Director, Pediatric ICU

Inova Health; Falls Church (VA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Inova Health is seeking an experienced nursing leader to oversee the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Inova Children’s Hospital in Northern Virginia. The role leads strategic initiatives, standards, and performance metrics to ensure excellent patient outcomes in a highly specialized unit serving birth through age 21.

The Director Clinical Specialty will liaison with stakeholders, manage budget and staffing decisions, and drive evidence-based, holistic care across a Level I PICU recognized

Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in Nursing is required.
• Virginia RN licensure required; BLS & PALS on start.
• Minimum 1 year of leadership and 2 years of acute care nursing experience.
• Preferred: experience leading a PICU or pediatric critical-care service.

Responsibilities

• Supports and assists Inova Health System's strategic initiatives and growth at unit level.
• Facilitates development of standards for patient populations using interdisciplinary approaches.
• Develops metrics for process improvement and disseminates results to staff.
• Analyzes practices, performs variance analysis and supports corrective actions.
• Participates in risk assessments and implements non-punitive error reporting.
• Develops unit plans for patient and physician satisfaction and supports IRCA actions.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Quality and safety

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Nursing

Job description

Job Description

Inova Fairfax Hospital is seeking an experienced nursing leader to oversee our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Inova Children’s Hospital, the only unit of its kind in Northern Virginia. Our multidisciplinary, Level I PICU provides advanced technology and highly specialized critical care for critically ill and injured patients from birth through age 21.

Our PICU is recognized for delivering exceptional care to some of the region’s most medically complex and fragile children. The unit has earned national recognition, including the AACCN Beacon Silver Award for Pediatric Critical Care Excellence (2016–2019), reflecting our commitment to clinical excellence, patient safety, teamwork, and family‑centered care.

The Director Clinical Specialty oversees assigned department or functional area to ensure it is performing effectively, which may include but not limited to, preparing and implementing business strategy to achieve the organization’s goals, ensuring legal compliance, communicating and collaborating with stakeholders, managing employment decisions and contributions of supporting team members, and managing departmental budget and fiscal success. Serves as a primary liaison and information resource for the unit. Oversees the provision of therapeutic care in a holistic and evidence‑based environment, which produces excellent patient care with optimal patient outcomes.

Job Responsibilities

• Supports and assists appropriately in Inova Health System's strategic initiatives. Identifies opportunities for growth and provides input to the design and implementation of growth initiatives at the unit level.
• Facilitates the development and revision of standards for patient populations by incorporating an interdisciplinary approach and utilizing best practices and research findings.
• Assists in the development and monitoring of metrics related to process improvement at the unit level by using national and organizational benchmarks that target evidence-based outcomes. Ensures that benchmark targets and research findings are disseminated to staff.
• Analyzes practices that contribute to variances, draws conclusions from aggregate data, identifies resources to assist in variance analysis and assists with drawing conclusions from aggregate data.
• Participates in risk and liability assessments. Develops and implements corrective action plans. Facilitates the implementation of a non‑punitive error reporting system to encourage mitigation of unsafe practice. Participates in the analysis of root cause and variation from quality standards.
• Develops and implements unit‑based plans related to patient and physician satisfaction on a quarterly basis. Assists with IRCA completion and implementation of corrective action plans at the unit level.

Minimum Requirements

• Certification - Basic Life Support & PALS upon start
• Licensure - Licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Registered Nurse
• Experience - 1 year of leadership experience and 2 years of acute care nursing experience, leadership experience may include RN Unit Supervisor Role, dedicated charge nurse or Assistant Nurse Manager or equivalent role
• Education - Bachelors Degree in Nursing

Preferred Requirements

• Experience leading a PICU, pediatric critical-care service, or similarly high‑acuity unit.
• Minimum of 2 years of nursing leadership or supervisory experience, preferably in critical care or pediatrics.

About Us

We are Inova, Northern Virginia’s leading nonprofit healthcare provider. Every day, our 26,000+ team members provide world‑class healthcare to the communities we serve. Our people are the reason we’re a national leader in healthcare safety, quality and patient experience. And from best‑in‑class facilities to professional development opportunities, we support them at every step. At Inova, we’re constantly striving to be ever better — to shape a more compassionate future for healthcare.

Inova Health is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, pregnancy (including childbirth, pregnancy‑related conditions and lactation), race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristics protected by law.