Dean - School of Nursing and Midwifery

AKU is a pioneer in nursing education. Recognizing the vital lifeline nurses provide to any healthcare system, the first academic entity the University established was a School of Nursing.

The School of Nursing and Midwifery (SONAM), East Africa operates from campuses in Nairobi, Kenya, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Kampala, Uganda, and has awarded more than 3,000 diplomas and degrees across the region. The school also has various partnerships in place to ensure that its nursing programmes are accessible to working nurses and midwives in the region.

The School of Nursing and Midwifery, East Africa (SONAM, EA) is committed to offering a coordinated response to the increasing need for health sector reform in the region. SONAM, EA is one of the first schools in the region to offer specialised training in oncology nursing as well as formalized undergraduate degrees for nurses and midwives.

With its broad offering of programmes, the school aims to enhance nursing and midwifery education, policy, practice and research to improve patient care in East Africa. SONAM's culture of innovation and research is a source of continued excellence in the fields of nursing and midwifery.

Responsibilities

The Dean of SONAM, EA is the Chief Academic and Chief Executive Officer of the School, a member of the University's senior leadership team, and the primary ambassador for the School in the community.

The Dean plays a central role in setting strategy and overall direction for nursing and midwifery education in the region; advises the Provost; works collaboratively with and supports other leaders to achieve the University goals; uses influence to align the school with University priorities; and, models institutional values and competencies. As the Chief Academic Officer of the School, the Dean is responsible for education and scholarship, as well as ensuring the quality and integrity of the School in research, teaching, outreach and community engagement, ensuring collaboration and consultation with senior colleagues on all academic matters, including student admissions and reporting to Academic Committees. As the Chief Executive Officer of the entity, the Dean is the highest-ranking official in the School, with wide responsibility over its functioning and general supervision over the School's direction and work. The Dean is accountable for the creation and implementation of the School's strategic plans including comprehensive budget and financial management to ensure outcomes are achieved.

The Dean is the primary spokesperson and ambassador, promoting the School through visibility at local, regional, national, and international events. In collaboration with senior colleagues, The Dean oversees fundraising, communication, alumni engagement activities, and collaborates and consults with internal and external stakeholders.

The Dean builds collaborative opportunities in health sciences within the University, with AKDN partners and with the community to develop an academic health system and works in close coordination with other University leaders to promote a close programmatic relationship with SONAM Pakistan. While retaining the unique aspects of SONAM, EA, the Dean facilitates the University's commitment to operating as a single integrated University, which requires enhanced harmonization between the two Schools of Nursing and Midwifery in all areas, including educational programmes, research, application and intervention.

Major Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement the School's academic and management plans and policies, incorporating a coherent set of objectives for teaching, research and resource development
• Identify and promote quality, access, relevance and impact of education and scholarship in all SONAM, EA programs, including research, teaching, outreach and community engagement
• Lead the School's planning processes (strategic, research, human resource, and fundraising)
• Establish the School as the pre-eminent place for nursing education in East Africa, building on the reputation of AKU
• Monitor and improve performance to ensure outcomes, promoting positive relationships internally and externally
• Recruit, develop, promote and evaluate faculty and senior administrators in the School in accordance with the University's policies
• Work closely with the Medical College and Aga Khan University health system to build a culture of excellence in education, research and patient care
• Ensure collaboration of faculty with the University Hospital to assure quality of service in nursing
• Identify and foster links with SONAM in Pakistan and with other academic entities and programmes within the University
• Develop principles and initiatives for community engagement
• Identify and pursue opportunities to garner financial and other forms of support to enhance the long-term growth and success of the School and the University
• Lead the School's budget within the funding constraints set during the budget-setting cycle.

Frequent regional and international travel will be required.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will bring outstanding academic qualifications, a record of scholarly achievement in the field of Nursing or Midwifery, demonstrable administrative and leadership experience, as well as a passion for advancing nursing and midwifery education, practice, research, and scholarship. Exposure to or experience in countries with developing economies is preferred.

Academic Criteria:

• A PhD or equivalent in a field of nursing and midwifery is required on appointment or soon thereafter
• The successful candidate must be a champion of academic excellence, possess significant experience in teaching and communication, and demonstrate deep commitment to service to the profession and the community
• Must be eligible for licensing and registration with the Nursing Council of Kenya, or the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council, or the Tanzania Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Leadership and Vision:

• Demonstrated success as a leader, possessing the ability to inspire and mobilize others to achieve exemplary performance and outcomes in nursing research, education, and scholarship
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate and manage change within a large and diverse organization
• Administrative experience in higher education as a dean, associate dean, director, or other similar leadership position
• Deep understanding of and commitment to diversity and inclusivity
• Involvement in the facilitation of building, articulating and pursuing a vision for a unit through to successful implementation
• Record of promotion of teamwork, collaboration and partnership
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, faculty and staff.

Administration:

• Administrative experience in a complex, dynamic, academic or clinical environment
• Experience building and leading a highly functioning team, with an appropriate balance of decisiveness, collegiality, and effective delegation
• Experience in budgetary and financial management and human resources; including the ability to creatively and collaboratively identify and implement strategies for improved efficiency
• Experience mentoring new faculty for success through the tenure and promotion process
• Demonstrated commitment to a collaborative and collegial management style
• Ability to create an environment in which faculty, staff and students can thrive
• Commitment to the development of new and enhanced sources of funding
• Commitment to openness, transparency and accountability.

Research, Scholarship and Service:

• Significant experience in health service delivery and/or public health in a clinical nursing specialty
• Commitment to inter-disciplinarity and multiple ways of knowing
• Clearly articulated and well-established programme of funded research and publications
• Commitment to a student-focused culture promoting excellence in terms of student learning, graduate student training, and the overall student experience
• Willingness to promote and embrace diverse teaching and research methodologies
• The ability to integrate research with clinical work
• Experience communicating and implementing strategies for recruiting exceptional faculty, staff and students.

External Relations:

• Demonstrated ability to promote inter-professional and inter-sectoral relationships
• Demonstrated ability to understand policy and practice issues related to nursing and midwifery in the region
• Ability to advocate for the role of SONAM as the region's premier centre for nursing and midwifery education, research and clinical service
• Ability to build positive relationships with external organizations and to effectively represent the interests of the school regionally and internationally
• Ability to support and advance the profession locally, regionally and internationally
• Commitment to engage in fund-raising activities for further expansion of the school's and the University's resource base.