Nurse Director

State of North Carolina; North Carolina; On-site; USD 96,000 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance options

Retirement Plans

NCFlexSupplemental Benefits

Paid Vacation, Sick, and Community/SSL

Paid Parental Leave

Job summary

The Nurse Director II (NS) at the Central Prison Healthcare Complex provides executive oversight of nursing operations, ensuring safe, evidence-based care within North Carolina’s correctional healthcare environment. The role sets strategic priorities, builds high-performing teams, and aligns plans with Health Services and the Department of Adult Correction.

Leading inpatient, ambulatory, and perioperative services, the Nurse Director drives staffing optimization, professional practice

Qualifications

• Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in North Carolina with six years of nursing experience, including four years in a nurse supervisor capacity.
• Experience leading nursing operations in hospital or integrated healthcare settings.
• Knowledge of correctional healthcare, behavioral health, surgical services, and accreditation standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for nursing operations across all clinical service areas.
• Develop, implement, and monitor operational plans aligning nursing services with goals.
• Lead workforce development, staffing optimization, performance management, and succession planning.
• Ensure compliance with state/federal laws, regulations, accreditation, and professional nursing standards.
• Drive quality improvement and patient safety across inpatient, outpatient, and specialty services.
• Foster accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement within nursing teams.
• Partner with interdisciplinary leaders to evaluate performance and implement improvements.
• Oversee resource utilization and delivery of patient-centered, evidence-based care.

Skills

Executive leadership

Inpatient care

Ambulatory care

Multidisciplinary teams

Correctional healthcare

Behavioral health

Education

RN license

Job description

Agency

Adult Correction

Division

COO - OPS - Institutions Operations

Job Classification Title

Nurse Director II (NS)

Position Number

60066353

Grade

MH22

About Us

The NC Department of Adult Correction is one of the largest state agencies with more than 14,000 employees. It is responsible for safeguarding and preserving lives and property through prevention, protection, and preparation as well as the care, custody, and supervision of all adults sentenced for violating North Carolina laws. This department includes state prisons with custody, healthcare, and facility operations staff as well as probation/parole officers who supervised sentenced people in the community. Other divisions include Administration, Health Services, Rehabilitation & Reentry, Special Operations and the Post-Release Supervision & Parole Commission. We have a mission that matters!

Description of Work

The Nurse Director provides executive oversight for nursing operations at the Central Prison Healthcare Complex, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and evidence‑based care within one of North Carolina’s most complex correctional healthcare environments. This role establishes strategic priorities for nursing services, develops operational plans, and ensures alignment with the mission and goals of Health Services and the Department of Adult Correction. The Nurse Director oversees inpatient medical and behavioral health nursing operations, urgent care, specialty clinics, perioperative services, Medical Records, and Utilization Review, while building high‑performing teams, advancing professional nursing practice, optimizing staffing models, and driving quality and patient safety initiatives. As a key member of the executive leadership team, the Nurse Director collaborates with interdisciplinary leaders to evaluate performance, implement evidence‑based improvements, strengthen workforce engagement and succession planning, and lead strategic initiatives that enhance healthcare operations, improve patient outcomes, and support the overall delivery of correctional healthcare across the Central Prison Healthcare Complex.

Job Duties

• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for nursing operations across all clinical service areas.
• Develop, implement, and monitor operational plans that align nursing services with organizational goals.
• Lead workforce development efforts, including staffing optimization, performance management, and succession planning.
• Ensure compliance with state and federal laws, regulations, accreditation standards, and professional nursing practice requirements.
• Drive quality improvement and patient safety initiatives across inpatient, outpatient, and specialty services.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement within nursing teams.
• Partner with interdisciplinary leaders to evaluate organizational performance and implement evidence‑based improvements.
• Oversee resource utilization, operational efficiency, and the delivery of patient‑centered, evidence‑based care.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement. The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred:

• Executive nursing leadership experience in a hospital or integrated healthcare system.
• Experience overseeing inpatient and ambulatory healthcare services.
• Experience leading large multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of correctional healthcare, behavioral health, surgical services, and healthcare accreditation standards.

Salary Range

$95,752.00 - $157,990.00

MH 22

MH22

StateBenefitsInformation

The State of North Carolina offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Health Insurance options
• Retirement Plans
• NCFlexSupplemental Benefits
• Paid Vacation, Sick, and Community Service Leave
• Paid Parental Leave

Visit the State Benefitswebsiteforadditionalinformation.

About The Division ofComprehensive Health Services

Comprehensive Health Services (CHS) delivers health services to individuals incarcerated in North Carolina state prisons. Our mission is to provide constitutionallyappropriate medical, mental health, dental, and pharmaceutical care that meets professional standards. CHS health professionals ensure access totimely, essential, and comprehensive services and programs that support the well‑being of incarcerated individuals. This care is delivered by licensed staff and through partnerships with private providers and the University of North Carolina system.

Veterans’ and National Guard Preference

• Applicants seeking Veteran’s Preference must attach aDD-214 Member-4 Form(Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.
• Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS), along with the state application, if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.
• Applicants who are former members of either the NC Army National Guard or the NC Air National Guard, with honorable discharge and six years of creditable service, must attach a copyofthe DD256 or NGB 22, along with the state application.

PREA Requirement

The NC Dept. of Adult Correction must adhere to the US Dept. of Justice Final Rule on the “National Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Prison Rape.” Click this link for information on hiring and promotion prohibition requirements for all positions in the NC Dept. of Adult Correction:PREA Hiring and Promotion Prohibitions

ADA Accommodations

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), NCDAC is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the personindicatedbelow.

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of North Carolina and six years of nursing experience, including four years of experience in a Nurse Supervisor capacity.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.