Job Title: Nursing Program Director
Program/Division: Nursing (Behavioral, Natural, and Health Sciences)
FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports To: Vice President for Academic Affairs, in collaboration with Division Head
About William Jewell CollegeWilliam Jewell College is a nationally recognized liberal arts college located in Liberty, Missouri, in the heart of the Kansas City metropolitan area. Founded in 1849, Jewell has prepared students for meaningful lives through rigorous academics, purposeful community, and transformative experiences. The Nursing Program, housed within the Behavioral, Natural, and Health Sciences Division, offers a CCNE-accredited, pre-licensure Bachelor of Science (BS) program grounded in Jewell's liberal arts tradition. With a 100% NCLEX pass rate in 2023, 2024, and 2025, a 6:1 student-to-faculty clinical ratio, over 650 hours of clinical and simulation learning, and Missouri's first internationally endorsed simulation center, our program combines clinical excellence with critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and whole-person care. More than 3,000 graduates have entered the profession since the program's founding in 1970, and our nurses are sought after by employers throughout the Kansas City region and beyond.
The OpportunityWilliam Jewell seeks a dynamic, growth-oriented Nursing Program Director to lead the next chapter of our nursing program. With strong outcomes, dedicated clinical partners, multiple degree tracks (traditional four-year BS, three-year accelerated BS, a twelve-month accelerated track for degree holders, and transfer nursing), and community pipeline programs including Collegiate Nursing Academy partnerships with Liberty and NKC public schools, the program has a solid foundation. The new Director will be charged with building on this momentum-expanding enrollment, strengthening recruitment strategies, exploring new degree pathways such as an RN-to-BS completion track or graduate nursing options, and deepening regional healthcare partnerships to meet growing workforce demands.
SummaryThe Nursing Program Director provides visionary leadership, strategic direction, and administrative oversight for all nursing program operations. This role is responsible for driving program growth and innovation, maintaining the program's outstanding outcomes and accreditation, managing resources, cultivating faculty excellence, and ensuring student success-all within the distinctive context of a liberal arts institution. The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial leader with a demonstrated record of building or expanding nursing programs, a collaborative spirit, and a passion for educating the next generation of nurses.
Duties and ResponsibilitiesStrategic Leadership and Program Growth - Provide vision, leadership, and strategic direction for all aspects of the nursing program, with an emphasis on enrollment growth and program expansion
- Develop and execute a multi-year strategic growth plan in collaboration with faculty, the division chair, and institutional leadership
- Identify and evaluate opportunities for new program offerings (e.g., RN-to-BS, MSN, DNP, post-baccalaureate certificates, or specialty tracks) based on market analysis and workforce needs
- Develop and implement recruitment strategies in partnership with Admission to grow and diversify the nursing student pipeline
- Strengthen and expand the Collegiate Nursing Academy and summer nursing camp as feeders for program enrollment
- Manage program budgets and resources strategically, aligning investment with growth priorities and faculty input
Accreditation, Compliance, and Quality Assurance - Maintain CCNE accreditation and oversee all accreditation reporting, self-studies, and site visits
- Ensure compliance with Missouri State Board of Nursing requirements and all applicable state and national regulations
- Prepare reports and documentation for accreditation reviews, annual reports, and institutional assessment
- Evaluate program effectiveness using data-driven outcomes, including NCLEX pass rates, retention, graduation rates, and employment data
Curriculum and Academic Excellence - Oversee curriculum design, development, and continuous improvement in collaboration with faculty across all nursing tracks
- Ensure curriculum alignment with CCNE standards, Missouri State Board requirements, and evolving industry best practices
- Integrate emerging healthcare trends, technologies, and evidence-based practices into the curriculum
- Leverage Jewell's state-of-the-art simulation center and clinical labs to enhance experiential learning
Teaching - Maintain an active teaching presence in the nursing curriculum, including classroom, clinical, or simulation instruction as determined by program needs
- Model excellence in teaching and evidence-based pedagogy for nursing faculty
- Contribute to the teaching mission of the program, with teaching load adjusted to reflect administrative responsibilities
Faculty Development and Support - Recruit, hire, mentor, and evaluate nursing faculty to support current and expanded program needs
- Promote faculty development, scholarship, and continuing education opportunities
- Support faculty through research endeavors, tenure, and promotion processes
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative academic environment
Student Success and Clinical Education - Staff clinical rotations each semester and cultivate clinical placement opportunities with regional healthcare partners
- Carry out admission, readmission, progression, and graduation processes and policies as established by department faculty
- Monitor and improve student performance, retention, and graduation rates across all nursing tracks
- Address student concerns and support academic advising and NCLEX preparation processes
- Promote student engagement, professional development, and career readiness
- Maintain the nursing student handbook and program websites with current policies and information
External Relations and Community Engagement - Build, maintain, and expand relationships with clinical partners, healthcare organizations, and community stakeholders to support program growth
- Develop new clinical affiliation agreements to increase placement capacity as enrollment grows
- Represent the program at professional organizations including the Greater Kansas City Collegiate Nurse Educators, Kansas-Missouri Hospital Association taskforces, Missouri State Board of Nursing events, AACN, and CCNE
- Oversee the Collegiate Nursing Academy partnerships, including student selection, course staffing, and orientation/graduation events
- Represent the program and serve as a visible advocate for nursing education in professional, alumni, and community settings
Required Qualifications - Doctoral degree in nursing or a related field (PhD, DNP, or EdD) from a regionally accredited institution
- Current, active, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in Missouri (or eligibility for Missouri licensure prior to start date)
- Academic and experiential preparation appropriate for the role, as defined by CCNE and Missouri State Board of Nursing standards
- Minimum of three years of demonstrated leadership or administrative experience in nursing education
- Experience with nursing program accreditation (CCNE preferred) and state regulatory compliance
- Experience in curriculum development and program evaluation
- Appointment is contingent on approval from the Missouri State Board of Nursing
Preferred Qualifications - Demonstrated record of growing nursing program enrollment or launching new nursing degree pathways
- Experience with strategic planning, market analysis, or feasibility studies for academic program development
- Experience in a liberal arts or small-college setting
- Established relationships with healthcare systems in the Kansas City region
- Experience with simulation-based education and clinical partnership development
- Record of scholarship, teaching, and service appropriate for faculty rank
Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes - Strategic and entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for program growth and innovation
- Strong leadership, organizational, and fiscal management skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build consensus among diverse stakeholders
- Data-informed decision-making and continuous improvement orientation
- Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
- Collaborative spirit and ability to work effectively within a liberal arts college community
Working Conditions - Full-time, eleven-month appointment with faculty rank commensurate with qualifications
- Academic environment on Jewell's campus in Liberty, Missouri, with regular clinical site visits throughout the Kansas City area
- Some evening or weekend hours may be required for program events, clinical needs, or recruitment activities
- Moderate travel for accreditation visits, professional conferences, clinical partnership development, and recruitment
Application InformationInterested candidates should submit a cover letter addressing their vision for nursing program growth, a current curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information of three professional references. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
William Jewell College is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The College does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender, genetic information, national origin, race/color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.
Learn more about nursing at Jewell: https://www.jewell.edu/programs/nursing