To be considered for this position, please submit the following documents: 

• A CV that contains the months and years listed for each employment and education experience  
• Your cover letter that includes: 
  • How you meet the minimum qualifications for this position. 
  • How you meet any of the preferred qualifications for this position. 
  • A statement describing your teaching, research, and scholarship interests, and how they align with the OHSU mission.  

At OHSU’s School of Nursing, we are guided by a mission of healing, teaching, and discovery to optimize health, prepare nurse leaders, and transform health care. As a trauma-informed organization, we are deeply committed to fostering a culture grounded in well-being, diversity, excellence, integrity, and collaboration. We value health, safety, and respect for all. We promote equity, inclusion, and social justice, striving for innovation and sustainability in all we do. 

 

The Ph.D. Program Director at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) School of Nursing (SON) provides visionary leadership for the school's Ph.D. in Nursing program, advancing its missions of research excellence, innovation in education, and student-centered learning. The Director ensures the academic rigor, operational efficiency, and strategic growth of the program both in-person and through its evolving distance-accessible format.

 

This position plays a key role in curricular development, faculty and student support, accreditation compliance, and in building a vibrant community of nurse scientists equipped to lead transformational change in health and healthcare. The Director also contributes to faculty governance, research leadership, and service to the school and university.

 

The Ph.D. program director is a faculty member who has established an active program of research and has experience in academic program administration/management and a track-record of successful mentoring of Ph.D. students. Ideally, the Ph.D. program director has an active program of research that aligns with one of the two signature areas of research at OHSU SON (biobehavioral or health equity) or any other field directly relevant to nursing science (e.g., education research, clinical research, implementation research, population health).

 

This position reports to: the Sr. Associate Dean for Research.

Program Leadership & Strategic Development

• Provide leadership and oversight for all aspects of the Ph.D. program, including curriculum, delivery methods, accreditation, and quality improvement.
• Lead the transition toward a more distance-accessible format, integrating systems and technologies that enhance flexibility, access, and student engagement.
• Set strategic goals for growth in enrollment (target: 6 students/year) and ensure the program infrastructure can support expansion.
• Drive efforts to increase operational efficiency and effectiveness through the integration of new systems and best practices.

Student Success & Diversity

• Lead student recruitment, selection, and retention efforts, with a focus on meeting the 30/30/30 diversity goals (30% first-generation, 30% from underrepresented backgrounds, 30% under the age of 30).
• Promote a student-centered culture that prioritizes mentorship, support, and timely degree completion.
• Cultivate an inclusive and supportive academic environment that values diverse perspectives and life experiences.

Research & Scholarly Engagement

• Maintain an active, externally funded program of research aligned with SON’s signature areas (biobehavioral research and health equity) or other relevant domains such as implementation science, clinical research, population health, or nursing education research.
• Mentor doctoral students and early-career faculty in developing scholarly trajectories and achieving research goals.

Collaboration & Faculty Engagement

• Foster collaboration across academic programs, departments, and interprofessional partners.
• Engage with faculty in continuous program development, student support, and scholarly leadership.
• Represent the Ph.D. program internally and externally to strengthen its visibility and impact.

Governance & Service

• Participate in school and university-level governance and academic planning.
• Contribute to institutional initiatives related to education, research, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Service Activities:

• The Ph.D. program director participates in service activities at the school and university levels, in faculty governance activities, and in leadership activities at the local, state, or national levels. The sevice activities assocated with this role include committee membership, faculty and administrative meetings, professional activities and other SON and OHSU service responsibilities.
  
  

Other Activities: 

• The director of the Ph.D. program provides services as assigned by the Sr. Associate Dean for Research in furtherance of the university’s missions and goals of teaching, research, patient care, outreach and public service (e.g., contribution to school accreditation efforts, representing the SON at meetings).

 

Education: (Degree dependent on academic program type and rank of position.)

• Earned Ph.D. degree is required. (A Ph.D. in Nursing or a Bachelor’s in Nursing  are preferred but not required.)

Registrations, Certifications and/or Licenses:

• Oregon RN license
• Oregon APRN license
• BLS certification from the American Heart Association (AHA)
• Other: National certification demonstrating specialty expertise

 

Experience: (Experience dependent on academic program type and rank of position.)

• 2 years of clinical practice experience required
• Demostrated experience in academic program administration/management.
• Demonstrated experience in teaching at the Ph.D. level.
• Demonstrated experience in mentoring Ph.D. students.
• Capacity to mentor faculty in teaching and mentoring at the Ph.D. level.
• A track record of significant contributions to science in a field related to at least one of the OHSU SON two signature areas of research (e.g., biobehavioral or health equity) or in a filed directly relevant to nursing science (e.g., education research, clinical research, implementation research, population health).
• A track record of securing external research funding.

Benefits 

As one of Portland’s largest and premier employers, OHSU is committed to providing comprehensive, affordable, and customizable benefits for our employees. OHSU’s medical plans offer comprehensive coverage with access to the best physicians and hospitals, including the award-winning care we provide at OHSU. Most full-time employees do not pay any amount for employee-only coverage for medical, dental, and vision coverage. Our total rewards package includes 26 days of PTO*, 9 paid holidays*, employee discount programs, and options for tuition reimbursement, student loan repayment, and retirement plans in addition to many other benefits. Most faculty positions are eligible for relocation assistance. 

 

*Prorated based on FTE. 

 

Creating an inclusive community doesn’t just happen and cannot be achieved by a single department or individual. It is a transformation that occurs only when each of us embraces diversity and leads by example. Candidates that value OHSU’s commitment to building an anti-racist workplace are strongly encouraged to apply.  

 

We are seeking the best candidate for the position, and we understand that qualified candidates come from a range of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and pathways to competency. We encourage you to apply if you feel you can perform the essential responsibilities of the position even if you are unsure whether you meet the minimum qualifications described or are unsure if your experience could be considered related experience. 

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.