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Unit Director - Transformational Leadership in Patient Care

Are you ready to lead with purpose and drive excellence in healthcare? As a Unit Director, you'll hold 24/7 accountability for guiding a dynamic clinical team, fostering a culture of innovation, and delivering exceptional patient and employee experiences. This role will provide oversight and leadership to the Cardiothoracic ICU, Neurology ICU, and the Neuro IR department during a primarily Monday through Friday, dayshift schedule.

Sign-On Bonus: $15,000 sign-on bonus available for nurses with 1 or more years of experience.

What You'll Do

+ Lead with Vision: Provide strategic and operational leadership across clinical, administrative, and business functions.

+ Champion Quality: Collaborate with medical staff to monitor patient outcomes, set clinical priorities, and implement safety and quality improvements.

+ Empower Teams: Support shared governance through a unit-based professional practice council and use staff feedback to drive meaningful change.

+ Grow Talent: Oversee recruitment, hiring, orientation, and continuous performance management, including evaluations and daily coaching.

+ Cultivate Excellence: Create a best-practice environment that supports the development of students and staff alike.

+ Drive Results: Manage departmental budgets and lead key initiatives that enhance care delivery and workforce engagement.

What You Bring

+ Proven transformational leadership with a focus on patient-centered care and evidence-based practice.

+ A collaborative spirit and commitment to interdisciplinary excellence.

+ A clinical background in critical care nursing (preferred).

+ Passion for workforce development, recruitment, and retention.

Responsibilities:

Clinical Excellence & Quality Improvement

+ Collaborates with medical staff to monitor patient outcomes, set clinical quality priorities, and implement unit-based patient safety initiatives.

+ Utilizes dashboard indicators, satisfaction data, and evidence-based research to develop action plans that improve care quality and patient experience.

+ Promotes the use of evidence-based practice and encourages staff nurse involvement in quality improvement initiatives.

+ Shares successful improvement strategies across units and the broader system.

Leadership & Strategic Planning

+ Develops a shared vision and operational plan using critical thinking, financial and quality data, and stakeholder input within a shared governance model.

+ Leads complex change initiatives, supporting staff through transitions and engaging experts in planning and redesign.

+ Participates in professional and advocacy organizations to influence external healthcare environments.

Team Development & Communication

+ Builds strong internal and external relationships through mentoring, positive communication, and conflict resolution.

+ Models transparency, active listening, and trust-building behaviors.

+ Communicates clearly and effectively across various platforms to engage and inform diverse audiences.

+ Coaches staff on cultural diversity, addresses workplace challenges, and fosters an inclusive environment that values individual differences.

Patient-Centered Care & Resource Management

+ Promotes Relationship-Based Care to meet the clinical, psychological, and spiritual needs of patients, families, and staff.

+ Ensures nursing practice aligns with clinical standards and regulatory guidelines.

+ Applies national best practices to cultivate excellence in patient care.

+ Leads interdisciplinary collaboration through committee participation and team consultation.

+ Sets clinical, financial, and human resource priorities aligned with organizational goals.

+ Demonstrates fiscal responsibility in budget development and resource utilization, including flexible staffing to meet patient needs.

Staff Development & Mentorship

+ Sets high performance standards and fosters a culture of inquiry, innovation, and professional growth.

+ Designs developmental plans for staff, supports specialty certification, and enhances clinical orientation and continuing education.

+ Creates a best-practice environment for student and new nurse development and actively recruits nursing students through exceptional clinical experiences.

+ Supports shared governance through a unit-based professional practice council and integrates staff feedback to improve care and work culture.

Clinician Leadership & Competency Assurance

+ Leads and mentors Clinicians, strengthening their leadership, communication, and oversight capabilities.

+ Supports Clinicians in managing direct reports, including recruitment, performance reviews, and difficult conversations.

+ Assists in planning, implementing, and verifying competency assessments for all direct care providers to ensure readiness and address gaps.

+ Minimum of 4 years of progressive leadership experience required with relevant clinical experience preferred.

+ BS or BSN required at time of hire and Master's degree/MSN required.

+ If BS degree not in nursing, a Master's or higher degree in Nursing is required.

+ If Master's degree not in nursing, a BSN is required.

+ If the Master's degree/MSN is not present at time of hire, must be enrolled in a Master's or MSN program within one year of hire/transfer date and completed within three years of enrollment.

+ Demonstrated ability to provide age-appropriate care based on knowledge of growth and development across the lifespan.

+ Skilled in assessing patient data to identify and meet individualized care needs in alignment with departmental policies.

+ Strong analytical skills to evaluate staff performance, resolve clinical issues, and implement effective solutions.

+ Proven leadership in developing teams, upholding professional nursing standards, and meeting administrative requirements.

+ Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills to foster a healing environment and build collaborative relationships with patients, families, staff, physicians, and senior leadership.Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

+ Current licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse in practicing state*

+ Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

+ NIH Stroke Scale (NIH)

+ Registered Nurse (RN)

+ Act 34

*Current licensure either in the state where the facility is located or, if the facility is in a state covered by the multistate Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) agreement, a multistate license issued by a participating NLC state. Hires and current employees working on an out-of-state NLC license who later change their residency to the state where the facility is also located will have 60 days upon changing their residency to apply for licensure within that state.

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran