CHIEF NURSING OFFICER, CCDPH

Cook County Health; Illinois; On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage

Job summary

Cook County Health seeks a Chief Nursing Officer for the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCHDPH). The CNO provides strategic leadership, clinical direction, and administrative oversight for public health nursing practice and nursing operations across CCDPH.

This senior executive ensures population health outcomes, accreditation compliance, and community health equity while aligning with organizational goals.

Qualifications

• Minimum qualifications include Illinois RN license and nursing degree.
• Master's or equivalent in Nursing, Public Health, or related field.
• Six years of management or higher experience; three years public health experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for public health nursing programs and operational oversight.
• Ensure compliance with nursing practice standards and regulatory requirements.
• Lead strategic planning, accreditation readiness, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Develop and sustain a proficient management team and staffing plans.
• Collaborate with Labor Relations on collective bargaining and workforce issues.
• Promote health equity and community engagement across CCDPH and CCH.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Planning

Public Health Nursing

Education

Master's Degree in Nursing, Public Health, Community Health Nursing, Healthcare Management, or related field

Graduate of an approved school of nursing

Job description

• DEPARTMENT: Nursing Administration, CCDPH
• SHIFT: Days/8:30AM-4:30PM
• LOCATION: Department of Public Health

Job Summary

The Chief Nursing Officer, Cook County Department of Public Health (CNO, CCDPH) serves as the senior nursing executive responsible for providing clinical direction, strategic leadership, and administrative oversight for public health nursing practice and nursing operations across CCDPH. The CNO, CCDPH provides executive leadership characterized by substantial and ongoing responsibility and accountability for population health outcomes, integrated public health programs, and cross-functional initiatives that impact community health and quality of care. The CNO, CCDPH establishes the vision, direction, standards, and priorities for nursing and clinical services to ensure alignment with organizational goals, public health accreditation standards, evidence-based practice, regulatory requirements, and community health needs. The position is responsible for the effective management and oversight of nursing units, clinical programs, and population-based services, while advancing health equity, quality improvement, workforce development, emergency preparedness, and system level public health strategies.

This position is exempt from Career Service under the CCHHS Personnel Rules.

General Administrative Responsibilities

Collective Bargaining

• Review applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements and consult with Labor Relations to generate management proposals
• Participate in collective bargaining negotiations, caucus discussions and working meetings

Discipline

• Document, recommend and effectuate discipline at all levels
• Work closely with labor relations and/or labor counsel to effectuate and enforce applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements
• Initiate, authorize and complete disciplinary action pursuant to CCH system rules, policies, procedures and provision of applicable collective bargaining agreements

Supervision

• Direct and effectuate CCH management policies and practices
• Access and proficiently navigate CCH records system to obtain and review information necessary to execute provisions of applicable collective bargaining agreements

Management

• Contribute to the management of CCH staff and CCH’ systemic development and success
• Discuss and develop CCH system policy and procedure
• Consistently use independent judgment to identify operational staffing issues and needs and perform the following functions as necessary; hire, transfer, suspend, layoff, recall, promote, discharge, assign, direct or discipline employees pursuant to applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements
• Work with Labor Relations to discern past practice when necessary

Typical Duties

• Plans, implements, and directs a broad range of community health and nursing services across CCDPH.
• Provides executive leadership for all public health nursing programs, services, and initiatives.
• Communicates and advances the mission, vision, values, and strategic goals of the CCDPH and the CCH Nursing Division.
• Establishes and maintains an effective organizational structure that aligns with departmental priorities, operational needs, and strategic objectives.
• Demonstrates advanced administrative leadership with emphasis on strategic planning, system thinking, organizational effectiveness, and broad policy development.
• Develops and sustains a management team that supports and operationalizes the mission, vision, and values of the organization.
• Projects a positive and professional image of the organization within and outside CCDPH and serves as a role model for professionalism, integrity, and accountability.
• Maintains collaborative relationships with leadership and peers across CCH, CCDPH, and the community.
• Oversees public health nursing and clinical programs including but not limited to: APORS (Advance Pregnancy Outcomes Reporting System), Healthy Beginnings Program, Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention Program, Health and Vision Programs, Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention, Genetic Services, Seasonal Immunization Events, Lead Poisoning Prevention, Tuberculosis (TB) Control, and Health Screening and Disease Management
• Applies public health science to guide the development of strategies that reduce population-level health risks and improve health outcomes.
• Uses epidemiologic, demographic, clinical, and operational data to inform decision-making, program planning, and resource allocation.
• Leads nursing participation in Community Health Assessments (CHA), Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP), strategic planning efforts, and accreditation activities.
• Evaluates overall effectiveness, quality, sustainability, and impact of programs and services.
• Designs and implements system-level quality initiatives and evaluation plans that support program sustainability and operational excellence.
• Ensures compliance with professional nursing practice standards, patient care standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Creates and oversees policies, procedures, processes, and systems to maintain standards of practice, regulatory compliance, and accreditation readiness.
• Serves as a key participant in public health accreditation, regulatory review, and quality assurance activities.
• Develops and recommends public health and nursing policies consistent with laws, regulations, and evidence-based practice standards.
• Prioritizes and approves contracts, community partnership agreements, memoranda of understanding, and other agreements related to public health service delivery.
• Adheres to public health and public health nursing ethical standards in all interactions with individuals, communities, and organizations.
• Fosters a diverse, inclusive, and culturally responsive public health workforce that supports a just and respectful organization.
• Promotes professional growth, leadership development, succession planning, and workforce sustainability for nursing and allied health personnel
• Works collaboratively with professional development staff to establish competency standards, onboarding programs, and ongoing staff assessment and reassessment processes.
• Determines staffing methodologies and develops staffing plans to ensure effective, efficient, and equitable service delivery.
• Monitors staffing effectiveness and workforce performance across nursing and clinical operations.
• Models effective communications and collaborative leadership as member and leader of interprofessional teams and interdisciplinary partnerships.
• Collaborates with professional and non-professional disciplines to address issues affecting nursing practice, patient care, and public health service delivery.
• Advances health equity as a shared organizational values through authentic community engagement at the organizational and systems level.
• Develops and sustains partnerships with healthcare providers, municipalities, schools, community-based organizations, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders.
• Ensures community voice and equity considerations are incorporated into planning, implementation, and evaluation activities.
• Serves as an advocate for patients, families, and communities in all activities and initiatives.
• Participates in the Incident Management Team and provides executive nursing leadership during public health emergency preparedness, response, response, recovery, and continuity operations.
• Coordinates nursing and clinical response activities during communicable disease outbreaks, environmental health emergencies, mass vaccination efforts, and other public health incidents.
• Ensures nursing workforce readiness through training, planning, exercises, and emergency preparedness initiatives.
• Participates in annual budget preparation and is responsible for monitoring, managing, and controlling expenditures across assigned programs and services.
• Supports grant development, contract oversight, and strategic resource allocation efforts.

