NICU APP Assistant Manager

The University of Iowa; Iowa City (IA); On-site; USD 109,800 - 134,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Paid vacation

Job summary

The University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital is seeking a NICU APP Assistant Manager to lead and mentor the NICU APP team while continuing to provide direct patient care in a Level IV NICU.

This role blends clinical duties with leadership responsibilities, offering opportunities to shape quality initiatives, coordinate education, and advance neonatal care through collaboration with physicians and nursing leadership.

Qualifications

• ARNP with master's degree required; nursing master's preferred or a related bachelor’s with a master’s is acceptable.
• Current RN license from the State of Iowa is required.
• Current certification as a pediatric nurse practitioner (CPNP) and ARNP licensure in Iowa required.
• Current certification as Physician Assistant (PA) and PA licensure in Iowa may be applicable for collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Mentor and develop the next generation of NICU APPs and support onboarding.
• Provide clinical care in the NICU, including assessments and orders under a collaborative agreement.
• Coordinate orientation, competency assessments, and ongoing APP staff training.
• Support regulatory compliance, quality improvement, and leadership initiatives.

Skills

NICU leadership

APP mentorship

Quality improvement

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Regulatory compliance

Education

ARNP, Master’s in Nursing

RN license Iowa

CPNP/ARNP Certification

PA certification (if applicable)

Job description

The University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital is seeking a NICU APP Assistant Manager to help shape the future of neonatal care within one of the country’s premier Level 4 NICUs. This unique leadership opportunity combines clinical excellence with operational leadership, allowing you to continue caring for critically ill newborns while mentoring APP colleagues, driving quality initiatives, and influencing the strategic direction of a highly respected neonatal program.

This position offers a balanced 50% clinical / 50% leadership structure, providing the opportunity to remain actively engaged in patient care while expanding your leadership impact.

Why This Role Matters

As Assistant Manager, you’ll serve as a key leader within our NICU APP team, partnering with physician leaders, nursing leadership, and fellow APPs to:

• Mentor and develop the next generation of neonatal APPs
• Advance quality improvement and patient safety initiatives
• Support APP onboarding, education, and professional growth
• Drive operational excellence and team engagement
• Deliver exceptional care to our most vulnerable patients and their families

Position Responsibilities

Leadership and Team Support

• Work collaboratively with the NICU APP Supervisor, NICU Division Director, NICU Medical Director, Pediatrics Administrative Director (or Assistant Director), and UI Health Care Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Director to support implementation and optimization of advanced practice models of care within the NICU.
• Assist the NICU APP Supervisor in coordinating and facilitating care delivered by the APP team within the NICU.
• Serve as a clinical and professional resource for NICU APP staff, providing mentorship and guidance to support best practices and professional development.
• Participate as a member of the NICU leadership team in addressing issues and barriers impacting clinical practice, safety, quality, and professionalism.

Clinical Practice

• Provide patient care services in the NICU by performing medical assessments, ordering diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and prescribing or delivering medications under a collaborative practice agreement.
• Collaborate with physicians and interdisciplinary care team members to develop and implement care plans for critically ill infants.
• Use clinical judgment to apply and synthesize patient information to address complex neonatal health conditions.
• Complete accurate and timely documentation of patient care in the electronic medical record and other required systems to ensure compliance, billing accuracy, and regulatory standards.

APP Development and Education

• Assist with coordination and implementation of orientation, onboarding, competency assessment, and mentoring for new APP staff in partnership with the NICU APP Supervisor and NICU leadership.
• Assist with orientation, competency assessment, and ongoing training for new APP staff in collaboration with the NICU Education lead.
• Encourage APP involvement in unit‑wide quality improvement activities with the NICU QI lead.
• Support ongoing professional development opportunities for APP staff in leadership, clinical excellence, patient‑centered care, education, and research.
• Encourage APP participation in quality improvement initiatives, research, and professional engagement to support the continued advancement of NICU care.

