Academic and Program Leadership Positions College of Nursing

Samuel Merritt University; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 176,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Opportunities for interprofessional teaching and practice

Job summary

Samuel Merritt University is looking for academic and program leaders for various positions at the assistant, associate, or full professor level. Located in California, these roles focus on strategic growth and preparing a diverse nursing workforce.

Candidates must have an earned graduate degree in nursing and California RN licensure. The positions offer competitive salaries and a commitment to health equity and community service.

Qualifications

• Active or eligible California RN licensure.
• Evidence of effective teaching, clinical excellence, scholarship, and/or leadership.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence and health equity.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for nursing programs.
• Support faculty development and curriculum quality.
• Advance enrollment growth and student outcomes.

Skills

Leadership experience

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Change management

Education

Earned graduate degree in nursing

Doctoral degree preferred

Job description

Multiple openings for academic and program leadership positions across all specialty areas at Samuel Merritt University. Positions are available at the assistant, associate, or full professor level and may be based at any of the SMU campuses in Oakland, Sacramento, Fresno, or Foster City.

About Samuel Merritt University

Samuel Merritt University (SMU) is a private, non‑profit health sciences university dedicated to educating compassionate, skilled, and culturally responsive health professionals who serve diverse and underserved communities. With campuses in Oakland, Sacramento, Fresno, and Foster City, SMU is deeply embedded in California’s healthcare ecosystem and committed to health equity, interprofessional education, clinical excellence, and workforce development.

Position Overview

The College of Nursing seeks exceptional academic and program leaders to support strategic growth, enrollment expansion, program excellence, community‑engaged practice, and the preparation of the nursing workforce needed to serve California’s diverse populations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for nursing programs or academic initiatives.
• Support faculty development, curriculum quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Advance enrollment growth, student outcomes, and workforce‑aligned programming.
• Strengthen partnerships with clinical affiliates, health systems, and community organizations.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, equity, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Preferred Expertise

• Demonstrated academic, clinical, or administrative leadership experience.
• Experience with accreditation (e.g., CCNE), assessment, and program evaluation.
• Strong communication, organizational, and change‑management skills.

Minimum Required Qualifications (All Positions)

• Earned graduate degree in nursing; doctoral degree preferred.
• Active or eligible California RN licensure.
• Evidence of effective teaching, clinical excellence, scholarship, and/or leadership.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence and health equity.
• Ability to work effectively in an urban, multi‑campus, mission‑driven academic environment.

Benefits

• Deep commitment to health equity and serving underserved communities.
• Strong clinical partnerships across Northern and Central California.
• Collaborative, student‐centered faculty culture.
• Opportunities for interprofessional teaching, practice, and scholarship.
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

Salary

Annual salaries for Academic and Program Leadership positions are determined based on the scope of the role, relevant experience, qualifications, internal equity, geographic location, and other job‑related factors. Salaries may range up to $160,000.