Description:
 

Job Description Summary:
 

Samuel Merritt University
Multiple Openings | All specialty areas
Locations: Oakland, Sacramento, Fresno, Foster City (CA) and Online

About Samuel Merritt University
Samuel Merritt University (SMU) is a private, non-profit health sciences university dedicated to educating compassionate, skilled, and culturally responsive health professionals who serve diverse and underserved communities. With campuses in Oakland, Sacramento, Fresno, and Foster City, SMU is deeply embedded in California’s healthcare ecosystem and committed to health equity, interprofessional education, clinical excellence, and workforce development.

Position Overview

The College of Nursing invites applications for a cluster hire of exceptional nursing educators, clinicians, scholars, and academic leaders to support strategic growth across pre-licensure, post-licensure, and academic leadership programs. This initiative reflects the University’s priorities related to enrollment growth, program excellence, community-engaged practice, and preparation of the nursing workforce needed to serve California’s diverse populations.

Appointments may be made at the assistant, associate, or full professor level depending on qualifications and institutional needs. Positions may be based at any SMU campus, with opportunities for collaboration across locations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Areas of Appointment

Pre-Licensure Faculty

(ABSN, BSN, Entry-Level MSN)

Primary Responsibilities

• Teach and evaluate students in classroom, skills lab, simulation, and clinical settings
• Participate in curriculum design and delivery aligned with AACN Essentials, BRN requirements, and SMU’s mission
• Support student advising, mentoring, and retention efforts
• Engage in service and shared governance at the program, college, and university levels

Preferred Expertise

• Med-surg, fundamentals, population and community health, mental health, pediatrics, obstetrics, or geriatrics
• Simulation-based instruction and innovative teaching methodologies
• Commitment to inclusive pedagogy and student success in diverse learning environments

Post-Licensure Faculty

(RN-BSN, MSN, DNP, and Certificate Programs)

Primary Responsibilities

• Teach graduate and advanced practice nursing students
• Mentor students in scholarly inquiry, clinical practice, leadership, and professional development
• Maintain an active program of scholarship, clinical practice, educational innovation, or policy engagement consistent with appointment track
• Contribute to accreditation, program assessment, and continuous improvement initiatives

Preferred Expertise

• Advanced practice nursing roles (FNP, PMHNP, CRNA)
• Nursing leadership, health systems, informatics, education, population health, or health equity
• Experience in teaching in online and hybrid formats
• Interprofessional education and practice within complex healthcare systems

Academic & Program Leadership Roles

(e.g., Program Directors, Associate/Assistant Deans, Specialty Track Leads)

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for nursing programs or academic initiatives
• Support faculty development, curriculum quality, and regulatory compliance
• Advance enrollment growth, student outcomes, and workforce-aligned programming
• Strengthen partnerships with clinical affiliates, health systems, and community organizations
• Foster a culture of collaboration, equity, innovation, and continuous improvement

Preferred Expertise

• Demonstrated academic, clinical, or administrative leadership experience
• Experience with accreditation (e.g., CCNE), assessment, and program evaluation
• Strong communication, organizational, and change-management skills

Minimum Required Qualifications (All Positions)

• Earned graduate degree in nursing (doctoral degree preferred)
• Active or eligible California RN licensure
• Evidence of effective teaching, clinical excellence, scholarship, and/or leadership, as appropriate to role
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence and health equity
• Ability to work effectively in an urban, multi-campus, mission-driven academic environment

Why Join Samuel Merritt University?

• Deep commitment to health equity and serving underserved communities
• Strong clinical partnerships across Northern and Central California