and reports to the Chair for Graduate Nursing Programs. The Director is responsible for the supervision of all of the online and campus-based Family Nurse Practitioner Tracks. The Director also has oversight of the Director of FNP Clinical Education and faculty who teach in the FNP foci courses. The FNP Director of Advanced Practice will have administrative and advisement responsibilities and a reduced teaching commitment. Collaborating with the Chair, the Director ensures academic rigor and curricular alignment of the FNP program, while meeting the needs of current and prospective students and aligning with the overall vision and standards of the SON and the standards of the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

The FNP Director of Advanced Practice 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 University (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 FNP academic programs in collaboration with the Dean, Associate Dean of SON, Chair, Clinical Director, and course coordinators.
• Monitor and maintain academic policies within the SON specific to the FNP program.
• Ensures that the academic rigor and curriculum of the FNP program align, including selecting appropriate clinical experiences to meet the stated course objectives with the appropriate clinical faculty in collaboration with the 2U Clinical Placement Team.
• Review, evaluate, and recommend course offerings and course size in collaboration with the Dean, Associate Dean, Chair, and course coordinators.
• Promote the 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 Chair, FNP Clinical Director, and course coordinators.
• In consultation with the Dean, Chair, and Associate Dean, ensure that requirements for SON accreditation are being met.
• Participate in the SON accreditation and/or board approval activities.
• Monitor the graduate nursing systematic evaluation plan in collaboration with the Associate Dean, Chair, and Operations team.

Administrative Responsibilities:

• Ensure the welfare of the FNP Program by managing and planning the budget in coordination with the Dean, Chair, Associate Dean, and Operations Director.
• Monitor faculty workload to ensure compliance with University policies and SON needs.
• Coordinate the annual review process for the FNP clinical director and the nursing faculty who teach FNP foci courses.
• Provide leadership in creating conditions conducive to improving the overall infrastructure of the FNP Program through the maintenance of effective systems and processes.
• Facilitate FNP faculty meetings.
• Maintain active, responsive, and positive communication with FNP nursing faculty, staff, SON leadership, and other University members.
• Assist the Dean, Associate Dean, and Chair with maintaining a culture of quality, trust, and accountability.
• Work with the FNP nursing faculty, advisors, Operations team, Dean, Associate Dean, and Chair to strengthen, coordinate, integrate, and implement strategic goals established by the SON.

School of Nursing Management Responsibilities, Including Student-Facing:

• Serve as a resource to liaise with 2U, Student Affairs, Accessibility Services, Office of Advising, Career Education Center, faculty, and students.
• 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 School-wide strategic planning as well as that of the FNP Program.
• Participate in the development of strong campus and community partnerships.
• Provide visionary leadership for the FNP Program and grant-funded educational initiatives and partnerships.
• Participate (with the Dean, Associate Dean, Chair, and faculty) in recruitment and admissions of students.
• Work with the Chair, Associate Dean, FNP Clinical Director, faculty, and staff to coordinate student success initiatives as appropriate for the FNP program.
• Promote and support innovative and interdisciplinary research and courses.

Faculty Management Role - FNP Foci:

• Oversee the FNP Program faculty hiring processes (in collaboration with the Operations team, Dean, Associate Dean, 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.
• In concert with the Chair, Associate Dean, and Dean manage and coordinate the 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 of the FNP program tracks.

External Role:

• Serve as a communication link in conjunction with the Chair between the SON, 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 Dean, Associate Dean, or Chair.

Qualifications/Skills:

• Board certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner is required
• Must have a 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 Chair, Associate Dean, and Operations team to strengthen, coordinate, integrate, and implement the goals established by the Dean

Terms of Service: The FNP Director of Advanced Practice is a 12-month contract faculty role.  Hybrid work arrangements will be considered.

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.