Director/Professor of Nursing

California State University San Marcos; San Marcos (CA); On-site; USD 146,000 - 203,000; Full time

Job summary

California State University San Marcos is seeking a seasoned tenure-track academic nurse administrator to serve as Director of the School of Nursing. This 9-month, full-time administrative role oversees strategic planning, accreditation, and program development for both the San Marcos campus and Temecula satellite campus, reporting to the Dean.

The Director will mentor faculty and staff, lead licensure and accreditation activities, manage budgets, and collaborate with clinical sites and partners

Qualifications

• Earned doctorate in Nursing or related field (PhD, DNSc, EdD).
• Minimum 3 years of progressively responsible work in public higher education.
• At least one year leading and supervising faculty and staff.
• Experience as administrator, director and/or department chair with proven leadership.
• One year of direct patient care as an RN or equivalent.
• Be eligible for (and maintain) CA RN license; established nursing leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic planning for the School of Nursing.
• Oversee program development and accreditation evaluation.
• Manage budgets and expansion of programs and simulation.
• Hire and review faculty and staff; oversee evaluations.
• Lead NCLEX/BRN compliance coordination.
• Foster partnerships with clinical sites and educational partners.

Skills

Academic leadership

Accreditation experience

Strategic planning

Faculty development

Budget management

Education

Doctorate in Nursing or related field

Job description

Rank: Full Professor, without Tenure

Working Title: Director of Nursing

Department: School of Nursing

Start Date: Spring 2027

California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) seeks a seasoned, strategic, tenure-track academic nurse administrator to serve as the next Director of the School of Nursing. Housed in the College of Education, Health and Human Services (CEHHS) and reporting to the Dean, the Director will oversee the school’s administrative and academic program functions, including program evolution and innovation, system- and state-level engagement, strategic alignment with institutional priorities, community partnerships with clinical sites, and the mentorship and development of faculty and staff at all levels.

The Director will also lead accreditation efforts and ensure that CSUSM programs meet evolving standards of nursing excellence in California and beyond.

The Director is a tenure-track role upon appointment with the opportunity to earn tenure given satisfying the campus’ evaluation process.

The Director position is a 9-month, full-time administrative (non-teaching) role, with the opportunity for additional summer compensation for administrative responsibilities performed during the summer months.

The Director of the School of Nursing serves as the lead administrator for the school, overseeing all administrative, planning, and budgetary matters related to both the San Marcos campus and the Temecula satellite campus; professionally developing, supporting and mentoring tenure track faculty, clinical faculty, and lecturers; evaluating and evolving academic programs to align with best practice, accreditation standards, and market demand; and supporting student success.

Directly supervising the Associate Directors and administrative staff, the Director also leads an experienced and highly motivated and talented faculty, and models and fosters a spirit of innovation that supports new initiatives, pilot programs, and new academic directions.

In partnership with faculty and staff, the Director builds and nurtures collaborative relationships and partnerships with clinical placement sites, community college partners and other enrollment source institutions, and other community partners as well as the close partnership with Extended Learning for the delivery of certain programs.

The Director also plays a key role in system-wide and statewide conversations on nursing policy and legislation that affect nurses and nursing education and leads strategic planning efforts for the school in alignment with institutional priorities.

The School of Nursing (SoN) was founded in 2006 with the BS in Nursing program and has grown significantly over the past 20 years to meet the needs of North County San Diego and beyond through a broad range of academic program offerings at all levels. The School of Nursing at CSUSM offers Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in nursing. Three pathways lead to the BSN: a traditional 4-year program, an accelerated 5-semester program, and a fully online ADN/RN to BSN program for students in community college nursing programs, or practicing RNs who hold an ADN and wish to earn a BSN. The MSN program prepares students for a career as a family nurse practitioner or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

Minimum Qualifications

• An earned doctorate in Nursing or related field (e.g., PhD, DNSc, EdD)
• 3 years of progressively responsible work experience in public higher education.
• Minimum of one year leading and/or supervising the work of faculty and staff.
• One year of experience as an administrator, director and/or department chair, with validated performance of responsibilities leading a department or school.
• One year of continuous, full-time (or its equivalent) experience in direct patient care as a registered nurse, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of prelicensure and graduate progression to the DNP is essential.
• Be eligible for (and maintain) a current California active unencumbered license as a registered nurse.
• Established leadership in nursing and nursing academia including effective administration skills.
• Record of scholarly teaching, research and service meriting appointments as a Full Professor, including demonstrated research and publishing in area of expertise.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with program development, revisions, review and assessment.
• Knowledge of face-to-face, accelerated, master’s as well as online and innovative programs, and
• online pedagogy/andragogy.
• Proven record of fostering student learning and academic excellence.
• Demonstrated experience creating and implementing long and short-term goals.
• Demonstrated experience in leading licensing and accreditation activities.
• Demonstrated organizational, leadership and effective communication skills.
• Demonstrated continuity in leadership in nursing.
• Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate intercultural competence and a commitment to serving our campus community as it relates to teaching and, as applicable, service.

Duties To Include

• Leads or oversees strategic planning for the School of Nursing.
• Leads program planning, and development.
• Oversees program accreditation evaluation and university assessment for School of Nursing programs.
• Oversees budget and ongoing expansion of programs and simulation.
• Hires and reviews faculty as appropriate.
• Leads self-study, site evaluations, substantive change and revision submissions and all reports to the Board of Registered Nurses (BRN) and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
• Oversees coordination of NCLEX (BRN examination) requirements for students.
• Leads in the professional nursing community with groups such as CSU Deans and Directors, AACN Deans meeting.
• Participates in various School of Nursing committees.
• Develops partnerships with other educational institutions, health care agencies, community and international organizations.
• Assists in advancement of the School of Nursing by meeting with donors and brokering partnerships with other academic or clinical organizations for long term funding.
• Writes grants to develop and sustain nursing programs and partners with other agencies in writing grants for collaborative programs.
• This position will be hired as Full Professor without Tenure and will participate in the Retention, Tenure and Promotion (RTP) process.

Anticipated Hiring Salary Range: $145,700 - $202,900 per year

CSU Classification Salary Range: $103,116 - $182,532 per year - not inclusive of the MPP role

Timeline: A review of applications will begin on October 15, 2026.

CSUSM is currently not sponsoring applicants for H-1B employment that are subject to the $100,000 fee established by the Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers issued on September 19, 2025. Applicants are responsible for determining the applicability of the fee.

CSUSM has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and was recently named one of the top 32 Colleges most friendly to junior faculty by the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education. Visit Faculty Opportunities for more information.

California State University San Marcos is an Equal Opportunity Employer strongly committed to promoting diversity in all areas of the campus community. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, physical or mental disability, gender or sex, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion or religious creed, sexual orientation and veteran or military status.

Per the California State University Out-of-State Employment Policy , the CSU is prohibited from hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside California. Working in the State of California is a condition of employment.

The person holding this position is considered a mandated reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

This position is subject to employment verification, education verification, reference checks and criminal record checks. An offer of appointment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, including a criminal records check, and may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act or Clery Act Notification can be found at Clery Act Notification.