YOU CAN CHANGE THE LIFE OF ONE TO CARE FOR THE LIVES OF MANY!

At Galen College of Nursing, we educate and empower nurses to change lives. Since 1989, we’ve dedicated our work to delivering high-quality nursing education with a student-first mindset. As one of the largest private nursing colleges in the country, we combine the support of a close-knit learning environment with the strength of a nationally recognized institution, HCA Healthcare.
That same passion for excellence in the classroom extends to our offices. At Galen, you’ll find a culture deeply rooted in collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to improving the future of healthcare. Your work directly touches the next generation of nurses, and your contributions help our students pursue their dream of a compassionate career.
If you’re looking for a career where you can make a difference, grow professionally, and be part of a caring team, we’d love for you to apply for the Vice President of Academic Operations position today!

POSITION OVERVIEW:

As a Vice President of Academic Operations at Galen College of Nursing, you will provide accountable leadership and comprehensive oversight of the College’s academic operations across all regions. This position is the immediate supervisor and leader of Regional Deans and is responsible for ensuring consistent execution of academic programs, faculty support, operational excellence, and alignment with accreditation and regulatory requirements. The VP serves as a senior operational leader within academics, focusing on day-to-day implementation of academic policy, strategy, performance, and innovation in support of the College’s mission and strategic goals.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Education:

• Master’s degree in nursing and Doctorate degree in nursing or related field, from an accredited institution required.

Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in progressive executive academic and/or hospital operations, and leadership of academic or healthcare operations leaders is required.
• Experience with regional or multi-campus/facility models is required.
• Demonstrated experience with leading and execution of quality outcomes during sustained growth is required.
• Experience in academic compliance, curriculum execution, faculty development, and performance-based management is preferred.

Skills & Competencies:

• Exceptional leadership, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Proven ability to manage complex academic systems and lead through influence across multiple levels of leadership.
• Strong data literacy with the ability to analyze and act on performance metrics and academic KPIs.
• Adept at change management, cross-functional collaboration, and operational execution.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; able to build trust and alignment across diverse teams.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and other academic systems and platforms.

Work Environment & Travel:

• Primary work is conducted in an office environment, with minimal physical demands.
• Regular travel to regional campuses is required (approximately 30–40%).
• Mental demands include high-level reading, planning, analysis, and multi-tasking in a fast-paced environment.

Degree of Supervision:

• Operates with minimal supervision, expected to lead autonomously in alignment with institutional goals.

Work Location:

• Work from one of Galen’s ground campuses is required. Preference will be given to a qualified candidate who will work out of the main campus in Louisville, KY

Benefits

At Galen College of Nursing, we want to ensure your needs are met. We offer a comprehensive package of medical, dental, and vision plans, tuition discounts, along with unique benefits, including:

• Comprehensive medical coverage that covers many common services at no cost or for a low copay. Plans include prescription drug and behavioral health coverage as well as free telemedicine services and free AirMed medical transportation.
• Additional options for dental and vision benefits, life and disability coverage, flexible spending accounts, supplemental health protection plans (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity), auto and home insurance, identity theft protection, legal counseling, long-term care coverage, moving assistance, pet insurance, and more.
• Free counseling services and resources for emotional, physical, and financial well-being
• 401(k) Plan with a 100% match on 3% to 9% of pay (based on years of service)
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan with 10% off HCA Healthcare stock
• Family support through fertility and family building benefits with Progyny and adoption assistance.
• Referral services for children, elders, and pet care, home and auto repair, event planning, and more.
• Consumer discounts through Abenity.
• Retirement readiness, rollover assistance services, and preferred banking partnerships.
• Education assistance (tuition, student loan, certification support, dependent scholarships).
• Colleague recognition program.
• Time Away from Work Program (paid time off, paid family leave, long- and short-term disability coverage and leaves of absence).
• Employee Health Assistance Fund that offers free employee-only coverage to full-time and part-time colleagues based on income.

Learn more about Employee Benefits.
Note: Eligibility for benefits may vary by location.

Regional Academic Leadership

• Provide strategic and operational leadership to Regional Deans, ensuring strong performance, accountability, and collaboration across regional campuses.
• Foster a culture of excellence and continuous improvement among regional academic leaders, aligning their efforts with institutional priorities.
• Collaborate with Regional Deans and faculty to create and sustain a supportive, rigorous teaching and learning environment on each campus.

Academic Quality, Consistency, and Compliance

• Ensure academic operations across regions maintain compliance with all applicable accreditation agencies and state boards of nursing, adapting oversight based on evolving regulatory landscapes.
• Drive the implementation and consistent adherence to academic policies, procedures, and institutional standards across all campuses.
• Ensure consistency in curriculum delivery, assessment practices, and academic operations across regions, supporting a cohesive student experience.

Performance Metrics and Program Outcomes

• Lead regional execution of academic performance goals established by the President & CAO and College leadership, including NCLEX® performance, student retention, student completion, graduate placement, student satisfaction, employee engagement, and ensuring faculty workload is assigned appropriately,
• Monitor, evaluate, and report on regional performance data; use insights to inform strategy and operational enhancements.
• Support the development of institutional benchmarks and dashboards to track and improve academic operations.

Operational Oversight and Faculty Development

• Oversee the operational components of academic delivery, including faculty staffing, and resource deployment across campuses.
• Support the execution of faculty development initiatives in collaboration with centralized academic teams, ensuring regional alignment with faculty onboarding, evaluation, and continuous improvement practices.
• Identify regional faculty needs and partner with academic leaders to design solutions that promote professional growth and instructional quality.

Innovation and Institutional Effectiveness

• Promote and facilitate the adoption of innovations in teaching, learning technologies, and academic delivery within the regions.
• Participate in strategic initiatives and institutional effectiveness efforts that advance the College’s academic mission, equity goals, and culture model.
• Ensure operational alignment with institutional innovation, including pilot implementation and feedback loops for academic transformation.

Collaboration and Influence

• Serve as a key liaison between the Office of the Academic President and the Regional Deans, elevating insights, risks, and recommendations that inform strategic academic decisions.
• Partner with peers across, student services, operations, and compliance to ensure academic operations are integrated and student-centered.
• Represent the College at external academic forums, as appropriate, and promote the institution’s academic reputation and partnerships.

Other Duties

• In collaboration with the compliance department, serve as the final arbiter and decision maker for all student discipline issues that rise above the regional dean level
• Contribute to strategic planning and execution of college-wide academic initiatives.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned by the Academic President.