University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Logo University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
College of Nursing

Nursing Science Department Chair –Associate Professor or Professor Rank

About the job

The Opportunity:

The College of Nursing at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) invites applications for a position at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor that will also serve in the role of Chair of the Nursing Science Department. The position is a tenure-track, 12-month, full-time faculty position with an academic appointment in the Nursing Science Department. The position will be a member of the Dean’s Executive Committee, which consists of the Dean, the Associate Deans, and the Department Chairs. The ideal candidate will have academic accomplishments demonstrating excellence in teaching, a history of conducting innovative and extramurally funded research and inspiring and promoting the professional development of faculty. This opportunity is suitable for a visionary leader who is focused on advancing the mission of the Science department and the college and dedicated to supporting the career development of the Science faculty within this larger mission.

Responsibilities

In accordance with university and college policies and procedures, the Department Chair is responsible for providing visionary leadership as well as future-oriented thinking regarding the fulfillment of duties related to faculty development and the mission within the department. Specific job duties, which include the normal expectations of a non-administrative faculty position, as well as additional responsibilities specific to the administrative chair role, include:

  • Engage in extramurally funded research within the mission of the Science department and college.
  • Provide excellence in teaching in the PhD program, including serving on doctoral dissertation committees.
  • Demonstrate leadership in service activities such as membership and/or leadership on institutional, state, and national professional committees and organizations, and maintenance of a robust publications record.
  • Engage in the recruitment, selection, and retention of faculty.
  • Collaborate with other department chairs and associate deans to facilitate faculty development.
  • Collaborate with faculty to develop individualized goals for their career development and implement a plan for the achievement of those goals.
  • Conduct the required annual faculty performance evaluations.
  • Manage personnel issues within the Science department faculty, consulting with the Associate Dean for Research, the Dean, and/or Human Resources and/or the Center for Faculty Excellence as needed.
  • Mentor faculty members on an informal basis, and contribute to the development of a formal faculty mentoring program in the college.
  • Plan faculty workload with the faculty, program directors, associate deans, and dean in accordance with the mission areas of research, education, and service.
  • Provide orientation to new faculty members.
  • Lead the preparation of an annual report on the department’s performance in collaboration with the Associate Dean for Research.
  • Maintain a regular department meeting schedule throughout the academic year, at least quarterly at a minimum.
  • Facilitate the development of strategic initiatives in order to achieve the UAMS Vision 2029. Serves on the following committees: Deans and Directors Committee, Dean’s Executive Committee, PhD Council, and other committees as needed.
  • Contribute to the revision of CON handbooks and catalogs.
  • Coordination of the Dalme-Rickel Distinguished Lectureship, including identification of speakers.
  • Participate in Campus Faculty Affairs meetings and/or other institutional committees as needed.

Candidate Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have the following professional qualifications and personal characteristics:

  • Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in nursing or a related field. A master’s degree in nursing is also required if the doctoral degree is not in nursing.
  • Must hold an unencumbered RN or advanced practice nursing license with eligibility for licensure in Arkansas.
  • Must also be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
  • Strong oral and written communication skills, a history of extramurally funded research, a robust publications record, and presentations at scientific conferences is desired.
  • Evidence of excellent teaching and student mentoring, especially in a PhD program.
  • Strong administrative skills, including strategic planning, personnel management, and action-oriented problem solving is desired.
  • Must meet the associate or full professor rank with a history of progressive academic leadership positions (i.e., Council/committee chair, program director, professional society leadership role, etc.). An innovative thought leader with teaching experience in a graduate-level nursing program. Evidence of ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
  • The successful candidate will demonstrate a scholarly focus in obesity, nutrition/physical activity, geriatrics/gerontology, cancer survivorship, quality of life, social determinants of health, sexual health, , or health promotion/disease prevention across the life cycle.
  • A cross-cutting focus on rural health and health disparities is strongly preferred.

Preferred Professional Experience

  • Evidence of an existing program of research is desired.
  • Publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Preferred Personal Characteristics

  • Well-developed emotional intelligence with exceptional interpersonal and communication skills. Evidence of strong problem-solving skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a matrixed organization with multiple reporting lines. Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion.
  • Unquestioned personal integrity.

Procedure for Candidacy:

You may submit your application to the UAMS careers site posting.

For full consideration, applications should include the following documents:

  1. A curriculum vitae
  2. A letter of interest providing a concise summary of qualifications for the position, including a research statement and a summary of research goals, a summary of teaching experience, and a description of personal and professional qualifications that support appointment to the role of Department Chair.

Apply now.

UAMS is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans and is committed to excellence. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by telephone at (501) 686-6432 and let us know the nature of your request. We will only respond to messages left that involve a request for a reasonable accommodation in the application process. We will accommodate the needs of any qualified candidate who requests a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

This is a safety sensitive position and is subject to pre-employment screening (criminal background, drug testing, and/or education verification). A criminal conviction or arrest pending adjudication alone shall not disqualify an applicant except as provided by law. Any criminal history will be evaluated in relationship to job responsibilities and business necessity. The information obtained in these reports will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

The safety of our team members at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is our top priority. For this reason, successful applicants for this position must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or have filed a request for medical or religious exemption as a condition of employment. UAMS will adhere to all federal, state, and local regulations and will obtain necessary proof of vaccination prior to employment to ensure compliance.