ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Chief Nursing Executive Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Bileddo Associates

Chief Nursing Officer

Crescent City, CA · On-site

$200K - $350K/yr

The Chief Nursing Executive (CNE) serves as the primary resource in assuring the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective nursing care to patient populations at the Entity. The CNE reports directly ...

Acadia Healthcare

Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)

Madison, WI · On-site

$125K - $172K/yr

If you're a nursing executive who thrives on building high-performing teams, advancing clinical ... As Chief Nursing Officer, you'll partner directly with the CEO and senior leadership team to drive ...

Acadia Healthcare

Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)

Columbus, OH · On-site

$115K - $158K/yr

Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) - Mount Carmel Behavioral Health Columbus, OH | Relocation Assistance ... If you're a nursing executive who thrives on building high-performing teams, elevating clinical ...

Acadia Healthcare

Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)

Columbus, OH · On-site

$115K - $158K/yr

If you're a nursing executive who thrives on building high-performing teams, elevating clinical ... As Chief Nursing Officer, you'll partner directly with the CEO and senior leadership team to drive ...

Acadia Healthcare

Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)

Madison, WI · On-site

$125K - $172K/yr

Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) - Shorewood Behavioral Health Madison, WI | Relocation Assistance ... If you're a nursing executive who thrives on building high-performing teams, advancing clinical ...

Nahse

Chief Nursing Officer

Jackson, MS · On-site

$180 - $280/hr

Chief Nursing Officer Methodist Rehabilitation Center Jackson, MS Methodist Rehabilitation ... The CNO serves as a key member of the senior executive team, establishing the vision for nursing ...

Direct Jobs

Chief Nursing Officer

Jackson, MS · On-site

$120 - $200/hr

Chief Nursing Officer Methodist Rehabilitation Center Jackson, MS Methodist Rehabilitation ... The CNO serves as a key member of the senior executive team, establishing the vision for nursing ...

Midland-Marvel

Chief Nursing Officer

Alexandria, VA · On-site

$20K/mo

Position Overview The Chief Nursing Officer serves as the senior nursing executive and is responsible for the strategic, operational, and clinical leadership of all nursing services. The CNO will ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsChief Nursing JobsChief Nursing Executive Jobs

Chief Nursing Executive information

See salary details

$61.5K

$158.4K

$320K

How much do chief nursing executive jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for chief nursing executive in the United States is $158,380.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $110,000.00 and $185,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Chief Nursing Executive, and why are they important?

To succeed as a Chief Nursing Executive, you need advanced clinical expertise, leadership experience, and typically a master's or doctoral degree in nursing or healthcare administration. Familiarity with hospital management systems, regulatory compliance tools, and quality improvement frameworks is crucial. Strong strategic thinking, communication, and team-building skills set outstanding leaders apart in this role. These abilities are essential for driving organizational excellence, ensuring patient safety, and leading nursing teams through complex healthcare challenges.

What is the difference between Chief Nursing Executive vs Director of Nursing?

AspectChief Nursing ExecutiveDirector of Nursing
CredentialsRN, BSN, MSN, leadership certificationsRN, BSN, MSN often preferred
Work EnvironmentExecutive-level hospital or health system leadershipManagement of nursing departments within hospitals or clinics
Employer & IndustryHospitals, health systems, healthcare organizationsHospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities
Search & ComparisonOften compared for leadership roles in nursing managementFocuses on operational nursing management

The Chief Nursing Executive and Director of Nursing both hold senior nursing leadership roles, but the Chief Nursing Executive operates at an executive level overseeing entire nursing services across organizations, while the Director of Nursing manages specific nursing departments. Both roles require RN licensure and advanced degrees, but the Chief Nursing Executive typically has broader strategic responsibilities and a higher level of organizational influence.

What is a Chief Nursing Executive?

A Chief Nursing Executive (CNE) is the highest-ranking nursing leader within a healthcare organization. They are responsible for overseeing all nursing operations, developing nursing policies, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality patient care. CNEs collaborate with other executives to shape hospital strategies, lead nursing staff, and manage budgets. Their role is essential in promoting clinical excellence and fostering a positive work environment for nurses.

What does a Chief Nursing Executive do?

