Director of Nursing

County of San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work Location Premium

Job summary

County of San Diego is seeking a Director of Nursing for the San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital, leading nursing administration for a 100+ bed facility and reporting to executive leadership. The role oversees clinical nursing operations and works with nurse leaders across BHS and PHS to align priorities and ensure quality patient care.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong nursing leadership in acute psychiatric or behavioral health settings, with experience guiding two Assistant

Qualifications

• Valid California Registered Nurse license required at time of application and maintained during employment.
• Five years of recent RN experience including two years in direct psychiatric or long-term care nursing and two years in administration or full supervision.

Responsibilities

• Lead nursing administration and management at the San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital.
• Oversee clinical nurse management and daily nursing operations for a 100+ bed facility.
• Collaborate with executive leadership and nurse leaders across Behavioral Health Services and Public Health Services.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and maintain high standards of patient care.

Skills

Nursing leadership

Strategic management

Regulatory compliance

Communication

Education

California RN license

Master's or Bachelor's in Nursing desirable

Job description

Director of Nursing - San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital

The County of San Diego is currently accepting applications for:

Interviews will take place week of September 28, 2026.

Job offers for selected candidates will be made week of October 5, 2026.

The starting salary for this position will be based on the candidates qualifications at time of appointment.

Future Salary Increases: July 2027 - 4.49% increase to base pay (3.0% Across-the-Board + 1.49% Market Increase)

In addition to base salary, candidates may be compensated at an additional 5% at the San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital as a Work Location Premium.

The Director of Nursing will lead the nursing administration and management at the San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital.

The Director of Nursing in Behavioral Health Services will oversee clinical nurse management and daily nursing operations of the San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital. As a leader of clinical nursing within the enterprise, the Director of Nursing serves as a member of the Office of Nursing Excellence Executive Team and will work with nurse leaders in other Behavioral Health Services (BHS) and the Public Health Services (PHS) departments.

San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital

The San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital (SDCPH) is a publicly funded, free-standing psychiatric hospital. It is a locked facility and a component of the San Diego County Behavioral Health Services' continuum of care. The mission of the Hospital is to provide psychiatric evaluation and crisis intervention-oriented acute treatment for adult residents of San Diego County. The goal of the Hospital is to help stabilize patients' behavioral health crisis, and move ahead to a less restrictive level of care.

Current vacancies are at the San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital, 3853 Rosecrans Street, San Diego, CA 92110, however the eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies in other locations.

Ideal Candidate

A strong candidate would bring proven nursing leadership experience in an acute psychiatric or behavioral health hospital setting, with the ability to oversee clinical operations for a 100+ bed facility. They should demonstrate strategic management skills, including guiding and developing two Assistant Directors of Nursing, ensuring regulatory compliance, maintaining high standards of patient care, and contributing effectively as part of the hospital’s executive leadership team. Strong communication, decision-making, and collaboration abilities are essential for leading nursing services and aligning clinical priorities with organizational goals.

Hiring Process and Timeline

• Job Offer and Background Process: After interviews week of October 5, 2026. Note: Current County employees may be excluded from additional background screening.
• Pre-employment Medical Screening: Approximately 3 days following successful background investigation results.
• Anticipated Start Date: Start date will be based upon successful completion of medical screening or other mutually agreed upon date.

If you are not selected for this interview process, you may have the opportunity to compete for future vacancies.

Minimum Qualifications

1. A valid California Registered Nurse license is required at the time of application and must be maintained throughout employment in this position; AND,
2. Hospitals Option: Five (5) years of recent registered nursing experience which includes at least two (2) years of experience providing direct nursing care to psychiatric or long term care patients, and two (2) years of experience in an administrative or full supervisory position in a healthcare facility.

Notes: A master's or bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency in nursing is highly desirable.

A valid CPR card and National Provider Identification Number (NPI) is required at time of appointment.

Blind Applicant Screening

The Department of Human Resources removes personally identifiable information from all recruitments. This practice, called Blind Applicant Screening, hides a candidate’s personal information that could influence or bias a hiring decision. Personal information includes name, phone number, address, gender, age and race. This process helps contribute to a fair and equitable selection process leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

The most highly qualified candidates, based on the evaluation results, will be referred for an interview. Be sure to include your experience in meeting the minimum requirements in both the Work Experience section and the Supplemental Questionnaire section of the Application.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application Work History and/or supplemental questionnaire.

Condition of Employment

As part of the County of San Diego’s pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position. Current County employees may be excluded from this process.

Evaluation

The names of qualified applicants will be placed on a six (6) month employment list based upon scores received during the evaluation of information contained in their employment application and supplemental application questionnaire. Please ensure all information is complete and accurate, as the responses you provide on the supplemental application questionnaire will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in the initial screening process, your application will be reviewed individually to confirm that the information you provided is accurate and qualifying.

Accommodation

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.

Veteran’s Preference Policy

The County of San Diego offers preferential credits for military service to assist qualified applicants in transitioning from military to civilian careers with the County of San Diego. Please read the Veteran's Preference Policy for additional information.

Disaster Service Worker

The County of San Diego and its employees embrace the vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all. Our values include: integrity, equity, access, belonging, excellence, and sustainability. Each of which are infused throughout our operations. While also embracing a mission of strengthening our communities with innovative, inclusive, and data driven services through a skilled and supported workforce.

Under California Government Code Sections 3100 - 3109, public employees are designated as disaster service workers. The term "public employees" includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district. Disaster service workers are required to participate in such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their employer or by law.

The County of San Diego is committed to valuing diversity and practicing inclusion because our diverse workforce is our greatest asset and our customers are our number one priority.