Clinical Nurse Leader

University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wide range of health benefits

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Job summary

A prestigious educational institution in Chicago is seeking a Clinical Nurse Leader to enhance clinical trial processes and provide mentorship in oncology care. The ideal candidate will have significant oncology experience, possess key certifications, and demonstrate strong leadership skills. Responsibilities will include developing effective pathways for patient care and supporting nursing staff across multiple clinical sites. This hybrid role offers a competitive salary range of $100,000 to $140,000 per year.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7+ years of experience in a related discipline.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
• Registered Nurse (RN) – Illinois required.

Responsibilities

• Provide in-services on complex Phase I trial protocols.
• Collaborate to lead nursing support for ONNs at clinical sites.
• Coordinate protocol in-service education for IVTH units.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Problem-solving

Analytical ability

Education

College or university degree in a related field

Advanced Nursing degree

Job description

Clinical Nurse Leader – University of Chicago

Join to apply for the Clinical Nurse Leader role at University of Chicago.

University of Chicago provided pay range: $100,000.00/yr – $140,000.00/yr. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience—talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Remote Type & Locations

• Hybrid – Chicago, IL (Hyde Park) with visits to Orland Park, New Lenox and NW Indiana sites, plus one remote day.
• Full time
• Job Code: JR31100

About the Department

The Section of Gynecologic Oncology is part of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. It includes 12 faculty physicians, 7 APPs, 11 Oncology Nurse Navigators (ONNs), 3 clinical fellows, and support staff. We provide outpatient care at 6 off‑site locations; medical therapy and phase I‑III clinical trials are offered at 4 of these sites. The section is among the largest disease site teams within the National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCCCC).

Job Summary

This position requires ONN experience and expertise with clinical research. The clinical nurse leader will work closely with the section chief, nurse manager, and departmental leadership to develop pathways that optimize trial initiation, patient enrollment, and safe, protocol‑compliant care across all clinical sites. The role involves building relationships with hospital nursing and cancer‑center leadership to support main‑campus and off‑site care teams through mentorship and coaching in best practices and safe clinical research conduct.

Responsibilities

• Provides in‑services on complex Phase I trial protocols (e.g., cell‑therapy infusions).
• Collaborates to lead nursing support for ONNs at 4 clinical sites.
• Works with clinical trials program physician leadership and UCCCC Clinical Trials Support Office to increase accruals and shape program development.
• Supports development of SOPs for Gynecology Oncology ONNs and PAs.
• Coordinates protocol in‑service education for IVTH units at 4 sites (DCAM, Orland Park, Silver Cross, Crown Point).
• Leads standardization of patient‑facing chemotherapy and surgery education; partners with program managers to disseminate tools via meetings and shared platforms.
• Acts as liaison to Hematology Oncology nurse educator, Unit Based Council (UBC), and IVTH leadership concerning patient safety and workflow.
• Monitors and makes recommendations to RN workload evaluations.
• Provides limited direct patient care for ONN clinic support.
• Partners in onboarding/training of new Gynecologic Oncology Nurse Navigators.
• Performs other related work as needed, including capped direct care when critical staffing shortages occur.
• Leads comprehensive or episodic health assessments, solves complex care problems, recommends treatments, and prepares patient health summaries.
• Collaborates with nurses, patients, families, physicians, and community resources to coordinate care, selecting appropriate communication approaches.
• Interprets quality assurance issues, recommends best practices, and provides expertise to staff on‑ or off‑unit.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in a related field.

Work Experience: Minimum requirements include 7+ years of experience in a related discipline.

Certifications: Basic Life Support (BLS), Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) – Illinois, Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), Registered Nurse (RN) – Illinois. (Any equivalent certification is acceptable.)

Preferred Qualifications

Education: Advanced Nursing degree. CNL, CNE, CNS strongly preferred.

• Experience in solid‑tumor oncology; Gynecologic Oncology.
• Prior experience enrolling and caring for patients on clinical trials.
• Specialized depth of knowledge in oncology care, clinical trials operations, and regulatory compliance.

Licenses and Certifications

• Oncology Nurse Certification by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation.
• Clinical Research Certification.
• Ability to perform multiple concurrent tasks with occasional interruptions.
• Demonstrated discretion and confidentiality when handling sensitive information.
• Demonstrated patient‑facing clinical excellence, effective leadership, and teaching skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently.
• Strong organizational, written, and verbal communication skills, and analytical ability.
• Problem‑solving skills.

Working Conditions

• Clinical and administrative office environments.
• Home office (hybrid position).
• Ability to stand and sit for extended periods of time.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Benefits Eligible

Yes – The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773‑702‑5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case‑by‑case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.