$125,000 Annual Salary
Irvine, California

The Opportunity

If you've spent years building your clinical expertise and now find yourself drawn toward leadership, curriculum, and shaping the next generation of nurses, this role offers exactly that bridge. As Assistant Program Director for a Vocational Nursing Program in Irvine, you'll split your time between high-level program leadership and hands-on teaching, keeping one foot in the classroom and clinical setting while building the administrative and accreditation experience that leads to full academic leadership.

This isn't a role where you leave clinical practice behind. You'll continue teaching theory or clinical coursework half the time, staying connected to the work that drew you into nursing education in the first place.

Why You'll Love This Role

A genuine leadership track. You'll work directly under the Campus Program Director, gaining exposure to strategic planning, accreditation processes, state and Board reporting, and instructional quality initiatives — the exact experience that positions you for a full Program Director role down the line.

You stay in the classroom. Unlike many administrative advancement paths that pull you entirely away from teaching, this role keeps you teaching theory or clinical coursework half the time.

Meaningful influence over program quality. You'll help identify clinical partner sites, ensure facility approvals are in place before rotations begin, and work directly with faculty to strengthen the clinical experience students receive.

Direct hire, full-time stability. This is a permanent placement with an annual salary of $125,000.

Your Day-to-Day

• Support the Program Director with planning, evaluating, and continuously improving the VN program
• Prepare data and materials for state and Board reporting, self-studies, and site visits
• Identify and secure clinical partner sites, and ensure Facility Approval Applications are completed before rotations start
• Oversee timely completion of student theory and clinical evaluations by faculty
• Review clinical rotation matrices, calendars, and assignments for accuracy and timeliness
• Advise and support prospective students through the admissions and planning process
• Confirm graduating students have met all documentation and licensing exam requirements
• Teach theory or clinical coursework approximately half the time

What We're Looking For

• Master's degree or higher from an accredited institution, with coursework in nursing, education, or administration
• Minimum 3 years leading a nursing program, plus 3 years as full-time faculty in a pre- or post-licensure nursing program
• At least 1 year of experience teaching in an online learning environment
• 4 years of continuous, full-time direct patient care experience as an RN within the past 5 years, in geriatrics, medical-surgical, mental health/psychiatric, obstetrics, or pediatrics
• Active, valid RN license through the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN)
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office

Why Candidates Say Yes

Nurse educators consistently tell us the hardest part of moving into administration is losing the clinical and teaching work they love. This role was structured differently — you keep teaching, you keep your clinical license active and relevant, and you build the accreditation and leadership experience that opens the door to a full Program Director position.

Ready to Apply?

If you're ready to take the next step toward academic leadership without stepping away from the classroom, we'd love to talk with you about this opportunity in Irvine.

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