Divisional Dean, School of Nursing

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Fairfax (VA); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of VA Careers is seeking a Divisional Dean for the School of Nursing within the College of Public Health in Fairfax, VA. The role leads strategic, operational, and financial directions for the School, building a high-performing, innovative team in a hybrid work environment.

Responsibilities include academic program oversight, accreditation, faculty and staff development, and external partnerships with healthcare systems and government agencies to advance nursing and public health

Qualifications

• Terminal degree in nursing is required.
• Significant leadership experience in an academic or healthcare setting with responsibility for programs, personnel, and resources.
• Experience with accreditation and regulatory processes.
• Demonstrated success supporting research, scholarship, or evidence-based practice.
• Experience in teaching, mentoring, or academic program oversight.
• Knowledge of nursing education, healthcare systems, and public health principles.
• Knowledge of academic administration, accreditation, curriculum oversight, and faculty and staff affairs.
• Skill in strategic planning, organizational leadership, and change management.
• Skill in financial management and resource allocation.
• Ability to lead complex operations and build high performing teams.
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to promote innovation in education and support diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Current licensure as a registered nurse.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction for the School of Nursing aligned with College and University priorities.
• Lead long range planning, goal setting, and implementation of initiatives that enhance academic quality, visibility, and sustainability.
• Advance innovative models of nursing education integrating public health, clinical practice, and technology-enabled learning.
• Oversee School operations, including budget development, financial management, resource allocation, and administrative processes.
• Ensure efficient, transparent, and compliant management of human, financial, and physical resources.
• Implement systems and structures that support operational effectiveness and long-term growth.
• Provide oversight of academic programs at all levels, ensuring quality and continuous improvement.
• Lead accreditation and regulatory compliance processes; ensure curricula align with workforce needs.
• Support research, scholarship, or evidence-based practice and enable faculty success in securing extramural funding.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with healthcare systems, community organizations, government agencies, and industry.
• Represent the School at regional and national levels and support advancement and donor engagement efforts.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Organizational leadership

Budget/financial management

Accreditation experience

Staff development

Communication with stakeholders

Change management

Diversity, equity, inclusion

Strategic planning

Academic administration

Education

Terminal degree in nursing

Job description

Department: College of Public Health

Classification: Administrative Faculty

Job Category:Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type:Full-Time

Work Schedule:Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type:Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility:Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary:Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check:Yes

About the Department:

The School of Nursing, within the College of Public Health, prepares students for interdisciplinary roles as clinicians, educators, researchers, and health system leaders. With approximately 900 students across undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs, the School advances the College’s mission to improve population health through education, research, and practice. The School is nationally recognized for its commitment to health equity, workforce development, and innovation in nursing education, including advanced simulation and virtual reality learning. Through the Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics and strong community and health system partnerships, the School delivers care to underserved populations while preparing a practice ready workforce.

About the Position:

The Divisional Dean of the School of Nursing serves as the chief administrative and academic leader of the School and reports directly to the Dean of the College of Public Health. The Divisional Dean provides strategic, operational, and financial leadership for all School functions, including academic programs, faculty and staff affairs, research development, student success, clinical partnerships, and community engagement. The Divisional Dean leads a senior leadership team and is responsible for advancing the School’s vision, strengthening national visibility, and ensuring operational excellence in a complex healthcare and higher education environment.

The Divisional Dean supervises directors, faculty, and administrative and professional staff. Responsibilities include organizational design, leadership development, performance management, and fostering an inclusive, high performing culture. The role carries broad decision making authority for academic, operational, and financial matters in alignment with College and University policies.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Vision

• Provides strategic direction for the School of Nursing aligned with College and University priorities;
• Leads long range planning, goal setting, and implementation of initiatives that enhance academic quality, visibility, and sustainability; and
• Advanced innovative models of nursing education integrating public health, clinical practice, and technology enabled learning.

Operational and Financial Management

• Oversees School operations, including budget development, financial management, resource allocation, and administrative processes;
• Ensures efficient, transparent, and compliant management of human, financial, and physical resources; and
• Implements systems and structures that support operational effectiveness and long term growth.

Academic and Program Leadership

• Provides oversight of academic programs at all levels, ensuring quality, relevance, and continuous improvement;
• Leads accreditation and regulatory compliance processes; and
• Ensures curricula align with workforce needs and emerging trends in nursing and healthcare.

Faculty and Staff Affairs

• Oversees recruitment, retention, evaluation, and professional development of faculty and staff;
• Builds a diverse and high performing workforce aligned with the School’s mission; and
• Promotes a culture of mentorship, collaboration, and accountability.

Research and Scholarly Advancement

• Supports the growth of the School’s research enterprise by strengthening infrastructure and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration; and
• Enables faculty success in securing extramural funding and advancing scholarship in nursing and public health.

External Engagement and Partnerships

• Develops and maintains strategic partnerships with healthcare systems, community organizations, government agencies, and industry; and
• Represents the School at regional and national levels and supports advancement and donor engagement efforts.

Required Qualifications:

• Terminal degree in nursing required;
• Significant leadership experience in an academic or healthcare setting with responsibility for programs, personnel, and resources;
• Experience with accreditation and regulatory processes;
• Demonstrated success supporting research, scholarship, or evidence-based practice;
• Experience in teaching, mentoring, or academic program oversight;
• Knowledge of nursing education, healthcare systems, and public health principles;
• Knowledge of academic administration, accreditation, curriculum oversight, and faculty and staff affairs;
• Skill in strategic planning, organizational leadership, and change management;
• Skill in financial management and resource allocation;
• Ability to lead complex operations and build high performing teams;
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders;
• Ability to promote innovation in education and support diversity, equity, and inclusion; and
• Current licensure as a registered nurse.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Leadership of complex academic or clinical organizations;
• Budget and administrative operations management;
• Development of academic–practice partnerships and workforce initiatives;
• Advancement of technology enabled education and innovation;
• Knowledge of technology enhanced education, including simulation, virtual reality, and digital health;
• Experience leading academic units in a research intensive university;
• Experience with interdisciplinary collaboration and external relations; and
• Skill in advancement, fundraising, and national positioning of academic programs.