The Job

The Head of Department – Nursing provides academic leadership and strategic direction for the Nursing Department within the Faculty of Life Sciences at ESOFT University.

The role is responsible for ensuring the effective delivery and development of internationally recognised nursing degree programmes delivered in collaboration with British partner universities. The position will ensure that academic standards, clinical training, and regulatory requirements are maintained in line with national and international quality frameworks.

The Head of Department will lead curriculum development, oversee teaching and clinical training activities, supervise academic staff, and promote research and scholarly engagement within the department. The role also involves building partnerships with healthcare institutions to facilitate clinical placements and supporting student recruitment, retention, and graduate employability initiatives.

The postholder will ensure compliance with regulatory bodies including the Sri Lanka Nursing Council and the Ministry of Higher Education Sri Lanka while maintaining academic quality standards aligned with UK partner university requirements.

Key duties include:

• Providing academic leadership and strategic direction for the Nursing Department.
• Overseeing the delivery and quality assurance of nursing degree programmes.
• Ensuring compliance with national regulatory and accreditation requirements.
• Coordinating clinical training placements with hospitals and healthcare institutions.
• Leading curriculum development, programme reviews, and quality assurance processes.
• Supervising and mentoring academic staff.
• Promoting research activities and scholarly engagement.
• Supporting student recruitment, retention, and graduate employability initiatives.

The Person

The successful candidate will be a qualified and experienced nursing professional with strong academic leadership capabilities and a commitment to excellence in nursing education.

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSc Nursing) or an equivalent qualification.
• Master’s Degree in Nursing, Health Sciences, or Healthcare Education.
• Registration with the Sri Lanka Nursing Council or eligibility for registration.

Desirable Qualifications

• PhD in Nursing or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum 8–10 years of professional experience in nursing practice and/or nursing education.
• Experience in higher education teaching.
• Previous experience in academic leadership or programme management will be an advantage.
• Experience working with international degree programmes or UK higher education systems is desirable.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong academic leadership and management skills.
• Knowledge of nursing education standards and clinical training requirements.
• Excellent communication and organisational abilities.
• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with hospitals and healthcare institutions.
• Commitment to quality assurance, academic excellence, and student success.