Director, Pediatric Critical Care Nursing

University of Rochester

22h•$131,435 - $197,163•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Critical Care provides director-level leadership for Golisano Children's critical care services, including NICU (CH3, 334, NBN), PICU, Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care, Pediatric Emergency Department, and Pediatric Transport. Reporting to the Chief Nursing Officer, the position oversees clinical operations, patient safety and quality, staff leadership, fiscal stewardship, and regulatory compliance. The Director partners with the Assistant Director, Critical Care and unit-based nursing leaders to ensure safe, high-reliability care and support service growth across the Finger Lakes Region and Western New York. The Director leads critical care nursing operations and strategic priorities, establishes and evaluates nursing practice standards, addresses practice gaps, and promotes safe, consistent, evidence-based patient care. The role oversees quality and safety indicators, event review, performance improvement, regulatory compliance, and readiness for Magnet designation. It also directs personnel management, leads and develops critical care leadership, and champions recruitment and retention. The position oversees annual operating budget development and analysis, staffing models, productivity, and resource allocation in partnership with the Chief Nursing Officer and Finance. The Director collaborates with medical directors, Nursing Professional Practice, Quality, Education, and interdisciplinary partners to align clinical and operational goals, strengthen competencies, and maintain consistent practice standards.

Requirements

BSN and a master’s degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or a related field.
Minimum 5–7 years of progressive nursing leadership experience, including direct leadership in critical care or high-acuity pediatric care.
Demonstrated leadership experience in budgeting, staffing models, and resource management.
Strong knowledge of pediatric and neonatal critical care standards.
Sound judgment in high-acuity situations.
Strategic and operational leadership skills.
Change management, communication, and interdisciplinary relationship-building skills.
Commitment to equity, collaboration, and staff development.
Current New York State RN licensure or eligibility.

Nice To Haves

DNP or PhD in Nursing.
Experience with organizational growth, restructuring, or facility expansion.
National certification in nursing leadership or critical care, such as NEA-BC or CCRN.

Responsibilities

Direct critical care nursing operations and strategic priorities across NICU, PICU, Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care, Pediatric Emergency Department, and Pediatric Transport.
Partner with the Assistant Director and Nurse Managers to ensure consistent operations; represent critical care in hospital and system leadership forums; and lead readiness for service growth and facility expansion.
Develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate nursing practice standards across assigned services; identify practice gaps, establish improvement plans, and evaluate outcomes.
Oversee clinical quality and safety indicators, RL event review, and performance improvement.
Promote high-reliability, evidence-based pediatric and neonatal practice and ensure compliance with regulatory, licensing, and accreditation standards; contribute to Magnet designation readiness.
Direct personnel management functions, including recruitment, selection, performance evaluation, employee development, and corrective action, in compliance with University policies and organizational expectations.
Lead, mentor, and manage the performance of the Assistant Director, Critical Care and unit-based nursing leadership.
Develop succession pathways for Nurse Managers, Senior ANMs, and ANMs, and champion recruitment and retention strategies for pediatric critical care nursing.
Lead annual operating budget development, monitoring, and analysis for assigned services.
Evaluate staffing utilization, productivity, and resource allocation to support fiscal responsibility, patient safety, and clinical quality.
Oversee budgets, staffing models, and resource planning in partnership with the Chief Nursing Officer and Finance; use patient acuity, operational data, and safety needs to guide staffing and resource allocation.
Represent critical care nursing on hospital, Medical Center, and interdisciplinary committees as appropriate.
Participate in planning and evaluation of patient care programs and maintain professional knowledge through relevant conferences, professional organizations, and continuing education.
Collaborate with critical care and neonatology medical directors, Nursing Professional Practice, Quality, and Education partners to align clinical and operational goals, strengthen competencies, and maintain consistent practice standards.