Director of Emergency Services

Position Overview

As the Director of Emergency Services, you will partner directly with executive leadership and physician stakeholders to elevate clinical quality, strengthen department culture, drive operational efficiency, develop high-performing teams, and position the Emergency Department for sustained growth.

If you are an experienced nurse executive ready to lead a high-volume emergency services department and make a measurable impact on patient care, clinical outcomes, and staff engagement, we invite you to apply.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management & Operations

• Prepare and manage the departmental operating and capital budgets based on volume projections and financial performance targets.
• Oversee supply chain management, inventory, and equipment vendor service contracts to meet departmental needs efficiently.
• Monitor productivity and cost-per-unit metrics; establish and execute performance improvement action plans when operational variances occur.
• Allocate clinical and administrative resources to optimize staffing efficiency, patient flow, and financial stewardship.

People & Culture

• Lead talent acquisition, onboarding, performance management, professional development, and retention strategies for nursing and support staff.
• Conduct timely 30-day stay interviews, 90-day evaluations, and annual performance reviews.
• Analyze turnover patterns and implement targeted retention strategies to maintain a stable, resilient workforce.
• Foster a positive, inclusive culture by encouraging staff participation in shared governance, department operations, and engagement initiatives.
• Oversee departmental scheduling, timekeeping, and payroll administration (e.g., Kronos/UKG).
• Support staff professional growth by maintaining updated competencies, job descriptions, and clinical policies and procedures.

Quality, Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure continuous readiness and compliance with Accreditation Standards (e.g., The Joint Commission / DNV), CMS, and state regulatory guidelines.
• Track, analyze, and report key quality metrics, clinical outcomes, and core measure benchmarks to leadership and quality committees.
• Establish and execute performance improvement initiatives to optimize patient safety, clinical throughput, and quality of care.

Service & Physician Engagement

• Partner closely with emergency physicians and medical staff to enhance collaboration, alignment, and physician satisfaction.
• Drive initiatives to improve the overall patient experience across all stages of care, utilizing patient satisfaction data (HCAHPS/press ganey) to guide strategy.
• Represent the Emergency Department on medical staff and hospital-wide operational committees.
• Ensure all clinical equipment and instrumentation are fully functional, maintained, and compliant with preventive maintenance schedules.
• Perform other executive or administrative leadership duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), or Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Experience: Minimum of five (5) years of progressive nursing leadership experience in an acute care hospital setting, including at least three (3) years in a supervisory or management role within Emergency Services.
• Licensure: Active and unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of practice (or eligible for compact state licensure).

Preferred Requirements

• Education: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA), or Master of Business Administration (MBA).
• Certifications: Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), Nurse Executive (NE-BC / NEA-BC), or Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN).

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Executive Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams, mentor emerging clinical leaders, and build collaborative physician relationships.
• Clinical Decision-Making: Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills in high-acuity, fast-paced environments.
• Financial Acumen: Proven experience in operational budget preparation, productivity management, and resource allocation.
• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with the ability to interface effectively with executive staff, physicians, employees, and community stakeholders.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficient with electronic health record (EHR) systems, workforce management tools (e.g., Kronos), and standard office software applications.