Dean - College of Health Professions

Job Description Summary

Saint Leo University seeks a seasoned and accomplished academic leader to serve as Dean of the College of Health Professions. The Dean is a 12-month administrator with faculty rank who reports to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. The College’s portfolio includes programs in nursing, the allied health professions, and social work. The University has made the growth of its health professions academic offerings a strategic priority, and the Dean will lead that expansion with vision, discipline, and urgency. The Dean is accountable for the operational management of the College, including enrollment performance against targets, budget development and stewardship, faculty and staff supervision, and the day-to-day administration of programs across all modalities.

The successful candidate will bring substantial senior leadership experience in health professions education and a demonstrable record of designing, launching, and scaling new academic programs in the health professions. Leading the growth of the University’s newly approved direct entry Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is a critical priority for the new Dean. The growth of the College’s social work programs is likewise an institutional imperative. Candidates with deep experience in nursing education are preferred, although exceptional leaders from other health disciplines will be considered. The Dean will develop and execute a growth plan that expands the College’s portfolio across undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs in the health professions; strengthens enrollment across all modalities, including on-ground, online, hybrid, and accelerated formats; and positions the College to be recognized nationally as a leader in the preparation of superior providers of health care.

Partnerships are critical to this role. The Dean will build and sustain productive relationships with hospitals and health systems, clinical agencies, community colleges, employers, and community organizations to secure clinical placements, create pipeline and pathway agreements, and align programs with regional and national workforce demand. The Dean will also cultivate relationships with donors, foundations, and industry partners to diversify and strengthen the College’s revenue streams.

Job Description

Duties and Tasks:

• Provide strategic and visionary leadership for the College of Health Professions in alignment with the University’s mission, vision, and values.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive growth strategy for the health professions, including new program development, expansion of existing programs, and enrollment growth across all modalities, including on-ground, online, hybrid, and accelerated formats.
• Lead the growth and successful enrollment build of the University’s newly approved direct entry MSN program across all applicable modalities, including clinical capacity, faculty resources, marketing alignment, and student outcomes.
• Lead the growth of the College’s social work programs across all levels and modalities, strengthening enrollment, field education capacity, and CSWE accreditation compliance.
• Lead the identification, market validation, design, approval, launch, and scaling of new academic programs in the health professions, moving programs from concept to enrollment with speed and quality.
• Establish and steward clinical, corporate, and community partnerships that secure clinical placements, preceptors, articulation and pathway agreements, and workforce-aligned program opportunities.
• Ensure all programs meet and maintain applicable programmatic accreditation and state authorization requirements, including CCNE, ACEN, CSWE, and other specialized accreditors, in coordination with the expectations of the Commission on Colleges and Universities (formerly SACSCOC).
• Oversee licensure examination performance, including NCLEX and other credentialing outcomes, and lead continuous improvement efforts that keep pass rates and program quality at superior levels.
• Recruit, develop, mentor, evaluate, and retain excellent faculty and staff, including clinical faculty and preceptors, and build a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation.
• Manage the College’s enrollment performance, budget, staffing plans, and day-to-day operations with strong financial discipline, owning enrollment targets by program and modality, meeting revenue and expense commitments, and building enrollment-driven business cases and pro formas for new program investments.
• Partner with Enrollment Management and Marketing to strengthen recruitment pipelines, conversion, and retention for health professions programs.
• Champion excellence in pedagogy, simulation, clinical education, and the effective use of technology and distance learning in the health professions.
• Cultivate donors and external funding sources, present a compelling case for support, and pursue grants and philanthropic investment that advance the College’s growth agenda.
• Promote collaboration among faculty, staff, students, and other constituencies in critical decisions on academic priorities and the allocation of resources.
• Use data, assessment, and market intelligence to inform program decisions, monitor performance, and drive continuous improvement in student outcomes.
• Represent the College and the University with professional associations, regulatory bodies, health systems, and the broader community.
• Lead, manage, and operate in alignment with the University’s core values of community, respect, integrity, excellence, personal development, and responsible stewardship.
• Perform other related duties as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

