Nursing Program Director
Nursing Program Director
A well-regarded university is seeking an experienced and visionary Nursing Program Director to lead and enhance its nursing education programs. This leadership role offers the opportunity to drive the future of nursing education in a dynamic academic environment committed to healthcare innovation, student success, and community impact.
The Nursing Program Director will oversee all aspects of the program, including curriculum development, faculty leadership, accreditation compliance, clinical partnership management, and student outcome improvement. The position requires a dedicated professional with strong organizational, communication, and mentorship skills, as well as a demonstrated commitment to advancing the nursing profession through education.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic and Operational Leadership
- Provide strategic leadership and day-to-day operational oversight of the nursing program, ensuring program excellence, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement in student outcomes
- Develop and execute a program vision aligned with the institution’s mission, the needs of the regional healthcare workforce, and the evolving standards of nursing education
- Prepare and manage the program’s budget, aligning resources strategically with academic priorities, clinical infrastructure needs, and faculty development goals
- Represent the nursing program to institutional leadership, community partners, and external stakeholders, advocating for resources and visibility that support the program’s growth
Curriculum and Academic Program Management
- Develop, implement, and continuously evaluate a comprehensive nursing curriculum that aligns with CCNE or ACEN accreditation standards, State Board of Nursing requirements, and current industry needs
- Promote innovative teaching practices, evidence-based instructional methodologies, and simulation-based learning that prepare graduates for the demands of contemporary nursing practice
- Monitor and drive improvement in key student outcome metrics including NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates, retention, graduation rates, and graduate employment
- Ensure all program policies, student progression criteria, and graduation requirements are clearly documented, consistently applied, and regularly reviewed for relevance and equity
Faculty Leadership and Development
- Recruit, onboard, mentor, and evaluate nursing faculty, fostering a collaborative, growth-oriented, and professionally engaged faculty community
- Support faculty in maintaining clinical currency, pursuing scholarly activity, and engaging in professional development opportunities that strengthen their instructional effectiveness
- Ensure appropriate faculty-to-student ratios and faculty qualifications are maintained in compliance with accreditation standards and state regulatory requirements
Accreditation, Compliance, and Partnerships
- Ensure full and ongoing compliance with state board of nursing requirements, CCNE or ACEN accreditation standards, and all applicable federal and institutional regulations
- Lead preparation for accreditation self-studies, site visits, and annual reporting, maintaining documentation systems that support continuous accreditation readiness
- Establish and maintain relationships with healthcare organizations, hospitals, and clinical partners to support student placements, preceptorship agreements, and professional development opportunities
Education, Credentials, and Experience
Required Credentials
Skills and Abilities
- Expertise in accreditation processes (CCNE, ACEN), healthcare education trends, and current nursing practice and licensure examination standards including NCLEX-RN Next Generation
- Proven ability to lead curriculum design, faculty development, and student success initiatives in an accredited nursing program environment
- Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills with demonstrated effectiveness in building partnerships across academic, clinical, and community settings
- A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in nursing education, including efforts to recruit and retain diverse faculty and students
What We Are Looking For
Deep, working knowledge of CCNE and ACEN standards and a track record of successfully managing self-study processes, site visits, and ongoing compliance without allowing accreditation to become a crisis.
Data-driven approach to monitoring and improving NCLEX-RN pass rates, retention, graduation rates, and graduate employment outcomes, with the ability to identify root causes and act on them decisively.
Genuine investment in recruiting, mentoring, and retaining nursing faculty who combine clinical expertise with pedagogical effectiveness and scholarly engagement.
Ability to build and maintain productive relationships with hospital systems, healthcare organizations, and clinical preceptors that expand student placement capacity and strengthen program-employer alignment.
Commitment to evidence-based curriculum development that integrates current clinical practice standards, simulation technology, and the evolving competency frameworks driving nursing education reform.
Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion in student recruitment, faculty hiring, curriculum design, and program culture, with results that are visible in program demographics and outcomes data.
- Accreditation Leadership: track record of managing CCNE and ACEN compliance, self-studies, and site visits without allowing accreditation to become a crisis
- Outcomes Accountability: data-driven approach to improving NCLEX pass rates, retention, and graduation outcomes
- Faculty Development: genuine investment in recruiting and retaining nursing faculty who combine clinical expertise with effective teaching
- Clinical Partnership Management: ability to build hospital and clinical site relationships that expand student placement capacity
- Curriculum Innovation: commitment to evidence-based curriculum integrating simulation, current standards, and competency frameworks
- Inclusive Leadership: demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion across student recruitment, faculty hiring, and program culture
Salary and Benefits
The university offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package commensurate with experience and institutional rank. The institution provides access to cutting-edge educational facilities and a collaborative academic community committed to healthcare excellence and professional growth.
How to Apply
Excelon Associates is conducting this search on behalf of the client institution. The institution is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community. All applications are handled with complete confidentiality.
- Submit a detailed cover letter highlighting your leadership philosophy, nursing education background, and vision for program development
- Provide a current curriculum vitae including evidence of administrative experience, accreditation involvement, scholarly activity, and faculty development work
- Include contact information for three professional references with direct knowledge of your nursing education leadership
- Selected candidates will be invited for a confidential conversation with the Excelon Associates search team and, if advancing, a campus interview with faculty, students, and institutional leadership
For inquiries or nominations, contact Excelon Associates at +1 (828) 417-7094 or via the Start a Search page.
A Nursing Program Director’s work is measured in NCLEX pass rates, accreditation standing, and the caliber of graduates entering the workforce. But it is also measured in the culture they build — whether faculty stay, whether students thrive, and whether the program earns the trust of the healthcare community it serves.
FAQ: Nursing Program Director
Need to Hire a Nursing Program Director?
Excelon Associates recruits nursing program directors, department chairs, and nursing education leaders for colleges and universities nationwide. Whether you need to fill a program director vacancy or are building leadership capacity across your nursing education enterprise, we connect you with doctorally prepared, accreditation-experienced candidates. Headquartered in Asheville, NC. Retained search since 2007.