Chief Nursing Officer

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center; United States; On-site; USD 250,000 - 360,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Purpose-Driven Work

Nationally Recognized Excellence

Culture of Innovation

Leadership Impact

Collaborative Environment

Professional Growth

Commitment to People

Job summary

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center seeks a strategic, compassionate Chief Nursing Officer to lead Nursing and Patient Care Services. The Senior VP will drive clinical quality, patient safety, nursing excellence, and outstanding patient experiences across the center.

This executive will foster evidence-based practice, mentor nursing leaders, advance Magnet designation, and collaborate with physicians, researchers, and operations to transform patient care.

Qualifications

• Doctoral or equivalent with senior leadership experience.
• Master’s degree with several years in senior roles and supervisory experience.
• RN license in New York State is required or in process.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for nursing and patient care across the organization.
• Champion a culture of safety, quality, compassion, and patient-centered care.
• Lead and support Magnet designation and nursing excellence initiatives.
• Collaborate with physicians, researchers, and operational teams to advance patient care.
• Mentor nursing leaders and build high-performing teams.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Communication

Nursing leadership

Team development

Patient-centered care

Change management

Education

DNP or PhD in Nursing/Healthcare Admin

Master’s in Nursing or Healthcare Admin

NY RN license

Tools

Nursing informatics

EMR systems

Job description

Title

Chief Nursing Officer

Summary

At Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, nursing is at the heart of the patient experience. We are seeking a strategic, compassionate, and visionary leader to serve as our Senior Vice President, Nursing and Patient Care Services & Chief Nursing Officer (CNO). In this influential executive role, you will help shape the future of patient care across one of the nation's premier cancer centers, leading efforts to ensure exceptional clinical quality, patient safety, nursing excellence, and outstanding patient experiences.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for nursing and patient care services across the organization.
• Champion a culture of safety, quality, compassion, and patient-centered care.
• Establish and advance professional nursing practice standards that support exceptional clinical outcomes.
• Lead and support Roswell Park’s Magnet designation and ongoing nursing excellence initiatives.
• Partner with physicians, clinical leaders, researchers, and operational teams to develop innovative approaches to patient care.
• Foster a culture of evidence-based practice, continuous learning, and professional development.
• Develop and mentor nursing leaders while building strong, engaged, and high-performing teams.
• Guide initiatives that improve patient experience, clinical quality, operational efficiency, and care delivery.
• Support nursing research and promote collaboration between clinical practice and scientific discovery.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, accreditation, and professional practice standards.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to advance organizational priorities, growth strategies, and long-term planning.
• Oversee key patient care and support service areas, including nursing administration, perioperative services, case management, social work, patient education, nutrition services, employee health, and other patient care programs.

Qualifications

• A transformational leader who inspires trust, collaboration, and accountability.
• Passionate about advancing nursing practice and delivering exceptional patient care.
• Skilled at bringing people together around a shared vision and achieving results through teamwork.
• Committed to developing future leaders and creating opportunities for professional growth.
• Comfortable navigating complex healthcare environments while maintaining a focus on patients and caregivers.
• An effective communicator who builds strong relationships across all levels of an organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current licensure as a Registered Nurse in New York State.
• Master’s degree in Nursing, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, or a related field.
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or PhD preferred.
• Significant leadership experience within a cancer center or complex healthcare organization.
• Demonstrated success leading nursing operations, quality initiatives, and patient care programs.
• Deep understanding of oncology nursing practice and patient care delivery.
• Experience supporting nursing excellence programs, professional practice models, and accreditation initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of healthcare regulations, patient safety standards, quality improvement, and nursing management.
• Experience with staffing, workforce development, budgeting, strategic planning, and operational leadership.
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, coaching, and team development skills.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Doctoral degree with a minimum of six (6) years of progressively responsible senior-level experience, including at least eighteen (18) months in a supervisory, administrative, consultative, managerial, or executive capacity.
• Master’s degree with a minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible senior-level experience, including at least eighteen (18) months in a supervisory, administrative, consultative, managerial, or executive capacity.
• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible senior-level experience, including at least eighteen (18) months in a supervisory, administrative, consultative, managerial, or executive capacity.
• Any combination of education, experience, and training that demonstrates the ability to perform executive-level duties and fulfill the responsibilities of the Vice President, with a minimum of eighteen (18) months in a supervisory, administrative, consultative, managerial, or executive capacity.

Candidate Profile

The most successful candidate will be able to balance strategy with compassion, think broadly about the future of healthcare while remaining deeply connected to the experiences of patients, families, nurses, and care teams. They will value collaboration, embrace innovation, and lead through influence, partnership, and trust, believing that great nursing leadership can transform lives.

Benefits

• Purpose‑Driven Work – Every day your leadership will help improve the lives of patients and families facing cancer.
• Nationally Recognized Excellence – Join one of the nation's leading cancer centers and the only National Cancer Institute‑designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Upstate New York.
• Culture of Innovation – Work alongside world‑class clinicians, researchers, and leaders committed to advancing cancer care.
• Leadership Impact – Shape the future of nursing practice, patient care delivery, and healthcare excellence.
• Collaborative Environment – Be part of an organization that values teamwork, respect, inclusion, and shared success.
• Professional Growth – Lead talented teams while influencing organizational strategy and advancing your own leadership journey.
• Commitment to People – Employees are valued, supported, and empowered to make a meaningful difference every day.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corporation (RPCIC) and Health Research Inc. (HRI) Roswell Park Division believe that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunities, and we do not discriminate against employees, applicants, or job seekers on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, creed, age, disability, pregnancy‑related condition, military or veteran status, marital or familial status, domestic violence victim status, citizenship status, genetic information, relationship or association with a protected category or any other protected group status as defined by law.

Reasonable Accommodation Request: RPCIC and HRI are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need accommodation, please email HR‑[e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.