            Knowledge:

• A terminal degree from an accredited institution in Nursing, Physical Therapy, Medical Sciences, Health Sciences, Public Health, or a related health discipline; nursing preferred. Academic record meriting appointment at the associate or full professor rank.
• Substantial and progressively responsible senior leadership experience in health professions education, such as dean, associate dean, program director, or department chair, with a record of results at scale.
• A demonstrable track record of developing, launching, and growing successful new academic programs in the health professions.
• Demonstrated knowledge of programmatic accreditation and credentialing processes in the health professions, including specialized accreditors such as CCNE, ACEN, or CSWE, state boards of nursing, and licensure requirements.
• Experience building and managing clinical partnerships, placement agreements, and pipeline relationships with hospitals, health systems, and community organizations.
• Experience delivering health professions programs across multiple modalities, including on-ground, online, hybrid, and accelerated formats, with strength in technology, simulation, and distance learning.
• Knowledge of health care workforce trends and the ability to translate market demand into viable academic programs.

Skills:

• Excellent financial management, planning, and budgeting skills, including the ability to build and defend business cases for new program investment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage enrollment, budgets, personnel, and operations concurrently, with a record of hitting enrollment and financial targets.
• The ability to articulate a compelling vision that engages faculty, staff, students, partners, and donors.
• Experience in fundraising, the ability to present a compelling story to potential donors, and experience in diversifying and bolstering revenue streams.
• Strong communication and excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen effectively, build consensus, and keep constituents informed.
• Skill in using data, assessment, and evidence-based practices to evaluate programs and drive continuous improvement.

Abilities:

• The capacity to lead effectively within an academic community and to promote collaboration among faculty, staff, students, and other constituencies.
• Ability to recruit, develop, and retain excellent faculty, staff, and students.
• A commitment to excellence in pedagogical practices and to the preparation of culturally competent health professionals who serve diverse communities.
• Ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously and deliver measurable results.
• An entrepreneurial, collaborative, and creative spirit.

ENVIRONMENT: 

The work environment characteristics described here are a representation of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The term “qualified individual with a disability” means an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of this position.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate professionally in person, over the telephone, through email and other electronic means, move about the office and University, handle various type of media and equipment, and visually or otherwise identify, observe and assess.   The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 10 pounds unless otherwise specified in the job description.

NOTICE:

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position.  Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.  Saint Leo University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces diversity as a critical step in ensuring employee, student and graduate success. 

Why Work at Saint Leo?

What it’s Like to Work Here: Ask our employees and the one word they’d use to describe working at Saint Leo University is “Community.” Our team members all share the Saint Leo core values, positive attitudes, and problem-solving abilities, enabling them to provide excellent student centered service. Our mission is educating and preparing students for life and leadership in a challenging world.  Thank you for your interest in joining the Saint Leo PRIDE!

We are committed to providing our employees with the support they need. At Saint Leo, we offer an array of medical, dental, and vision packages as well as several add-on perks to make your benefits package truly customizable to you and your family needs. Available benefits based on employment status (Full Time vs Part Time).

• FREE Tuition - Employee, Spouse, and Dependents*
• Tuition Exchange Opportunity - Dependent of Employees*
• Generous Paid Leave - Sick, Vacation, and Holidays
• Comprehensive Group Health Plan (Medical, Dental, and Vision)
• Group Medical Plan includes Teledoc, Surgery Plus, Wellness Incentive Program and more!
• 100% Employer-Funded Health Reimbursement Account
• 100% Employer-Paid Short Term Disability Insurance
• 100% Employer-Funded Employee Assistance Program (healthcare and dependent options)
• Employer-provided life insurance
• Discounted On-Campus Dining Meal Plans
• Nationwide Pet Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 403b Retirement Plan
• Wellness Center

*Eligibility based on meeting required service period

2025 ICUBA Benefits Guide_St Leo