Operational and Administrative Support

• Assist with facilitation of regular APP staff meetings and promote effective communication, collaboration, and team engagement.
• Support adherence to regulatory and professional standards including credentialing, privileging, clinical protocols, compliance training, and institutional guidelines.
• Assist the NICU APP Supervisor and leadership team in monitoring performance metrics such as productivity, quality outcomes, patient satisfaction, and APP‑specific performance indicators.
• Participate in initiatives that support retention of Level IV NICU designation, quality improvement, and institutional priorities such as national benchmarking and program development.
• Maintain a Teams site, create and manage a schedule, and represent APP team needs at leadership level including meetings, proposals, and presentations.

Human Resources and Recruitment

• Support the NICU APP Supervisor with recruitment efforts by assisting with outreach, interviewing, and engagement with academic institutions and professional organizations.
• Assist in maintaining a collaborative, respectful, and supportive work environment that promotes team effectiveness and staff retention.
• Support administrative functions such as scheduling coordination, staff development initiatives, and team communication.

Professional Engagement

• Collaborate with the UI Health Care APP Director and hospital leadership to promote optimal utilization of APPs within the team‑based care model.
• Participate in APP councils, leadership meetings, and relevant conferences to maintain and advance clinical and professional expertise.
• Perform additional duties as needed to support NICU operations, APP team development, and patient care excellence.

About the Department of Pediatrics

The Stead Family Department of Pediatrics is a national leader in pediatric medicine. The Department’s mission is to provide outstanding care to the children of Iowa and beyond by being a leader in state‑of‑the‑art clinical care to children, performing cutting‑edge research to find new treatments and cures for childhood illnesses and educating the next generation of pediatric health care providers. The Department comprises the medical and research staff of UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital. UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital is one of the nation’s top‑ranked pediatric care and research institutions, and Iowa’s only comprehensive children’s hospital.

Benefits Highlights

• Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans
• For more information about Why Iowa?, click here

Education Requirements

• Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP): A master’s degree is required. A master’s degree in nursing is preferred. If a master’s degree is in a related field, a Baccalaureate degree in Nursing.
• Current RN license from the State of Iowa is required.
• Current certification as a pediatric nurse practitioner (CPNP – AC or CPNP - PC) and licensure as ARNP in state of Iowa is required.
• Understands the Nurse Practice Act, including ARNP components.
• Ability to perform technical skill and function as an independent practitioner defined by collaborative practice agreement according to Iowa Board of Nursing, and UI Health Care standards.
• Must comply with registration and licensure requirements as specified by the Iowa Board of Physician Assistant Examiners which includes graduation from an accredited PA education program and/or certification by the NCCPA.
• Current certification as Physician Assistant.
• Current license to practice as a physician assistant in the State of Iowa.

Experience Requirements

• Minimum of three years’ experience as an Advanced Practice Provider within a NICU, CICU, PICU, or SICU.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to perform technical skills and function as an independent practitioner defined by collaborative practice agreement according to Iowa Board of Nursing, and UI Health Care standards.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with indirect supervision, critical thinking/problem solving skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively in a welcoming and respectful workplace environment.

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated Level III NICU experience.
• Demonstrated clinical excellence through published articles and/or clinical presentations.
• Demonstrated experience providing overall medical care and medical management for patients in an inpatient setting.
• Demonstrated experience exercising autonomy in medical decision‑making and services provided.
• Demonstrated experience managing length of stay, improving resource utilization and decreasing costs to patients and the institution while providing personalized care.
• Demonstrated experience in clinical care of pediatrics.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification.
• NRP Certification.

Position and Application Details

• In order to be considered for an interview, applicants must upload the following documents and mark them as a “Required File” to the submission: CV/Resume.
• Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended.
• Successful candidates will be required to self‑disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.
• This position is not eligible for university sponsorship for employment authorization.

Additional Information

• Appointment Type: Professional and Scientific
• Schedule: Full‑time
• Work Modality Options: On Campus

Compensation

• Starting Salary Minimum: 122000

Contact Information

• Contact Name: Children’s HR
• Contact Email: [e-mail]

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, or associational preferences.

Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, [phone] or [e-mail]. For jobs in UI Health care, please contact UI Health care Leave & Disability Administration at 319-356-7543.