Program Director, Practice Education

The Academic Program Director (PD) for Site-Based Learning Partnership (SBLP), is a key leadership position spanning both Capella and Strayer university; he/she/they promote and support a quality academic experience for learners by ensuring a site-based learning (SBL) experience that facilitates accreditation compliance and achievement of program outcomes. The Program Director SBLP has managerial oversight of the SBL/practice education team, with responsibility to oversee data collection, quality improvement activities, governance, operations tasks, and collaboration with internal and external partners, working to ensure that all policies and process are current, efficient, effective, cohesive, and compliant with the diverse accreditation requirements of the healthcare programs within the two universities.

This management position contributes to a range of activities related to excellence in SBL effectiveness, learner success, satisfaction and engagement. work closely with deans, assistant/associate deans, program/faculty directors, as well as relevant university departments, to manage systems and processes related to SBL design and delivery. He/she/they coordinate with the Site-Based Learning and Services team, Portfolio, and relevant academic leaders to remain aware of issues related to student placement needs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Ensure high-quality educational experiences for learners and faculty, focusing on SBL quality and achievement of outcomes across all the healthcare portfolio of programs offered by Strayer and Capella Universities.

Engage in the ongoing review of the overall program, SBL Outcomes, and learner experience data; identify improvement opportunities based on regular data review.

Analyze and act based on analytics reports on a schedule determined by accreditation requirements and/or the schools, summarizing findings and recommendations and tracking the impact of implemented changes.

Assure quality of learner site-based vetting, approvals, and administration.

Provide team guidance and oversight of complex affiliation requests.

Ensure accreditation mandates are supported across the full healthcare portfolio. Ensure SBL processes are designed per accreditation standards and followed by all involved

Serve as liaison with multiple internal cross-functional partners.

Resolve multi-faceted types of problems encountered involving placement, sites, or administrative issues.

Proactively oversee communications and change-management with preceptors/site supervisors and students, including, but not limited to, site vetting, orientations, and evaluations.

Oversee quality of all SBL orientations/training as defined by school and/or specialized accreditation and as needed.

Contribute to specialized accreditation processes as needed to develop and maintain relevant learner manuals and accreditation SBL standards and outcomes assessments.

Conduct audits of SBL processes to ensure continuous quality improvement and learner success.

All other duties as assigned.

Job Skills:

Clinical Placement — Demonstrates the ability to:

• •Lead and advise on complex clinical placement and practice education challenges.
• •Apply expertise in site requirements, compliance expectations, and clinical education technologies.
• •Coach and support team members in clinical placement best practices and problem-solving.
• •Assess the quality, effectiveness, and consistency of clinical learning experiences.
• •Analyze data, stakeholder feedback, and outcomes to identify risks, trends, and improvement opportunities.
• •Foster strong clinical site partnerships that support learner success and organizational goals.

Leadership

Ability to operate independently in a highly matrixed and ambiguous environment with significant interdependencies. Leads, collaborates, and executes with a strong focus on results, balancing strategic thinking with accountability for action. Builds alignment through listening, partnership, and informed decision-making while independently advancing initiatives in support of organizational goals and priorities.

Navigation, Problem Solving & Adaptability

Ability to analyze, navigate, and resolve complex, multifaceted challenges involving learners, clinical placements, faculty, site partners, regulatory requirements, and operational processes. Demonstrates adaptability in ambiguous and evolving environments, adjusting priorities and approaches as circumstances change while maintaining focus on desired outcomes. Applies sound judgment, critical thinking, and cross-functional collaboration to identify solutions, mitigate risks, and drive results despite uncertainty.

Innovation

Creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

Stress Tolerance

Accepting constructive criticism and dealing with high-stress situations.

Be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite programs.

Ability to travel as required/needed.

Work Experience:

Work Experience

• •Minimum of 3 years of experience in higher education, healthcare education, clinical education, practice education, clinical placement operations, or a related field, including responsibility for site-based learning, experiential learning, clinical placements, or healthcare workforce development initiatives.
• •Minimum of 2 years leadership experience in academic, clinical, workforce development, or healthcare settings, including oversight of programs, partnerships, projects, or teams.
• •Experience collaborating with healthcare organizations, clinical sites, faculty, preceptors, and other stakeholders to support learner placement, progression, and success.
• •Demonstrated ability to work effectively within a matrixed organization and lead initiatives across multiple teams, functions, and external partners; experience managing remote teams preferred.
• •Knowledge of clinical placement processes, affiliation agreements, compliance requirements, clinical education technologies, and site partner expectations preferred.
• •Demonstrated engagement in the profession through practice education leadership, professional associations, committee participation, presentations, publications, or other contributions to the field preferred.

Education:

Education requirements as listed below may be in any of the two categories noted:

Nursing (required for non-NP):

• •MSN from an accredited Nursing program, required.
• •An earned doctorate from a regionally accredited institution in Nursing or closely related fields, including Leadership in Higher Education and Education, required.
• •Must hold an active, unencumbered Registered Nurse license (preferably a compact state license).

Nursing (required for APRN):

• •MSN from an accredited Nursing program, required.
• •An earned doctorate from a regionally accredited institution in Nursing or closely related fields, required.
• •Must hold an active, unencumbered Registered Nurse license (preferably a compact state license).
• •Must hold an active, Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner License
• •Must maintain clinical practice as defined by state licensure, AANP and/or ANCC.

All degrees must be conferred from an institution accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Certifications:

Required Licensure and/or credentials listed under each of the education categories provided in the section labeled “Education”.

Other:

• •Must be able to travel occasionally should a business need arise. For most roles travel would not be common. Travel may involve plane, car or metro. In accordance with ADA policies, reasonable accommodations regarding travel limitations can be provided. Travel will be more common for roles such as Account Executives (25 - 50%), senior leaders (10 – 20%) or Capella Core Faculty (5 – 10%).
• •Required access to remote work in setting which enables meeting all requirements of the role (including privacy, reliable internet access, phone,