A chief nursing executive (CNE) oversees the nursing staff at a hospital or other medical facility. Your duties include assessing and improving the quality of patient care by ensuring the facility is adequately staffed and equipped and that care meets organizational and regulatory standards. In some cases, your responsibilities include working with other hospital administrators to define those standards. A CNE also defines and implements policies and procedures that govern operations at the hospital. You also create plans to improve performance and care, and manage hiring and professional development for nursing staff.

How does a Chief Nursing Executive typically collaborate with other hospital leadership to drive patient care initiatives?

A Chief Nursing Executive (CNE) plays a critical role in shaping patient care by working closely with other hospital leaders, such as the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Executive Officer. The CNE leads nursing teams, participates in executive decision-making, and helps develop policies that ensure high standards of care. Regular collaboration happens through interdisciplinary meetings, strategic planning sessions, and joint quality improvement projects. This teamwork fosters a unified approach to addressing challenges, improving patient outcomes, and aligning nursing goals with organizational objectives.
More about Chief Nursing Executive jobs
What cities are hiring for Chief Nursing Executive jobs? Cities with the most Chief Nursing Executive job openings:
What states have the most Chief Nursing Executive jobs? States with the most job openings for Chief Nursing Executive jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Chief Nursing Executive jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Chief Nursing Executive jobs are:
What are popular job titles related to Chief Nursing Executive jobs? For Chief Nursing Executive jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Chief Nursing Executive jobs near you
Infographic showing various Chief Nursing Executive job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 91% In-person, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $158,380 per year, or $76.1 per hour.

Chief Nursing Executive

County of Santa Clara, CA

San Jose, CA • On-site

$311K - $399K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 15 days ago

Job description

Salary: $311,259.51 - $399,410.71 Annually
Location : Throughout the County of Santa Clara, CA
Job Type: Executive Management
Job Number: 26-A14-A
Department: Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVHC)
Opening Date: 07/24/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Bargaining Unit: 91
Description
Reimagine Nursing Leadership. Advance Community Health.
The County of Santa Clara is not just any government agency-it's a premiere public agency known for excellence, strategic leadership, and innovation. Serving more than 1.9 million residents, Santa Clara County is the largest of the nine Bay Area counties and larger than 12 states. With a workforce of more than 23,000 employees across 30+ departments, the County delivers essential services in healthcare, public safety, social services, housing, and more. Our teams are driven by a commitment to improving the quality of life for everyone in our community-especially those who need us most.
Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) is the cornerstone of public healthcare in Santa Clara County, delivering compassionate, high quality, and accessible care to all residents regardless of ability to pay. As the largest public healthcare system in Northern California, SCVH provides world class services through Valley Medical Center, Regional Medical Center, O'Connor Hospital, St. Louise Regional Hospital, and an extensive network of outpatient clinics. Every day, our teams advance health equity, safeguard community wellbeing, and serve as a critical safety net provider for the region.
We are seeking a Chief Nursing Executive to lead nursing and patient care services throughout the SCVH enterprise with purpose, innovation, and impact. This is your opportunity to shape the future of nursing and patient care in one of the most complex, mission driven healthcare systems in the region.
Your Mission
Lead, elevate, and transform nursing and patient care services across a comprehensive healthcare delivery system that includes acute care, specialty care, ambulatory services, behavioral health, trauma and burn services, rehabilitation, and more. As the Chief Nursing Executive (CNE), you will direct standards of care, drive excellence in autonomous nursing practice, and guide a workforce dedicated to advancing patient and family centered care.
What Makes This Role Unique
  • Systemwide Leadership: You will oversee nursing, care management, and medical social services across SCVH's full continuum of care, ensuring seamless integration, quality, and equity.
  • Strategic Scale: From emergency and critical care to maternal-child health, psychiatric services, perioperative care, and rehabilitation, you will guide clinical operations that touch thousands of patients each day.
  • Mission Driven Impact: As a senior executive, you will help shape organizational strategy, participate in key governance bodies, and influence care delivery across the region.
  • Commitment to Excellence: SCVH is advancing systemwide performance through quality improvement, evidence-based practice, and standards aligned with American Nurses Association Magnet principles.
  • Workforce Empowerment: You will set the vision for recruitment, retention, education, and professional growth for a diverse and expansive nursing workforce.

View the on our career site.
What You'll Do
Strategic Nursing Leadership
  • Direct the daily operations of acute care nursing to ensure safe, high quality, patient centered care.
  • Lead nursing standards, practices, and policies across SCVH, ensuring alignment with mission, goals, and accreditation standards.
  • Develop and implement short- and long-range plans for nursing and patient care services.
Care Management, Social Services, and Quality
  • Oversee care management/utilization review and social services, ensuring operational efficiency and cost-effective care transitions.
  • Partner with inter disciplinary teams to strengthen continuous quality improvement, risk management, and patient safety.
Operational and Fiscal Stewardship
  • Establish staffing plans, resource needs, and budgets that support clinical excellence and compliance with regulations.
  • Lead system wide improvements to enhance patient family experience, staff engagement, and operational efficiency.
Collaboration and Representation
  • Serve as the voice of nursing in key executive committees and governance bodies.
  • Build strong relationships with community partners, teaching affiliates, nursing schools, and health system leaders.

What You Bring
  • Active California Registered Nurse (RN) license.
  • Master's degree in nursing or a related healthcare/business field.
  • Approximately 5-10 years of increasingly responsible nursing administration experience, including senior leadership roles-ideally in a teaching hospital.
  • Expertise in nursing operations, quality, care management, performance improvement, regulatory compliance, and patient safety.
  • Ability to lead a large, complex patient care organization with strategic clarity, operational rigor, and strong relationships.
  • Commitment to nursing excellence, staff development, and equitable, patient centered care.

What Success Looks Like
In the first 6-12 months, you will:
  • Strengthen alignment of nursing practice across the continuum of care.
  • Improve collaboration with clinical, operational, and financial leaders.
  • Advance systemwide strategies for workforce engagement, quality, and care delivery.

In the long term, you will:
  • Elevate standards of nursing excellence and accountability.
  • Enhance care transitions, quality metrics, and operational efficiency.
  • Position SCVH as a leading public health system known for innovation, compassionate care, and clinical excellence.
Why Join Us?
  • Lead nursing in one of California's most impactful public healthcare systems.
  • Influence the future of patient care in a diverse, dynamic community.
  • Be part of a mission driven organization committed to equity, access, and exceptional care for all.
  • Thrive in a collaborative, inclusive, and forward-thinking executive culture.

More About Our Competitive Executive Benefits
Strategic Financial and Retirement Benefits
  • CalPERS pension with reciprocity across most California public agencies (2.5% @55 for Classic Members,2% @62 for Non-Classic Members)
  • 457 Deferred Compensation Plan with both pre-tax and Roth options, up to IRS limits
  • $325,000 in term life insurance plus $300,000 in accidental death and disability coverage
  • Eligible employer under the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program

Executive-Level Health, Wellness, and Family Support
  • Premium health insurance options (Kaiser, HealthNet, Valley Health Plan) with up to 96% County-paid coverage
  • Fully covered dental (Delta or Liberty) and vision (VSP) plans for individuals and families
  • Employee Assistance Program, Dependent Care Assistance, and Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Access to wellness and leadership development programs designed to support executive performance and resilience

Leadership Mobility, Time Off, and Professional Growth
  • 39 days of annual leave with a cash-out option, plus 13 paid holidays
  • Relocation assistance to support seamless transitions
  • Tuition reimbursement and internal executive development programs
  • To learn more about benefits, check out our

Ready to join the leadership team? Apply now.
Learn more and the impact you can have as a leader.
Application Process and Key Dates
Filing Deadline: Continuous - Open until filled. First review deadline: Monday, August 24, 2026 This recruitment may close or be extended as early as 10 days after posting. Early application is strongly encouraged. Please check the website regularly for updates.
Apply at:
What to include in your application:
  1. Résumé
  2. Cover Letter (maximum 3 pages)
    Describe why you are the ideal candidate, highlighting relevant leadership experience and accomplishments.

Next steps in the process:
Following mutual interest, a comprehensive background investigation and reference check will be conducted. Finalists will be asked to provide at least five professional references, with prior authorization obtained by Executive Services.
Questions regarding this Executive recruitment may be directed to Quynh Truong, Executive Services at
Stay Informed On Our Latest Executive Leadership Recruitments
Subscribe to our Executive Leadership Careers Newsletter!
Or follow us on | |
Overview of County of Santa Clara's Executive Leadership Benefits package.

Apply