Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program Director & Associate Professor-Tenure Track

Westfield State University; Westfield (MA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Retirement Plan

Tuition Waivers

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Westfield State University seeks a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program Director and Tenure-Track Associate Professor. The role oversees program operations, accreditation readiness, curriculum, and strategic growth, with a dual administrative appointment and a potential summer stipend.

The incumbent will supervise PMHNP faculty, coordinate clinical rotations, and maintain regulatory compliance with CCNE and NONPF standards while advancing student success and workforce development.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in nursing (DNP/PhD) or enrolled in doctoral program.
• + Current PMHNP certification.
• + Eligible for MA RN/APRN licensure.
• + Minimum two years of academic teaching and three years clinical experience in psychiatric mental health.
• + Strong leadership and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Direct daily operations of the PMHNP Program.
• Manage budgets, data systems, and strategic planning.
• Convene regular faculty and staff meetings.
• Monitor student advising and academic support.

Skills

Microsoft Office

Leadership

Curriculum development

Data management

Education

Doctoral degree in nursing (DNP/PhD)

PMHNP certification

Tools

CCNE alignment

NONPF standards

Job description

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program Director & Associate Professor-Tenure Track

In 1839, Westfield State University was founded on the ideals of Horace Mann who sought to improve society through education. We were the first public higher education institution in the US without barriers of race, gender or economic class. The spirit of innovative thinking and social responsibility is forged in a curriculum of liberal arts and professional studies contributing to the development of knowledge, skills, and character essential for students to become responsible leaders and engaged citizens.

Westfield State is a highly residential campus with approximately 57% of our 3,200 full-time undergraduate students living on campus. Including continuing education and graduate students the total student population exceeds 4,700. The campus is ideally situated on the edge of the Berkshire Mountains in western Massachusetts, just 30 minutes from the thriving cultural centers of Springfield, Northampton, and Amherst, with a selection of museums, theaters, collegiate and minor league sports, hiking trails, and restaurants. The University is within 1.5 hours of Boston and Albany and within 3 hours of New York City and the Green Mountain range of Vermont.

Thank You for Your Interest in Becoming a Westfield State Community Member

You are welcome here. You can advance your career and make a difference here. We invite you to bring your whole self and talents to Westfield State University. The University seeks applicants whose record of teaching, student advising, research, and administration positions them to contribute to the everyday practice of our institutional values.

Our Values

Westfield State commits to values that strengthen a common bond among all members of our community and promotes a rich campus environment.

• Embrace Diversity-We treat all members of our community with dignity and respect.
• Maintain Excellence and Integrity -We maintain excellence and integrity in all that we do.
• Collaborate with Each Other -We make decisions in a transparent and collaborative manner.
• Provide Accessible Education-We commit to providing an accessible, affordable public higher education for all.
• Build a Strong Community-We are inclusive and ensure equity, supporting the personal development of all community members, and embracing multiple perspectives.
• Engage the Outside Community-We support civic engagement in local, regional, and global initiatives.

Job Description:

Campus Title:Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Program Director & Tenure-Track Faculty
State Job Title:Associate Professor / Tenure-Track
Department: Nursing
Job Code:HA3100
FLSA Status:Exempt
Funding:7107-0029
Bargaining Unit: MSCA
Job Type: Full-time Permanent
Timeframe: Academic Year plus additional weeks in Program Director role
Shift:Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Regular Days Off:Saturday and Sunday
Supervision Received:Reports to the Chair, Department of Nursing and Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education
Supervision Exercised:All full-time and part-time PMHNP Program faculty, staff, and guest lecturers
Salary:$105,000 to $120,000 annually (commensurate with education and experience), plus an additional summer stipend

Position Structure and Compensation

This is a tenure-track faculty appointment at the Associate Professor level, with a 39-week academic year salary ranging from $105,000 to $120,000.

The position includes service in an additional PMHNP Program Director role. The Program Director component is a separate administrative appointment, compensated through a summer stipend in the range of $10,500 to $12,000 for employment outside the academic year.

While the University anticipates that the selected candidate will serve in both capacities beyond the first year, the Program Director role is not a permanent or required component of the faculty appointment and is subject to annual renewal.

Faculty assigned to the Program Director role will receive a reduced teaching load during the academic year to support administrative responsibilities. Should the Program Director appointment conclude, responsibilities will revert fully to the standard faculty role.

About the PMHNP Program

Westfield State University's Nursing program includes a traditional four-year pre-licensure pathway, an RN to BSN completion program, and a newly launched Concurrent RN to BSN program--the first of its kind in Massachusetts. The program has been recognized as a Nursing College of Distinction in demonstrating consistent outcomes such as NCLEX pass rates well above the national average. Faculty are tenure-track and represented by the Massachusetts State College Association (MSCA). The University offers comprehensive benefits and requires faculty participation in teaching, scholarship, and service.

Job Summary

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program Director provides leadership for the PMHNP program and is responsible for academic quality, regulatory compliance, accreditation preparation, curriculum innovation, faculty development, student success, and strategic program growth. The Director collaborates extensively with clinical and community partners to advance behavioral health workforce development while ensuring graduates are prepared to meet the evolving mental health needs of diverse populations.

REQUIREMENTS:

PMHNP Program Director Responsibilities (Administrative Oversight)

• Direct all daily operations of the PMHNP Program.
• Manage program budgets, data systems, and strategic planning.
• Convene and lead regular faculty and staff meetings.
• Monitor student advising and academic support systems.

