Watts College of Nursing Instructor, Program Lead
Job Summary
The Program Lead provides strategic, program-wide leadership for the nursing curriculum across all levels of the program. This role builds upon Level Lead responsibilities and assumes broader accountability for curriculum integration, faculty development, student outcomes, accreditation readiness, and continuous quality improvement. The Program Lead partners closely with the President, Associate Executive of Academics, Level Leads, and key stakeholders to ensure cohesive, high-quality, and future-focused nursing education aligned with WCON’s mission and Duke’s standards of excellence.
Key Responsibilities
Program Leadership & Strategy
- Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the nursing program across all levels, ensuring curricular coherence, progression, and alignment with institutional goals.
- Serve as a key academic leader and advisor to the President and Associate Executive of Academics on programmatic initiatives, outcomes, and improvement efforts.
- Lead cross-level planning to support innovation, consistency, and responsiveness to emerging trends in nursing education and practice.
Curriculum Oversight & Integration
- Oversee the design, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of the nursing curriculum across levels, ensuring alignment with program outcomes and regulatory standards.
- Ensure horizontal and vertical integration of innovative course content, clinical experiences, and learning outcomes.
- Lead program-level curriculum revisions and continuous improvement initiatives.
Faculty Leadership & Development
- Provide mentorship, and guidance to Level Leads and faculty, fostering a culture of collaboration, excellence, and professional growth.
- Support faculty development related to teaching effectiveness, assessment strategies, and evidence-based educational practices.
- Participate in faculty evaluation processes and contribute to recommendations related to faculty development and advancement, as appropriate.
Student Outcomes & Quality Assurance
- Monitor program-wide student performance, progression, and outcomes, identifying trends and implementing strategies to support student success.
- Collaborate with academic leadership to address student concerns, academic risk, and professional conduct issues at the program level.
- Lead program-level quality assurance initiatives using data-informed decision-making.
Accreditation, Compliance & Reporting
- Provide leadership for accreditation preparation and ongoing compliance efforts, ensuring alignment with ACEN, ABHES, and regulatory requirements.
- Coordinate program-level documentation, reports, and self-studies in collaboration with academic leadership and faculty.
- Ensure consistent implementation of accreditation standards across all levels of the program.
Collaboration & Partnerships
- Collaborate with academic and clinical partners to enhance clinical education, student learning opportunities, and workforce alignment.
- Represent WCON in internal and external committees, task forces, and professional organizations as assigned.
Scholarship & Professional Service
- Engage in and promote scholarly activities, including research, presentations, and publications related to nursing education.
- Serve on college and university committees, including leadership roles as assigned.
- Support innovation and best practices in nursing education, including the integration of technology and emerging pedagogies.
Perform related work as required.
Qualifications
Education
- Doctorate in Nursing or a related field (DNP, Ed.D., Ph.D.) required.
Licensure
- Current, unencumbered RN license in the state of North Carolina.
- Meets North Carolina State Board of Nursing requirements.
Experience
- Minimum of 7–10 years of full-time nursing education experience in an accredited nursing program. Minimum of 5 years in a course lead or lead faculty role.
- Demonstrated leadership experience at the level of Course Lead, Level Lead, or equivalent.
- Experience with program-level curriculum oversight, accreditation activities, and faculty leadership preferred.
Skills
- Advanced leadership, strategic planning, and organizational skills.
- Strong communication, collaboration, and mentorship abilities.
- Demonstrated proficiency in educational technology and data-informed decision-making.
- Deep familiarity with accreditation standards and regulatory requirements.
Certifications
- Maintains current BLS certification.
- Professional nursing certification required; advanced or education-focused certifications preferred.
Working Conditions
- Ability to work in academic and clinical environments, including standing/walking for extended periods and safely handling medical equipment, as required.
Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.
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Essential Physical Job Functions:
Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.