DIRECTOR OF NURSING OPERATIONS, Correctional Care

Cook County Government; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage

Pension Plan and Deferred Compensation

Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time

Job summary

Cook County Health is seeking a Director of Nursing Operations for Corrections to provide leadership and clinical direction to a designated nursing division. This role ensures the care delivery system meets integrity, safety, and quality standards across the health system.

The position requires a Master’s degree in nursing or healthcare administration, Illinois RN licensure, ACLS, and at least five years of nursing management experience within a large organization.

Qualifications

• Licensed Registered Nurse in Illinois or eligible for licensure
• Master's Degree in Nursing, Public Health, Health Administration, or Business Administration
• Five years of nursing management experience with a large scope of responsibility

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to a designated nursing division within Cook County Health
• Ensure care delivery aligns with mission, values, and quality standards
• Oversee recruitment, training, and budgetary planning for nursing staff

Skills

Nursing management

ACLS certification

Leadership

Communication

Education

Master's Degree in Nursing or Healthcare Administration

Job description

Job Description

Director of Nursing Operations, Correctional Care

Job Number: 00139676

Job Posting

Oct 9, 2026, 7:10:49 PM

Closing Date: Oct 24, 2026, 4:59:00 AM Full-time Shift Start Time : 8:00 A.M. Shift End Time : 4:30 P.M.

Organization

Health and Hospital Systems

Applicants may apply for this position by submitting a resume/ CV to the following email address: [e-mail]

When submitting a resume/CV by email, you must include the Job Title and Posting Number in the subject line of your email. An application or resume/CV must be filed for each position which interests you.

This position is exempt from Career Service under the CCH Personnel Rules.

Job Summary

The Director of Nursing Operations will be responsible for providing leadership, administrative, and clinical direction to a designated nursing division within Cook County Health (CCH). Ensures the divisional nursing care delivery system operates according to established CCH mission, vision values and goals: integrity of care, efficiency, safety, and quality standards.

General Administrative Responsibilities

Collective Bargaining

• Review applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements and consult with Labor Relations to generate management proposals
• Participate in collective bargaining negotiations, caucus discussions and working meetings
• Document, recommend and effectuate discipline at all levels
• Work closely with labor relations and/or labor counsel to effectuate and enforce applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements
• Initiate, authorize and complete disciplinary action pursuant to CCH system rules, policies, procedures and provision of applicable collective bargaining agreements

Supervision

• Direct and effectuate CCH management policies and practices
• Access and proficiently navigate CCH records system to obtain and review information necessary to execute provisions of applicable collective bargaining agreements

Management

• Contribute to the management of CCH staff and CCH’ systemic development and success
• Discuss and develop CCH system policy and procedure
• Consistently use independent judgment to identify operational staffing issues and needs and perform the following functions as necessary; hire, transfer, suspend, layoff, recall, promote, discharge, assign, direct or discipline employees pursuant to applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements
• Work with Labor Relations to discern past practice when necessary

Typical Duties

• Establishes performance goals and objectives for the nursing division in accordance with Department of Nursing policies, practices, and objectives.
• Monitors and evaluates the overall nursing care delivery system within the nursing division to ensure integrity of patient care within established efficiency, safety, and quality standards.
• Makes rounds to assess and evaluate patient care needs and to ensure care delivered meets Standards of Care and Practice criteria for the designated specialty as required by state, federal or nursing association guidelines.
• Responsible for ensuring that nursing personnel provide optimal customer service and an exceptional patient experience.
• Collects, reviews and analyzes patient acuity and staffing data to determine staffing patterns and project staffing needs, to ensure adequate staffing within each unit of the nursing division.
• Works with Nursing Leadership to develop division specific quality and safety initiatives. Evaluate nursing division's quality performance and implements corrective actions.
• Participates in development, implementation and evaluation of the nursing division's Performance Improvement Program. Works with Nursing Coordinators, On-Duty Administrators and other supervisory staff to ensure the integration of performance improvement activities into daily practice.
• Establishes and reviews individual performance goals for unit Nursing Coordinators. Ensures they are educated and informed of all Department of Nursing policies, procedures, performance improvement, and quality initiatives.
• Provides direction to Nursing Coordinators in the recruitment and training of qualified clinical staff. Provides guidelines to Nursing Coordinators and nursing education department to ensure continuous education and current, updated certification and licensure of clinical staff.
• Participates in fiscal planning for the nursing division. Reviews expenditures and budget to ensure labor costs and expenses are within established annual guidelines.
• Demonstrate and promote an awareness of patient rights; provides training to staff to ensure their knowledge and awareness of patient rights; functions as a patient advocate.
• Prepares and submits divisional performance reports on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis.
• Participates in nursing committees, medical and ancillary committees to ensure nursing division is actively linked to and in collaboration with all patient care systems.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Reporting Relationship

