Director Magnet Journey and Clinical Performance Improvement

Kaweah Delta Health Care District; Visalia (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaweah Health in Visalia, CA, seeks an experienced nursing leader to guide the Magnet journey across its eight-campus district, embedding magnet principles in everyday practice.

The role leads governance, quality, safety, and professional development initiatives, while building leadership pathways and ensuring alignment with Magnet standards to elevate patient outcomes and staff engagement.

Qualifications

• Must hold CA RN license.
• National leadership board certification through ANCC; NE-BC or NEA-BC within 2 years.

Responsibilities

• Lead and guide the organization's Magnet journey, embedding the Magnet Model into daily nursing practice.
• Serve as Magnet coach for nursing leaders, building readiness and accountability.
• Develop, implement, document, and sustain evidence for Magnet appraisal.
• Strengthen professional governance and shared decision-making structures.
• Drive nursing quality and performance improvement through data and best practices.
• Develop leadership and professional advancement programs to strengthen clinical excellence.
• Lead initiatives to improve nurse engagement, retention, and the practice environment.
• Support nursing-led research and translation of evidence into practice.
• Oversee collection and dissemination of nursing data to demonstrate improvements.
• Ensure alignment with Magnet standards and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Nursing leadership

Quality Improvement

Magnet Excellence

Data-driven decisions

Education

BSN

MSN

Job description

Kaweah Health is a publicly owned, community healthcare organization that provides comprehensive health services to the greater Visalia area in central California. With more than 5,000 employees, Kaweah Health provides state-of-the-art medicine and high-quality preventive services in our acute care hospital, specialized health centers and clinics. Our eight-campus healthcare district has 613 beds and offers comprehensive health services across a broad continuum of care.

It takes a special person to work for Kaweah Health. We serve a region where the needs are great, which makes the rewards even greater. Every day, we care for people facing unique challenges and in need of healing. Throughout it all, our focus is to make a difference, and we do - in the health of our patients, our loved ones, and our community.

Benefits Eligible

• Full-Time Benefit Eligible
• Work Shift
• Day - 8 Hour or less Shift (United States of America)
• Department
• 8741 Nursing Professional Development

Leads shared governance and support the organization's Journey to Magnet Excellence through strategic and operational leadership in nursing practice, quality, and professional development. Advances evidence-based practice, innovation, regulatory compliance, and nursing excellence while aligning initiatives with organizational goals. Drives measurable improvements in patient outcomes, nurse engagement, and professional practice.

Compensation: $175,000 to $240,000 annual exempt salary based on experience

QUALIFICATIONS

License /Certification

• Required: CA RN license
• National leadership board certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC); NE-BC or NEA-BC within 2 years.

Preferred: Certification in Nursing Professional Development (NPD-BC), Quality (CPHQ), or applicable specialty

Education

• Required: BSN
• Preferred: MSN, MBA or MHA

Experience

• Required: Minimum of seven years of progressive leadership experience in professional nursing practice, quality improvement, or Magnet®/Pathway designation.
• Experience in leading an Acute Care Hospital to magnet designation. Additional Magnet Designation experience with Mental Health and Rehab Hospitals a plus.
• Demonstrated success leading interdisciplinary teams, managing complex projects, and improving nursing and patient care outcomes

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential

Lead Our Journey toward Magnet Excellence

Lead and support the organization's journey toward Magnet® designation, embedding the Magnet Model and professional practice principles into everyday nursing practice.

Serve as a Magnet coach and resource for nursing leaders and building organizational readiness and accountability.

Guide leaders and teams in developing, implementing, documenting, and sustaining the evidence needed for Magnet appraisal.

Advance Professional Governance & Shared Decision-Making

Lead and strengthen professional governance and shared decision-making structures that empower nurses to influence practice, quality, and outcomes.

Foster a culture where nurses have a meaningful voice in decisions that impact patients, practice, and the profession.

Drive Quality, Safety & Evidence-Based Practice

Lead nursing quality and performance improvement through nursing-sensitive indicators, data-driven decision-making, evidence-based practice, and research.

Connect quality, safety, innovation, and professional practice initiatives to measurable patient and organizational outcomes.

Build Nursing Leadership & Professional Development

Develop leadership and professional advancement programs that strengthen nursing knowledge, leadership capacity, clinical excellence, and lifelong learning.

Collaborate on the development of Clinical Nurse Ladder and other pathways that support professional growth and advancement.

Strengthen Engagement, Recognition & Retention

Lead initiatives that enhance nurse engagement, satisfaction, retention, and the overall practice environment.

Advance recognition programs, including DAISY and Lotus Awards, and celebrate nurses and teams who demonstrate excellence and meaningful impact.

Advance Nursing Innovation & Research

Support and promote nursing-led research, innovation, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement.

Partner with academic institutions and internal stakeholders to advance nursing science and translate evidence into practice.

Measure, Tell & Demonstrate Our Impact

Oversee collection, analysis, and dissemination of nursing data to demonstrate improvements in quality, outcomes, engagement, and professional practice.

Develop compelling reports, stories, and evidence that demonstrate the impact of our nurses and our Magnet journey to leaders, staff, patients, and appraisers.

Ensure Readiness & Organizational Alignment

Ensure alignment with Magnet standards, regulatory requirements, professional practice standards, and organizational priorities.

Lead preparation for Magnet documentation and appraisal activities while building sustainable practices that extend beyond