Assistant Clinical Manager (PACU)

Cottage Health•Santa Barbara, CA

About The Position

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital is seeking an Assistant Clinical Manager for its 14-bed, 24-hour Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). The Assistant Clinical Manager provides leadership, operational oversight, staff development, and clinical support to ensure safe, efficient, high-quality patient care. The role serves as a clinical resource, coaches staff, promotes professional practice, and assists in achieving departmental and organizational goals. The position supports daily PACU operations and patient flow, assists with staffing and department performance, and serves as operational lead when the Clinical Manager is absent. It collaborates with physicians, anesthesia providers, perioperative leadership, and ancillary departments to optimize care and throughput. The Assistant Clinical Manager also promotes patient safety and service excellence, supports compliance and quality improvement, and contributes to staff development, clinical standards, and positive patient experiences. This leadership role offers the opportunity to contribute to strategic initiatives, mentor future leaders, and help shape perioperative care across the organization.

Requirements

Associate of Science and active enrollment in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.
Current California Registered Nurse license.
Minimum three years of recent PACU, ICU, or perioperative nursing experience.
ACLS, BLS, and PALS certifications from the American Heart Association (AHA).
Strong clinical expertise in perianesthesia care.
Knowledge of regulatory and accreditation standards.
Ability to analyze data and drive performance improvement.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Strong organizational, prioritization, and decision-making abilities.
Ability to effectively lead teams in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Two years of previous charge nurse, lead nurse, educator, or supervisory experience.
Leadership experience in an acute care hospital setting.
Experience with quality improvement initiatives and regulatory compliance.
Demonstrated ability to lead change, develop staff, and improve operational performance.
Strong communication, conflict resolution, and team-building skills.
CPAN certification or ability to obtain it within an established timeframe.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Responsibilities

Support daily PACU operations and patient flow.
Assist with staffing, scheduling, productivity management, and bed capacity coordination.
Serve as operational lead in the absence of the Clinical Manager.
Collaborate with physicians, anesthesia providers, perioperative leadership, and ancillary departments to optimize patient care and throughput.
Participate in strategic planning and department performance improvement initiatives.
Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and service excellence.
Monitor compliance with regulatory, accreditation, and organizational standards.
Participate in quality improvement activities, audits, and data analysis.
Assist with investigating safety events and developing corrective action plans.
Support implementation of evidence-based practices and clinical standards.
Coach, mentor, and provide performance feedback to staff.
Support onboarding, orientation, competency validation, and ongoing education.
Encourage professional growth, certification, and shared governance participation.
Assist with performance evaluations and employee relations activities.
Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
Serve as a clinical resource for complex patient care situations.
Support adherence to department policies, procedures, and standards of care.
Promote patient-centered care and positive patient experiences.
Assist in managing patient and family concerns and service recovery opportunities.