Reports to the Chief Nursing Officer of Corrections

Minimum Qualifications

• Licensed Registered Professional Nurse in the State of Illinois OR must be able to obtain licensure prior to starting employment
• Master's Degree in Nursing, Public Health, Health Administration, or Business Administration from an accredited college or university
• Five (5) years of nursing management experience with a large scope of responsibility within the nursing clinical area assigned/posted
• Must possess an Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified in area of specialty
• Management experience in a unionized environment
• Prior inpatient, medical-surgical, telemetry or ICU unit managerial experience
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics

• Thorough knowledge of Critical Care principles, practices and procedures
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to ensure the protection of the confidentiality and security of healthcare information for all patients
• Diverse knowledge and skill of treatment systems and clinical practices, including but not limited to:
• o Aspects of Interventional Radiology including but not limited to nursing care procedures, equipment, and safety
• o Management of patients with spinal cord injuries and other neurological diagnosis
• o Management of stroke patients
• o Management of patients receiving chemotherapy
• o Management of patients with chest tubes
• o Management of ventilated patients on life support
• o Management of burn patients
• o Management of patients with cardiovascular disease
• o Experience in level 1 trauma center
• o Expertise in ICU monitors and equipment
• o Experienced in pain management and sedation administration
• Demonstrated leadership skills in a fast-paced environment within established time constraints and in difficult situations
• Demonstrated skills in the following applications of the elements of management:
• o Planning
• o Staffing
• o Delegating
• o Coordinating
• o Budgeting
• o Evaluating
• o Director/Supervising
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills necessary to communicate with all levels of staff and a patient population composed of diverse cultures and age groups
• Excellent interpersonal and patient relation skills

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics continued

• Ability to function as a role model for clinical excellence
• Ability to supervise, direct, and review activities of nursing personnel
• Ability to create and maintain complete and accurate records and reports
• 24/7 oversight responsibility

Physical and Environmental Demands

This position is functioning within a healthcare environment. The incumbent is responsible for adherence to all hospital and department specific safety requirements. This includes but is not limited to the following policies and procedures: complying with Personal Protective Equipment requirements, hand washing and sanitizing practices, complying with department specific engineering and work practice controls and any other work area safety precautions as specified by hospital wide policy and departmental procedures.

BENEFITS PACKAGE

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Basic Term Life Insurance
• Pension Plan and Deferred Compensation Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time
• You may also qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

VETERAN PREFERENCE

When applying for employment with Cook County Health, preference is given to honorably discharged Veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for not less than 6 months of continuous service

To take advantage of this preference a Veteran must:

• Meet the minimum qualifications for the position.
• Identify self as a Veteran on the employment application by answering yes to the question by answering yes to the question, “Are you a Military Veteran?”
• Attach a copy of their DD 214, DD 215 or NGB 22 (Notice of Separation at time of application filing. Please note: If you have multiple DD214s, 215s, or NGB 22S, Please submit the one with the latest date. Coast Guard must submit a certified copy of the military separation from either the Department of Transportation (Before 9/11)or the Department of Homeland Security (After 9/11). Discharge papers must list and Honorable Discharge Status. Discharge papers not listing an Honorable Discharge Status are not acceptable)

OR

A copy of a valid State ID Card or Driver’s License which identifies the holder of the ID as a Veteran, may also be attached to the application at time of filing.

If items are not attached, you will not be eligible for Veteran Preference

VETERANS MUST PROVIDE ORIGINAL APPLICABLE DISCHARGE PAPERS OR APPLICABLE STATE ID CARD OR DRIVER’S LICENSE AT TIME OF INTERVIEW.

MUST MEET ALL REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AT TIME OF APPLICATION FILING.

“Degrees awarded outside of the United States with the exception of those awarded in one of the United States’ territories and Canada muse be credentialed by an approved U.S. credential evaluation service belongings to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Original credentialing documents must be presented at time of interview”.

*Please note all offers of Employment are contingent upon the following conditions: satisfactory professional & employment references, healthcare and criminal background checks, appropriate licensure/certifications and the successful completion of a physical and pre-employment drug screen.

*CCH isstrictlyprohibitedfromconditioning,basingorknowinglyprejudicingoraffectinganyterm oraspectofCountyemploymentorhiringuponorbecauseofanypoliticalreasonorfactor.

COOK COUNTY HEALTH IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

If you have an issue completing your application, please call Taleo Support at 312-864-0430.