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Lead with Purpose. Drive Innovation. Expand Access to Care.
UPMC Hamot is seeking a dynamic and collaborative Unit Director – Nursing Administration to join our leadership team. This role offers the opportunity to provide day-to-day oversight of the Administrative Officers of the Day (AODs) and Float Pool, while partnering closely with interdisciplinary leaders to ensure exceptional patient care and operational excellence. The ideal candidate will thrive in an environment that combines autonomy, interprofessional collaboration, and creative problem-solving. As a visible leader, you will interact with staff, patients, physicians, and leaders across the organization while helping to expand and optimize the Float Pool to enhance access to care and support organizational priorities.
Purpose
The Unit Director maintains 24-hour accountability for the leadership and management of Nursing Administration to ensure an outstanding experience for patients and employees. This includes continuously improving the quality of patient care, fostering a healthy work environment, and overseeing clinical, operational, financial, and administrative functions.
The Unit Director collaborates with medical staff and interdisciplinary teams to monitor patient outcomes, establish quality priorities, support shared governance, implement patient safety initiatives, and create a best-practice environment for the growth and development of students and employees. Responsibilities include recruitment, hiring, orientation, performance management, staff development, and budget oversight.
Responsibilities
Clinical Quality & Patient Care
Collaborate with medical staff and interdisciplinary teams to monitor patient outcomes and establish clinical quality priorities.
Recommend and implement quality improvement initiatives, evidence-based practices, and patient safety programs.
Monitor departmental quality metrics and dashboards, develop action plans to address concerns, and achieve organizational goals.
Analyze patient and employee satisfaction data and implement improvement strategies.
Support and encourage staff participation in evidence-based practice and quality improvement initiatives.
Ensure nursing practice aligns with organizational, professional, and regulatory standards.
Apply national best practices and evidence-based care models to promote excellence in patient care.
Establish and maintain a patient-centered culture consistent with Relationship-Based Care principles.
Leadership & Team Development
Build productive relationships through mentoring, coaching, and positive communication.
Foster a culture that values diversity, inclusion, and respect among staff, patients, physicians, and community members.
Effectively manage conflict, clarify expectations, and promote transparent communication.
Develop and communicate a shared vision for the department within a shared governance framework.
Lead complex organizational change initiatives and support staff through transitions.
Create developmental pathways for staff and promote professional growth, specialty certification, continuing education, and leadership development.
Develop a best-practice learning environment for students, new nurses, and department staff.
Support recruitment efforts by cultivating exceptional clinical experiences for nursing students.
Lead and develop direct-report Clinicians, strengthening their leadership, communication, mentoring, and employee management skills.
Provide guidance regarding performance reviews, recruitment, employee relations, and difficult conversations.
Assist in planning, implementing, and validating required competency assessments for direct care providers and staff.
Operations & Financial Management
Establish clinical, operational, financial, and human resource priorities aligned with organizational objectives.
Demonstrate fiscal responsibility through development and management of departmental budgets.
Ensure efficient utilization of resources and appropriate staffing models to meet patient care needs.
Develop work schedules that support patient safety, operational efficiency, and employee well-being.
Maintain accountability for departmental performance and continuous improvement efforts.
Collaboration & Organizational Impact
Promote interdisciplinary collaboration through committee participation and partnership with healthcare teams.
Influence the broader healthcare environment through professional and advocacy organization involvement.
Engage stakeholders in planning, designing, and implementing departmental and organizational initiatives.
Support shared governance through active partnership with unit-based professional practice councils and utilization of staff feedback to improve care delivery and workplace culture.
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The successful candidate must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and interact appropriately with patients across the age continuum served by the assigned department. This includes an understanding of growth and development throughout the lifespan, the ability to assess and interpret patient data, and the capability to identify and respond to age-specific patient needs in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
Required Qualifications
Minimum of 4 years of progressive leadership experience required; relevant clinical experience preferred.
Demonstrated analytical ability to evaluate staff performance, address clinical issues, and develop effective solutions to complex operational and patient care challenges.
Proven leadership skills with the ability to develop staff, establish and maintain professional nursing practice standards, and meet administrative and regulatory requirements.
Exceptional interpersonal, relationship-building, and communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage patients, families, physicians, staff, hospital personnel, and senior leadership in both written and verbal settings.
Education Requirements
BS or BSN required at the time of hire.
Master's degree or MSN required.
If the bachelor's degree is not in Nursing, a Master's degree or higher in Nursing is required.
If the master's degree is not in Nursing, a BSN is required.
Candidates who do not possess a master's degree/MSN at the time of hire must:
Enroll in a Master's or MSN program within one year of hire or transfer, and
Complete the degree within three years of enrollment.
Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances
Current licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the practicing state.
Basic Life Support (BLS) required.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) required within one year of hire/transfer.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) required within one year of hire/transfer.
NIH Stroke Scale (NIH) certification required within six months of hire/transfer.
Act 34 Clearance required.
Licensure Requirement
Current licensure must be held either in the state where the facility is located or, if the facility is located in a state participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), through a multistate license issued by a participating NLC state. Employees working under an out-of-state NLC license who establish residency in the state where the facility is located must apply for licensure in that state within 60 days of the residency change.
UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran
