Assistant Director of Nursing

DeKalb County Government; DeKalb Township (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

IMRF pension

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid time off

Life insurance

Job summary

DeKalb County Rehabilitation and Nursing Center is seeking an Assistant Director of Nursing to be the Director of Nursing's right hand and a visible, hands-on leader on our units. You will round on the units, coach your team, and help guide the quality of care for our short-term rehabilitation and long-term residents.

You'll also serve as the DON's designee, learning what running nursing services takes from the inside.

Qualifications

• Current, unencumbered Illinois RN license in good standing.
• Associate's degree or diploma in nursing; BSN preferred.
• Experience in long-term care, skilled nursing, or post-acute care; supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Stay close to the care: round on units, monitor resident care and safety, address concerns promptly.
• Support clinical excellence: oversee wound care, falls prevention, pain management, MDS/Care plans.
• Lead and coach: supervise unit managers, charge nurses, CNAs; manage hiring, scheduling, and education.
• Keep us survey-ready: ensure compliance with regulations and participate in QAPI projects.
• Step up when it counts: serve as the DON's designee and provide direct clinical support as needed.
• Collaborate: attend interdisciplinary meetings and respond to residents' and families' concerns.

Skills

Nursing leadership

Coaching & mentoring

Regulatory compliance

Communication skills

Team management

Problem solving

Education

Illinois RN license

Associate's degree in nursing

BSN preferred

Tools

CPR/BLS certification

Job description

Step into nursing leadership, right where the care happens

Are you a charge nurse or unit manager ready for the next step? The DeKalb County Rehabilitation and Nursing Center is looking for an Assistant Director of Nursing to be the Director of Nursing's right hand and a visible, hands-on leader on our units.

This role keeps you close to residents and staff while building the leadership skills that lead to bigger things. You'll round on the units, coach your team, and help guide the quality of care for our short-term rehabilitation and long-term care residents. You'll also serve as the DON's designee, so you'll learn what running nursing services takes from the inside.

What you'll do

• Stay close to the care. Round on all units, watch resident care and safety, and follow up on concerns right away.
• Support clinical excellence. Help oversee wound care, fall prevention, pain management, restorative nursing, behavior management, medication administration, and end-of-life care. You'll also help keep assessments, MDS, and care plans accurate and person-centered.
• Lead and coach. Supervise unit managers, charge nurses, and CNAs. Help with hiring, orientation, scheduling, in-service education, and performance conversations, and build a team culture grounded in respect and accountability.
• Keep us survey-ready. Support compliance with federal and Illinois regulations, help with surveys and plans of correction, and take part in QAPI projects that improve outcomes.
• Step up when it counts. Serve as the DON's designee in their absence and pitch in with direct clinical support when the team needs you.
• Collaborate. Join interdisciplinary meetings and care conferences, and respond to residents' and families' concerns.

What you bring

Required

• Current, unencumbered Illinois RN license in good standing
• Associate's degree or diploma in nursing (BSN preferred)
• A minimum of years of nursing experience in long-term care, skilled nursing, or post-acute care, including at least 1 year as a charge nurse, unit manager, or other supervisor
• Current CPR/BLS certification
• Ability to pass a background check, health screening, and drug screening

Preferred

• Gerontological nursing or long-term care administration certification (e.g., RN-BC, CDONA/LTC)
• Experience with MDS/PDPM, QAPI, survey processes, and electronic health records
• Experience in a government or county-operated facility

You are a sound clinical thinker with strong communication skills. You're calm under pressure and equally comfortable at the bedside, in a staff huddle, or in a meeting with regulators.

Why DeKalb County

• A clear path forward. Gain hands-on leadership experience and work directly with the Director of Nursing.
• Mission-driven work. Serve your community in a county-operated facility.
• A team that values nursing expertise and a culture built on teamwork.
• County employment with with a pension plan through IMRF (Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund), paid time off, health insurance (employer pays 75% of premiums), dental insurance (employer pays 75% of premiums), vision insurance, employer-paid life insurance, wellness program, and eligibility for Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

Schedule

Primarily weekday daytime, with flexibility for occasional evening, weekend, holiday, and on-call needs.

DeKalb County is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities.

I understand that employment may be conditioned upon successfully passing a background check.