Reporting Relationship

Reports to the Chief Operating Officer, CCDPH with a matrix reporting relationship to the Chief Nursing Executive

Minimum Qualifications

• Current and valid State of Illinois Registered Professional Nursing License prior to starting employment
• Graduate of an approved school of nursing
• Master’s Degree in Nursing, Public Health, Community Health Nursing, Healthcare Management, or related field
• Six (6) years of management or above experience
• Three (3) years of public health or community health experience
• Experience and knowledge of public health nursing practice standards, state law, regulatory and accrediting organization standards

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from an accredited college or university
• Experience in Population Health management
• Advanced Certification in public health Nursing
• Experience with process improvement and Lean Six Sigma
• Previous experience working with organized labor
• Prior experience with grant writing and budget development

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities And Other Characteristics

• Demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrate knowledge of current theoretical approaches to the delivery of public health nursing care and trends in healthcare for hospitals, health care facilities and ambulatory care centers
• Demonstrate knowledge of current leadership, management, and quality improvement concepts and practices
• Demonstrate ability to effectively lead and manage change
• Demonstrate competence in coaching and mentoring for leadership development of direct reports

Physical and Environmental Demands

This position is functioning within a healthcare environment. The incumbent is responsible for adherence to all hospital and department specific safety requirements. This includes but is not limited to the following policies and procedures: complying with Personal Protective Equipment requirements, hand washing and sanitizing practices, complying with department specific engineering and work practice controls and any other work area safety precautions as specified by hospital wide policy and departmental procedures.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the personnel so classified.

For purpose of the American with Disabilities Act, “Typical Duties” are essential job functions.

Veteran Preference

PLEASE READ

When applying for employment with the Cook County Health & Hospitals System, preference is given to honorably discharged Veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for not less than 6 months of continuous service.

To Take Advantage Of This Preference a Veteran Must

• Meet the minimum qualifications for the position.
• Identify self as a Veteran on the employment application by answering yes to the question by answering yes to the question, “Are you a Military Veteran?”
• Attach a copy of their DD 214, DD 215 or NGB 22 (Notice of Separation at time of application filing. Please note: If you have multiple DD214s, 215s, or NGB 22S, Please submit the one with the latest date. Coast Guard must submit a certified copy of the military separation from either the Department of Transportation (Before 9/11) or the Department of Homeland Security (After 9/11). Discharge papers must list and Honorable Discharge Status. Discharge papers not listing an Honorable Discharge Status are not acceptable.

OR

A copy of a valid State ID Card or Driver’s License which identifies the holder of the ID as a Veteran, may also be attached to the application at time of filing.

If items are not attached, you will not be eligible for Veteran Preference.

VETERANS MUST PROVIDE ORIGINAL APPLICABLE DISCHARGE PAPERS OR APPLICABLE STATE ID CARD OR DRIVER’S LICENSE AT TIME OF INTERVIEW

Benefits Package

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Basic Term Life Insurance
• Pension Plan
• Deferred Compensation Program
• Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time
• You may also qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• 100% Tuition Reimbursement for nursing-related programs

MUST MEET REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AT TIME OF APPLICATION

• Degrees awarded outside the United States with the exception of those awarded in one of the United States' territories and Canada must be credentialed by an approved U.S. credential evaluation service belonging to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Original credentialing documents must be presented at time of interview.
• Please note all offers of Employment are contingent upon the following conditions: satisfactory professional & employment references, healthcare and criminal background checks, appropriate licensure/certifications and the successful completion of a physical and pre-employment drug screen.
• CCHHS is strictly prohibited from conditioning, basing or knowingly prejudicing or affecting any term or aspect of County employment or hiring upon or because of any political reason or factor.

COOK COUNTY HEALTH IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER