The client is seeking a Director of Behavioral Health Nursing to lead clinical operations at a recently expanded behavioral health crisis care campus in a round-the-clock setting. This role will help shape an innovative approach to managing mental health and substance use emergencies, including services such as psychiatric emergency support, acute care offerings, and crisis intervention in an expanded care environment.
The Director of Behavioral Health Nursing will provide nursing leadership and oversee day-to-day clinical functions across psychiatric monitoring, crisis intervention, on-demand patient access, detoxification support, stabilization programs, and short-term residential or inpatient treatment. Key responsibilities include building and implementing clinical protocols for acute behavioral health and substance use disorder services with a focus on quality, safety, and trauma-informed care; developing and delivering training related to suicide risk assessment, psychiatric stabilization, substance withdrawal management, and therapeutic de-escalation; and partnering with executive and medical leadership to shape the clinical care model and support cross-disciplinary integration. The director will also drive adoption of evidence-based practices, optimize workflows, and foster continuous quality improvement.
Qualifications include an active RN license (or the ability to obtain one) and a BSN requirement, with an advanced clinical or administrative degree preferred. The ideal candidate will have at least seven years of clinical nursing experience with five or more years in a supervisory or leadership role, along with demonstrated expertise in behavioral health, psychiatric emergency services, or substance use treatment settings. The role calls for a track record of developing care frameworks or initiating new service lines, strong communication and collaboration across clinical and administrative functions, and leadership that can build, develop, and retain a high-performing psychiatric nursing team while maintaining a culture of compassion, accountability, and operational excellence.