Unit Director, Neurological Intensive Care Unit

University of California, San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

The Unit Director (Nurse Manager) is responsible for 24-hour planning, organizing, directing, and controlling operations of the Neurological Intensive Care Unit (Neuro ICU), and participates in decisions related to departmental functions. Reporting to the Patient Care Director, the Unit Director provides clinical leadership and nursing practice oversight for the Neuro ICU and its support of the Rapid Transfer Unit (RTU). The role is accountable for quality, safety, and cost-effective patient care and serves as a model of professional nursing practice. It oversees personnel, fiscal, and material resources around the clock, including approximately 140 staff and a $20 million operating budget. The director also helps develop and implement programs and policies. Direct reports include Assistant Unit Directors, clinical nurses, and support staff. The position ensures regulatory compliance and accreditation, including adherence to The Joint Commission Comprehensive Stroke Center requirements, and develops auditing processes to sustain certification. It fosters teamwork, open communication, engagement, and shared governance; leads recruitment, performance management, and staff development; and mentors nurse leaders with succession planning in mind. The role manages staffing, patient flow, productivity, and supplies within budgetary specifications, and partners with Labor Relations and Human Resources on employee and contract issues. The director leads evidence-based performance improvement focused on patient outcomes, patient experience, and cost savings, and partners with IT on patient care information systems. In collaboration with physician leadership and interprofessional teams, the director supports the expansion and enhancement of neuroscience critical care services, rapid transfer capacity, and research in patient care areas, while coordinating care across services and patient populations. The Neuro ICU is a large, specialized unit providing care to critically ill adults with complex neurological disorders, including patients undergoing complex surgery, interventional treatments, and advanced research treatment modalities. It uses advanced neurological monitoring and innovative interventions and supports time-sensitive admissions through the University Hospital's Rapid Transfer Unit. The unit is part of a Joint Commission-accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center and emphasizes evidence-based care, patient and family participation, professional development, quality improvement, research, and community collaboration.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or master's degree in Nursing.
Progressive and recent nursing administration and leadership experience in an Intensive Care Unit in an academic medical center at assistant nurse manager level or above, within the last five years.
Registered Nurse license in the State of California.
BLS certification by the American Heart Association.
ACLS certification by the American Heart Association.
Strong hospital management experience and progressive, in-depth expertise in patient care services.
Knowledge of hospital or clinic operations in a hospital or medical center setting and of appropriate professional standards for the department and team.
Strong knowledge of relevant regulatory requirements and legislative, accreditation, licensing, and compliance environments.
Strong knowledge of relevant healthcare information technology, patient care workflows, and processes.
Flexibility to work at all UCSF locations as needed.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to promote effective communication and collaborative decision making across units and disciplines.
Excellent leadership, fiscal, and operations management skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively with physicians, management, and staff from all disciplines.
Ability to create and maintain a goal-oriented climate of teamwork and collaboration.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Nursing or a relevant area.
ANCC RN specialty certification in Nurse Executive or Nurse Executive-Advanced.
AACN RN specialty certification in Critical Care Nursing (CCRN).

Responsibilities

Develop and implement operational processes and patient care practices that support quality care and comply with internal policies, external regulations, and accepted standards across the continuum of care.
Represent nursing units on interdisciplinary and medical-center-wide committees addressing patient satisfaction, quality improvement, workflow efficiency, and clinical information systems.
Collaborate with subordinate managers to recommend and maintain adequate staffing; advise senior leaders on administrative and nursing issues and unit needs; and coordinate patient flow.
Work with Labor Relations on local bargaining-unit issues and contract negotiations; oversee resolution of human resources, labor relations, employee safety, and risk management issues.
Coordinate resource needs, review and approve budget recommendations, and prepare and review analyses of budget variances.
Promote collaborative decision making and shared governance, ensuring a shared voice in nursing practice and exchange of ideas to improve nursing and patient care outcomes.
Lead employee recruitment, performance evaluation, progressive discipline, and staff development; foster teamwork, collaboration, and timely achievement of goals.
Mentor nurse leaders and review and approve leadership and professional development plans with succession planning in mind.
Collaborate with IT managers to develop and implement patient care information systems and coordinate efforts across units.
Partner with leaders across services to develop and implement policies and procedures for coordinating care across patient populations.
Ensure compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards, maintain departmental policies and procedures, and sustain Joint Commission Comprehensive Stroke Center certification through auditing.
Manage personnel, fiscal, and material resources, including staffing, patient flow, productivity, and supplies within budgetary specifications.
Lead evidence-based quality improvement initiatives addressing patient outcomes, patient experience, and cost savings.
Collaborate with physician leadership and interprofessional teams to enhance neuroscience critical care services, rapid transfer capacity, and research in patient care areas.