Director Of Nursing 1 (Office/On-site)

CT; New Haven (CT); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

State employee benefits overview

Professional growth opportunities

Healthy work-life balance

Job summary

Connecticut Mental Health Center seeks an experienced Director of Nursing to provide clinical and administrative oversight across inpatient and ambulatory settings in New Haven. You will lead staff evaluations, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive quality improvement initiatives.

The role requires strong nursing leadership, CT RN licensure, and a master’s degree. You will coordinate 24-hour nursing coverage and support recruitment while maintaining patient safety and high-quality care.

Qualifications

• Two years of administrative or supervisory experience in a health care setting (supervising nursing).
• Current Connecticut RN license (or compact).
• Master's degree in nursing or related field preferred for Nurse Executive role.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical and administrative supervision across inpatient and ambulatory settings.
• Conduct staff evaluations and develop corrective action plans to meet regulatory standards.
• Plan, manage and evaluate nursing activities; develop goals, policies and programs.
• Lead quality improvement initiatives for nursing services and infection control.
• Coordinate 24-hour nursing coverage and participate in recruitment and hiring.

Skills

Nursing leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Staff supervision

Infection control

Crisis management

Interpersonal skills

Oral and written communication

Education

CT RN license (active)

Master's degree in nursing or related field

Tools

Regulatory compliance tools

Job description

Introduction

Do you want to make a difference while participating in a dynamic and reciprocal health care environment in the public sector? If so, we have an excellent opportunity for you to help lead our hospital’s team! The Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC), under the umbrella of the State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking an experienced and qualified individual to join our team as a Director of Nursing 1 (PCN 142083) in New Haven. This position will provide clinical and administrative oversight within our mental health center, and ensure that our center complies with regulatory oversight requirements. Find out more information on this great opportunity below!

Position Highlights

• Work Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week
• Work Shift: First shift, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
• Location: 34 Park St, New Haven, CT

What We Can Offer You

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

What You'll Do

• Provide clinical and administrative supervision, conduct staff evaluations, and maintain effective nursing leadership across inpatient and ambulatory settings.
• Conduct routine rounds to identify care, practice, and service issues, and implement corrective action plans to uphold regulatory standards.
• Oversee staffing patterns, ensure adequate unit and shift coverage, and support staff competency through training and development programs.
• Plan, manage, and evaluate nursing and clinical activities; develop program goals, objectives, and policies aligned with current standards and research.
• Maintain stakeholder relationships, ensure safe and high-quality patient care, and lead quality improvement initiatives for nursing services.
• Build productive teams, intervene in crises, investigate incidents, and prepare necessary reports while leading and participating in meetings.
• Coordinate 24‑hour nursing coverage, support recruitment and hiring efforts, provide direct patient care as needed, and represent nursing services when appropriate.

More About the Agency and Facilities

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), is a health care agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective, and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect, and self‑sufficiency in those we serve.

The Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC) is an urban community mental health center with an exceptional 60-year tradition of serving individuals with serious mental illness and/or addiction. Founded in 1966, CMHC is a partnership between DHMAS and the Yale Department of Psychiatry. Each year over 4,000 people receive a variety of recovery‑oriented services at CMHC and its satellite clinics.

CMHC is nationally recognized for its scientific research into the causes and treatment of mental illness and addiction. The Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities include multiple research programs in a variety of areas. CMHC is also a major training site for individuals pursuing careers in mental health fields including psychiatry, psychology, social work, nursing, and pastoral care.

Start with us! Stay with us! Grow with us!

Please note:

• A comprehensive medical examination, including a drug screening, will be required of all applicants upon a conditional offer of employment.
• All state employees must adhere to Connecticut's Policy for a Drug Free Workplace.

Purpose of Job Class (Nature of Work)

In the Departments of Children and Families, Developmental Services, Mental Health and Addiction Services and Veterans Affairs this class is accountable for directing nursing services or other clinical services.

Examples of Duties

• Directs or assists with direction of staff and operation of nursing/clinical department;
• Directs or assists with planning and managing of nursing/clinical activities;
• Develops or assists with formulation of program goals and objectives;
• Develops or assists in development of related policy incorporating current nursing/clinical research and professionally recognized standards;
• Develops or assists in development and implementation of plans for care;
• Interprets and administers pertinent laws;
• Evaluates staff;
• Prepares or assists in preparation of budget;
• Maintains contacts with individuals both within and outside of department who might impact on program activities;
• Makes rounds to determine quality of nursing care;
• Assures optimal quality of care is provided in a safe environment;
• Develops and/or implements effective ongoing programs to measure, assess and improve quality of nursing care, treatment and services delivered to patients;
• Oversees programming for facility personnel to improve knowledge and practices of infection control;
• Develops productive work teams; intervenes in crisis situations and investigates all unusual incidents;
• Protects human and civil rights of patients and/or clients and staff;
• Compiles data and prepares periodic reports;
• Leads and participates in meetings;
• Responsible for coordinating and providing twenty‑four hour nursing coverage for facility or assigned unit(s);
• Participates in the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• May provide direct patient and/or client care;
• May speak on behalf of nursing/clinical services;
• May oversee other disciplines including but not limited to pharmacy, respiratory therapy or social work;
• May participate in strategic planning;
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skill and Ability

• Considerable knowledge of nursing principles and practices in appropriate specialty;
• Knowledge of behavioral health nursing;
• Knowledge of nursing administration;
• Knowledge of interviewing and counseling techniques;
• Knowledge of principles and practices of infection control related to infections and preventable diseases;
• Knowledge of current developments in field of nursing including current complexities of the healthcare industry;
• Knowledge of trend variance analysis;
• Knowledge of governmental accounting and budgeting;
• Knowledge of marketing;
• Considerable interpersonal skills;
• Oral and written communication skills.

Minimum Qualifications - General Experience

• Two (2) years of experience in an administrative or supervisory capacity in a health care organization and/or facility or hospital nursing. Note: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Supervising Nurse.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working on an inpatient unit with 3 shifts
• Experience in mental health nursing, working with patients with mental health and cooccurring disorders
• Experience managing and supervising large groups of professional and paraprofessional nursing staff, including developing schedules and overseeing staffing patterns
• Experience liaising with other disciplines and agency leadership.
• Experience with crisis management and multi-tasking.
• Experience working with regulatory bodies and creating corrective action plans.

Special Requirements

• Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license as a Registered Nurse in Connecticut OR hold a Multistate or Compact Registered Nurse license.
• Incumbents in this class serving in the capacity of the Nurse Executive are required to possess a master's degree in nursing, social or behavioral science, public health administration, health care administration, hospital administration or a related field.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Acknowledgement

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all‑inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.