Curriculum and Program Oversight

• Develop and maintain curriculum aligned with CCNE and NONPF standards.
• Evaluate course effectiveness and student learning outcomes.
• Support students in remediation and academic advising.

Faculty and Staff Oversight

• Assign teaching and administrative duties in coordination with the Department Chair.
• Supervise and evaluate full- and part-time faculty and staff.
• Lead hiring and onboarding of new program personnel.
• Encourage faculty involvement in scholarship, research, and service.

Accreditation and Compliance

• Lead and manage all aspects of CCNE accreditation and NONPF alignment, ensuring full and ongoing compliance.
• Serve as the primary liaison with CCNE and coordinate all communication and reporting.
• Oversee the program's self-study and continuous quality improvement efforts, including curriculum, assessment, admissions, clinical education, and student outcomes.
• Submit required accreditation documentation, including annual reports, interim updates, and notices of programmatic changes.
• Lead preparation for CCNE site visits, including narrative writing, evidence collection, and team coordination.
• Maintain awareness of current and evolving CCNE and NONPF standards and integrate them into program practice and policy.

Clinical and External Relations

• Provide oversight on the development and maintenance of clinical rotation sites.
• Recruit and retain clinical preceptors and affiliated partners.
• Ensure students meet clinical performance benchmarks and graduation requirements.

Program Leadership and Professional Engagement

• Represent the PMHNP Program in university, local, and national forums.
• Participate in leadership activities that advance PMHNP education and professional development.
• Attend relevant professional conferences and events.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Dean.

Required Qualifications for PMHNP Program Director

• Graduate of an accredited Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program.
• Doctoral degree in nursing (DNP, PhD, or equivalent) or matriculated in a doctoral program.
• Current national board PMHNP certification.
• Current unencumbered licensure, or eligible for licensure, as an RN and APRN in Massachusetts.
• Minimum of two years of academic experience and three years of clinical practice in psychiatric mental health.
• Excellent leadership, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and data management systems.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Understanding of Westfield State University's mission and public service values.

Faculty Responsibilities (Department of Nursing)

The faculty member serving within the Department of Nursing is expected to meet all teaching, scholarship, and service obligations consistent with the MSCA collective bargaining agreement, with teaching load adjustments as appropriate to reflect PMHNP Program Director administrative responsibilities during the academic year.

• Provide classroom and/or clinical instruction in PMHNP core and specialty courses.
• Support students in remediation and academic advising.
• Encourage and participate in scholarship, research, and service.
• Serve on university committees and engage in institutional initiatives.
• Participate in relevant professional conferences and activities that support professional development.

Required Qualifications for Faculty Position

• Graduate of an accredited Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program.
• Doctoral degree in nursing (DNP, PhD, or equivalent) or matriculated in a doctoral program.
• Current national board PMHNP certification.
• Current unencumbered licensure, or eligible for licensure, as an RN and APRN in Massachusetts.
• Minimum of two years of academic experience and three years of clinical practice in psychiatric mental health.
• Excellent leadership, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and data management systems.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Understanding of Westfield State University's mission and public service values.

Preferred Qualifications for Faculty Position

• At least three years of full-time experience in higher education.
• Demonstrated experience in academic program administration, curriculum leadership, or nursing program coordination.
• Experience supporting accreditation readiness, assessment planning, and continuous quality improvement processes.
• Experience teaching across classroom, clinical, laboratory, simulation, and online learning environments.
• Experience precepting or mentoring graduate nursing students.
• Demonstrated leadership in workforce development, faculty development, and community healthcare partnerships.
• Experience establishing and maintaining clinical education affiliations and preceptor networks.
• Record of collaboration with healthcare systems, behavioral health agencies, and academic partners.
• Experience with competency-based and online education.

Compensation

The overall compensation for this position consists of the base salary associated with the tenure-track faculty appointment in the Department of Nursing and additional stipended work associated with the PMHNP Program Director appointment.

Base Salary (subject to MSCA collective bargaining agreement provisions)

• Associate Professor: $105,000 to $120,000 annually

Stipend (Program Director Administrative Appointment)

• Summer Stipend: $10,500 to $12,000

In response to the Presidential Proclamation issued on September 19, 2025, imposing a significant fee on the entry of individuals with new H-1B visas, this position may not be eligible for visa sponsorship.

Requirements:

See above section for required and preferred qualifications for each position.

Additional Information:

Salaries for current Westfield State University employees and individuals currently working for the state of Massachusetts must be calculated individually in accordance with collective bargaining agreements as well as state policies. State job specifications may be found on the Department of Higher Education's webpage.

Employee Benefits:

Benefits are an important component of an employee's total compensation package.

• Health Insurance: Westfield State offers a variety of HMO, POS, and PPO-type health insurance plans for eligible employees. Coverage is effective on the 1st of the month following the date of hire. Exceptions to employees hired on the 1st of the month, coverage is effective immediately.
• Retirement: the MA State Employee Retirement System provides eligible employees with a retirement pension following a 10-year vesting period. In lieu of the retirement pension, eligible employees may select the Optional Retirement Plan with a maximum 5% employer matching contribution.
• Tuition Waivers & Discounts: eligible employees, including spouses and dependent children, receive reduced tuition at MA state colleges, community colleges, and universities.
• Paid Time Off: employees receive 12 paid holidays and generous vacation, personal, and sick leave benefits.

Westfield State University is committed to the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities and will ensure the availability of reasonable accommodations. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at [phone] or visit us in the Horace Mann Building, 1st floor.

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion and review of a background check. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration.