Nurse Practitioner Program Director / Tenure Track - Westfield State University

Westfield State University • Westfield, MA

41d • $80,000 - $120,000

About The Position

The inaugural Program Director is a key academic leader responsible for the overall administration and quality of the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Program. This includes: Ensuring compliance with CCNE and NONPF accreditation standards Overseeing curriculum development, delivery, and evaluation Managing budgetary and operational planning Leading faculty and staff supervision and performance evaluation Supporting student advisement and remediation Maintaining clinical site relationships and preceptor recruitment Providing direct instruction within the PMHNP curriculum, consistent with MSCA workload requirements

Requirements

• Advanced practice RN nationally certified in psychiatric mental health, or eligible to become certified, or a nationally certified psychiatric/mental health Clinical Nurse Specialist certified in Psychiatric Mental Health
• Matriculated in a doctoral program or ability to demonstrate earned hours of graduate required for a terminal degree set by the CBA
• Current unencumbered licensure, or eligible for licensure, as an RN and APRN in Massachusetts or possess a compact license
• Excellent leadership, interpersonal, and organizational skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and data management systems
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Understanding of Westfield State University's mission and public service values

Nice To Haves

• Graduate of an accredited Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program
• Doctoral degree in nursing (DNP, PhD, or equivalent) Current national board PMHNP certification
• Demonstrated knowledge of CCNE and NONPF standards and the self-study process
• Experience in higher education
• Experience with competency-based and online education

Responsibilities

• 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
• Develop and maintain curriculum aligned with CCNE and NONPF standards
• Evaluate course effectiveness and student learning outcomes
• Provide classroom and/or clinical instruction in PMHNP core and specialty courses
• Support students in remediation and academic advising
• 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
• 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
• Provide oversight into 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
• Represent the PMHNP Program in university, local, and national forums
• Participate in leadership activities that advance PMHNP education and professional development
• Serve on university committees and engage in institutional initiatives
• Attend relevant professional conferences and events
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Dean

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees