Director of National Council Licensure Examination Success

Title: Director of NCLEX Success

Location: Oakland, California

Work Arrangement: Hybrid — Oakland office, with in-office attendance varying by meetings, events, and business needs.

Employment Type: Full-time

Employee Status: Regular

Job Description Summary:

Samuel Merritt University is committed to student success, licensure readiness, and continuous improvement of program outcomes. The Director of NCLEX Success provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and programmatic coordination of NCLEX preparation initiatives across the prelicensure nursing programs.

This position reports to the Associate Dean of Curriculum & Faculty and is responsible for leading NCLEX readiness strategy, managing NCLEX support infrastructure, and supervising NCLEX Success Coaches. The Director works collaboratively with program leadership, course faculty, academic support services, and assessment teams to improve first-time NCLEX pass rates, strengthen remediation systems, and ensure students graduate prepared for safe entry-level practice.

The Director of NCLEX Success leads data-driven interventions across the student lifecycle, from early identification of risk through post-graduation NCLEX preparation support. This role serves as the operational lead for NCLEX preparation resources, standardized testing integration, remediation programming, and faculty collaboration related to student success initiatives.

Major areas of responsibility include leadership, NCLEX success programming, data monitoring, faculty collaboration, and supervision of NCLEX Success Coaches.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Administration (70%)

NCLEX Success Strategy and Program Oversight

• Leads development and implementation of comprehensive NCLEX readiness strategy across BSN programs
• Establishes structured NCLEX preparation pathways from program entry through graduation
• Oversees implementation of standardized testing strategies (HESI or equivalent)
• Develops structured remediation frameworks aligned with student performance data
• Monitors national trends in NCLEX testing and integrates best practices into program strategy
• Ensures alignment between NCLEX preparation efforts and program outcomes

Student Success Infrastructure

• Oversees NCLEX Success Coaches and coordinates student academic support related to licensure readiness
• Develops early identification processes for academically at-risk students
• Implements individualized NCLEX readiness plans for identified students
• Coordinates NCLEX preparation workshops, boot camps, and review programs
• Supports repeat test-takers and graduates preparing for NCLEX

Data Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

• Monitors NCLEX performance data, predictive exam results, and course outcomes
• Develops dashboards to track student readiness indicators
• Provides regular reports to College leadership
• Identifies trends impacting pass rates and recommends corrective actions
• Participates in continuous improvement planning related to licensure outcomes

Faculty Collaboration

• Works with course faculty to integrate NCLEX preparation strategies into curriculum
• Guides test blueprint alignment and question writing
• Partners with faculty to support remediation planning
• Supports faculty development related to NCLEX preparation strategies
• Collaborates with curriculum committees regarding readiness initiatives

Accreditation and Regulatory Support

• Supports preparation of NCLEX data for BRN, CCNE, and WSCUC reporting
• Assists with program review documentation related to licensure outcomes
• Contributes to continuous improvement reporting processes
• Ensures NCLEX success initiatives align with accreditation expectations

Supervision

• Directly supervises NCLEX Success Coaches
• Establishes expectations, performance goals, and evaluation processes
• Coordinates workload and student assignments
• Provides coaching and professional development support
• Conducts performance evaluations

Teaching and Student Engagement (20%)

• May facilitate 1:1 or 1-to-many reviews related to NCLEX preparation or student success
• Facilitates NCLEX readiness seminars and workshops
• Provides group and individual student advising related to licensure preparation
• Supports students in development of study plans and testing strategies
• Collaborates with faculty regarding student progression concerns

Service (10%)

• Participates in College of Nursing committees related to student success
• Participates in faculty organization and college meetings as appropriate
• Supports university student success initiatives
• Represents the College in student success and licensure readiness initiatives
• Participates in professional organizations related to nursing education

Minimum Qualifications & Requirements

Education & Experience

• Master’s degree in Nursing required; doctoral degree in Nursing, Education, or a related field preferred.
• Active, unencumbered RN license and eligibility for faculty appointment at the Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor rank, as applicable.
• Minimum five years of experience in prelicensure nursing education, including progressively responsible academic or program leadership experience.
• Minimum three years of leadership, program coordination, or administrative experience within nursing education, student success, academic affairs, or a related area.
• Demonstrated experience developing or leading NCLEX preparation, academic remediation, progression, or student success initiatives.
• Experience using standardized testing and assessment platforms such as HESI, ATI, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze student performance, assessment, and outcomes data and translate findings into measurable improvement strategies.
• Experience collaborating with faculty and academic leadership to implement program-wide initiatives and improve student outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple priorities, projects, and stakeholders across an academic program or institution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Nursing, Education, or a related field.
• Experience leading institution- or program-level initiatives focused on NCLEX performance, student progression, retention, or academic success.
• Demonstrated record of improving NCLEX pass rates or other measurable student outcomes.
• Experience developing or administering progression, remediation, and academic success policies.
• NCLEX item-writing, test-development, or assessment experience.
• Experience supervising, coaching, or providing functional leadership to professional staff and/or faculty.
• Experience managing budgets, vendors, technology platforms, or other resources associated with student success programs.
• Experience working across multiple nursing programs, campuses, or academic departments.
• Knowledge of nursing accreditation, regulatory, and compliance requirements as they relate to student progression and licensure outcomes.

Work Environment:

Office Location: Oakland -Hybrid

• This is a hybrid position based in Oakland, CA with in-office attendance varying depending on meetings, events, and business needs.
• Collaboration with a multidisciplinary team in a dynamic academic setting.

Employee Status:

Regular

Exemption Status:

United States of America (Exempt)

Time Type:

Full time

Job Shift:

Pay Range:
Up to $143k [annually/exempt] depending on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other relevant factors.

Organization:

At Samuel Merritt University (SMU), we are dedicated to fostering a supportive, inclusive community committed to advancing healthcare through exceptional education, compassionate care, and community service. Known for our leading-edge programs in health sciences, SMU equips students and faculty with the knowledge and skills to make impactful contributions to health and wellness.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. SMU welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where anyone can thrive and reach their full potential.

Samuel Merritt University currently provides base salary ranges for all positions-on job advertisements-in the United States based on local requirements. Individual compensation will ultimately be determined based on a variety of relevant factors including but-not limited to qualifications, geographic location, and other relevant skills.

Benefits

Samuel Merritt University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Mental health and wellness resources
• Education reimbursement
• Employee discounts through Marketplace
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and parental leave
• Nine paid holidays, plus a paid holiday break between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Two floating holidays
• One paid Volunteer Work Day
• Five Education Leave Day

Important Notice: Beware of Fraudulent Job Offer

Samuel Merritt University has been made aware of individuals posing as SMU recruiters, particularly for remote positions. To help protect yourself, please keep the following in mind:

• All legitimate job openings are posted on the SMU Careers page and trusted job boards.
• We will never ask you to provide payment for equipment or submit sensitive personal information before completing the formal hiring process.
• Official offers of employment are issued through Workday, not by text message or informal email.

Please remain cautious and protect your personal information throughout your job search.

Notice to Recruitment Agencies

Samuel Merritt University does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our job application email address, SMU employees, or any other university location.  Samuel Merritt University is not responsible for fees associated with unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions.