Chief Nurse Executive

Michigan Medicine; Ann Arbor (MI); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Michigan Medicine seeks an accomplished Chief Nurse Executive to lead nursing across U-M Health. The role focuses on a unified vision, clinical excellence, and workforce development in a complex academic health system.

The CNE will collaborate with the President and senior leaders, shape nursing strategy, and drive transformative work across inpatient, ambulatory, and education domains, ensuring patient- and family-centered care.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Nursing or related field or enrollment with anticipated completion within 18 months.
• Eligibility for Michigan nursing license.
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible nursing leadership.
• Experience in academic medical center settings preferred.
• Strong clinical nursing leadership and governance experience.

Responsibilities

• Set unified vision for nursing across U-M Health.
• Lead quality, safety, and clinical excellence initiatives.
• Develop and mentor nursing leadership across enterprise.
• Drive workforce planning, recruitment, and retention strategies.
• Oversee governance, Magnet redesignation efforts, and practice standards.
• Guide system integration, capacity expansion, and technology adoption.
• Partner with multidisciplinary leaders to advance strategic priorities.
• Represent U-M Health and Michigan Medicine locally and nationally.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic vision

Relationship building

Nursing governance

Communication skills

Change management

Financial acumen

Education

Doctoral degree in Nursing or related field

Job description

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally. Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

Job Summary

Michigan Medicine is seeking an accomplished, visionary, and highly collaborative nursing executive to serve as its next Chief Nurse Executive (CNE).

The Chief Nurse Executive is the senior nursing leader for U-M Health, with responsibility and accountability for professional nursing practice and assigned patient care services across the health system. As a member of the senior executive team, the CNE will shape the strategic direction of nursing and partner across clinical, operational, and academic leadership to advance exceptional patient care, quality and safety, workforce excellence, innovation, and the continued advancement of the nursing profession.

Reporting to the President, Academic Medical Center, the CNE provides enterprise leadership across all areas of nursing practice and works closely with the Chief Medical Officer and other senior leaders to ensure an interdisciplinary, patient- and family-centered approach to care. All operating unit Chief Nursing Officers across U-M Health report to the CNE. The CNE will also play an important role in ongoing health system integration and the continued evolution of nursing across U-M Health.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a nationally respected nursing leader to influence the future of nursing within one of the nation's leading academic health systems and to lead through a period of continued growth, transformation, and integration.

Responsibilities*

Leadership Scope & Impact

The Chief Nurse Executive will establish and advance a unified vision for nursing across U-M Health, ensuring excellence and consistency in professional practice while positioning nursing as a critical partner in the organization’s broader clinical and strategic agenda.

• Set the vision for nursing across U-M Health, establishing the strategic direction for nursing practice and care delivery across inpatient, ambulatory, and other patient care settings.
• Advance quality, safety, and clinical excellence, partnering with the Chief Medical Officer, Chief Quality Officer, and other leaders to establish consistent clinical standards and drive measurable patient outcomes.
• Lead and develop nursing leadership across the enterprise, providing direction, mentorship, and accountability to Chief Nursing Officers and nursing leaders throughout U-M Health.
• Strengthen the nursing workforce, advancing strategies related to recruitment, retention, professional development, workforce planning, engagement, and the evolving needs of the nursing profession.
• Champion professional nursing practice and governance, including nursing standards, shared/professional governance, leadership development, and initiatives supporting Magnet redesignation.
• Lead through transformation and growth, providing nursing leadership for system integration, capacity expansion, facility planning, technology adoption, and organizational change.
• Provide strategic and financial stewardship, participating in workforce and patient activity projections, resource allocation, operating and capital planning, and initiatives that improve the effectiveness and efficiency of patient care.
• Build strong partnerships across disciplines, collaborating with physicians, clinical and operational leaders, academic partners, and other stakeholders to advance organizational priorities.
• Serve as the senior voice for nursing, representing U-M Health and the University of Michigan locally, regionally, and nationally and strengthening Michigan Medicine’s presence within the broader nursing profession.

Academic & Enterprise Partnership

As a senior executive within an academic health system, the CNE will work at the intersection of clinical care, education, research, and operations.

The CNE will actively participate in U-M Health executive leadership and organizational strategic planning and will serve as the senior nursing spokesperson for U-M Health and the University. The role also maintains an important partnership with the University of Michigan School of Nursing, supporting education, research, scholarship, and nursing leadership development across the Michigan Medicine and university communities.

The successful leader will bring an enterprise mindset and the ability to build trusted relationships across a highly complex organization while creating alignment around a shared vision for nursing.

Required Qualifications*

• A doctoral degree in Nursing or a related health care field, or current enrollment in a doctoral program with completion anticipated within 18 months of assuming the position.
• Eligibility for and ability to obtain a State of Michigan Board of Nursing license.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible nursing administrative leadership experience, including at least five years at the senior leadership level or above.
• Leadership experience within an academic medical center, ideally including experience as a Chief Nursing Officer within an academic medical center, complex teaching hospital, or multi‑site integrated care delivery system.
• Extensive clinical nursing and management experience gained through progressively responsible leadership positions.

Skills You Have

Leadership Skills and Attributes

Michigan Medicine seeks a visible, genuine, and engaging executive who combines deep nursing expertise with the strategic perspective and business acumen required to lead within a complex academic health system.

The successful candidate will be a relationship-centered and influential leader with demonstrated success leading transformation, developing high-performing teams, and achieving measurable improvements in patient care, quality, safety, workforce performance, and organizational outcomes.

They will bring the ability to operate effectively across disciplines and organizational boundaries, build inclusive and trust-based relationships, navigate complexity and change, and inspire nursing professionals at all levels of the organization.

• Exceptional executive presence and communication skills
• A collaborative and relationship-driven leadership style
• Demonstrated success leading within complex, matrixed organizations
• Deep commitment to nursing excellence and professional practice
• Strong understanding of the continuum of care
• Expertise in shared and professional nursing governance
• Demonstrated change leadership and organizational transformation
• Strong financial and analytical capabilities
• Commitment to an inclusive organizational culture
• Ability to translate strategy into measurable operational and clinical outcomes
• A forward-looking perspective on nursing workforce challenges, technology, scope of practice, well-being, and the evolving health care environment

Desired Qualifications*

• Leadership within a unionized nursing environment and demonstrated success building effective labor partnerships
• Leadership within a Magnet-designated organization
• Nursing leadership spanning inpatient and outpatient settings
• Demonstrated improvement in nursing-sensitive quality and safety outcomes
• Health system integration and enterprise transformation
• Nursing workforce recruitment and retention
• Academic partnerships and nursing leadership development
• Facility planning, expansion, or major capital projects
• National engagement within the nursing profession through professional associations, boards, presentations, publications, or other leadership activities

Why Join Michigan Medicine?

Michigan Medicine is the academic medical center of the University of Michigan, bringing together patient care, education, research, and innovation to improve health for patients, populations, and communities.

The next Chief Nurse Executive will join Michigan Medicine at an important point in its continued evolution, with the opportunity to shape nursing strategy across U-M Health, strengthen alignment across the system, develop the next generation of nursing leaders, and ensure that nursing continues to be a driving force in the organization’s clinical, academic, and strategic mission.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third‑party administrator to conduct background screenings. Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U‑M campuses.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.