Chief Nursing Officer - Central Office

State of Nebraska; Lincoln (NE); On-site; USD 71,387,000 - 101,982,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) is seeking a Chief Nursing Officer for the Central Office in Lincoln, NE. This leadership role oversees nursing across facilities, drives policy, and ensures compliance with ACA and NCCHC standards.

Applicants must hold an active Nebraska RN license and have strong background in supervision, budgeting, and data tracking. The role emphasizes quality care, training, and population health initiatives within the correctional system.

Qualifications

• Active Nebraska RN license or authority under the Nurse Licensure Compact.
• Two years of experience assigning, reviewing, leading, or supervising the work of others.
• Five years of corrections experience preferred.
• Three years of working knowledge of NCCHC and ACA guidelines and audits.
• Working knowledge of Excel spreadsheets and data tracking.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all nursing and treatment services across NDCS facilities and clinics, ensuring compliance with accreditation, certification, licensing standards, and regulations.
• Provide leadership and supervision to nursing staff and facility Directors of Nursing, including hiring, evaluation, scheduling, on‑call coverage, and emergency response.
• Plan, organize, and direct nursing care services; interpret regulations; establish policies and procedures; and communicate nursing philosophy, goals, and objectives.
• Manage nursing services budget and collaborate in overall budget preparation.
• Oversee quality assurance, CQI, and related committees; to include mortality review committee, to ensure high standards of patient care.
• Represent nursing services in administrative, professional, public, and interdepartmental settings while coordinating activities across departments to improve care quality and efficiency.
• Oversee nursing onboarding, continuing education, and competency training and tracking to ensure NDCS maintains evidence‑based practices.
• Expand the vision of nursing care to best practices in the 21st century.

Skills

Leadership

Nursing supervision

Budget management

Regulatory compliance

Communication

Education

Nursing degree (RN)

Master's degree in public health or public administration

Tools

Excel

Job description

The work we do matters!

Hiring Agency:

Correctional Services - Agency 46

Location:

Lincoln, NE

Hiring Rate:

$51.820

Job Posting:

JR2026-00029449 Chief Nursing Officer - Central Office (Open)

Applications No Longer Accepted On

(If no date is displayed, job is posted as open until closed):

Job Description:

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) employs nearly 2,300 team members operating institutions statewide, which house approximately 5,800 inmates. The department’s focus includes inmate programming and education, physical and behavioral health care, re‑entry services, and community programs, and is accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA). Candidates will model the NDCS values of integrity, respect, compassion, growth, and excellence as we accomplish our mission, “Keep people safe.”

For additional information, call 402-479-3094. For Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations, please contact Megan Jones at [e-mail].

Hiring range is $51.820-$74.029/hour. Pay rate may be commensurate with education and/or experience within fiscal constraints, if approved.

DUTIES:

• Oversees all nursing and treatment services across NDCS facilities and clinics, ensuring compliance with accreditation, certification, licensing standards, and regulations.
• Provides leadership and supervision to nursing staff and facility Directors of Nursing, including hiring, evaluation, scheduling, on-call coverage, and emergency response.
• Plans, organizes, and directs nursing care services; interprets regulations; establishes policies and procedures; and communicates nursing philosophy, goals, and objectives.
• Manages nursing services budget and collaborates in overall budget preparation.
• Oversees quality assurance, CQI, and related committees; to include mortality review committee, to ensure high standards of patient care.
• Represents nursing services in administrative, professional, public, and interdepartmental settings while coordinating activities across departments to improve care quality and efficiency.
• Oversees nursing onboarding, continuing education, and competency training and tracking to ensure NDCS maintains evidence-based practices.
• Expands the vision of nursing care to best practices in the 21st century.

Requirements/Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

A current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Nebraska or authority based on the Nurse Licensure Compact to practice as a registered nurse in Nebraska and two years of experience assigning, reviewing, leading, or supervising the work of others.

Preferred Qualifications:

Five years of corrections experience. Master’s degree in public health, public administration or similar training. Experience as a director of nursing, chief nursing officer, or a regional nurse who has experience with multi-facility management. Three years of working knowledge of NCCHC and ACA guidelines and audits. Experience caring for patients with serious medical illnesses. Working knowledge of Excel spreadsheets and data tracking.

Other:

Applicants accepting a job offer must pass the following pre‑employment exams in this order: medical exam, and at a randomly announced time, pass a drug test. Once at the Staff Training Academy, must successfully complete the fully paid Nebraska Corrections Training Program.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation.

Check out all that the State of Nebraska has to offer! Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency and employment status. For more information on benefits, please visit: https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits

Equal Opportunity Statement

The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex. age, national origin, disability, marital status or genetics.