Overview
The Executive Nursing Director, Heart and Vascular Care Line, is the senior nursing executive responsible for integrating and advancing cardiovascular care across University of Utah Health and partner organizations. The role aligns care line strategy with nursing practice and operations, elevates nurse and patient perspectives in decision-making, and promotes Magnet-driven excellence in quality, safety, patient experience, and professional nursing practice.As a partner on the three-person Care Line Executive Leadership Team (ELT), the Executive Nursing Director, the Chief Administrative Officer, and the CMO Executive Director (MD) for Heart and Vascular, this leader coordinates cardiovascular services across inpatient, outpatient, perioperative, procedural, and rehab settings, and leads strategic growth, operational strategy, innovation, quality/safety initiatives, academic integration, and financial stewardship while fostering high reliability and collaboration. The role reports to the Care Line Clinical Board (with functional reporting to the Chief Nursing Officer) and co-leads the Care Line Executive Operations Committee (CLEOC) to achieve care line goals and outcomes.
Corporate Overview: The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.
As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Growth
Develop and execute strategic and business plans that advance care line priorities and strengthen competitive position.
Assess market dynamics, patient needs, and the competitive landscape to identify growth and innovation opportunities.
Sets a clear, aligned vision for Heart and Vascular that reflects system strategy and Nursing Excellence principles.
Lead business development efforts that expand access, improve outcomes, and increase value across the system.
Strategic-Operational Integration and Liaison Role
Serve as the bridge between care line executives and nursing operations, aligning strategy with frontline practice.
Enable two-way communication that elevates nursing insights and strengthens care line decisions.
Translate care line initiatives into operational guidance for nursing leaders and support consistent implementation.
Create clear communication and feedback mechanisms to drive transparency, engagement, and alignment across clinical areas.
Quality, Safety and Patient Advocacy
Represent nursing priorities in quality, safety, and resource decisions, advocating for frontline realities and patient needs.
Champion high reliability, transparency, and continuous improvement through shared accountability and organizational learning.
Ensure patient and family perspectives inform care line strategy, program planning, and leadership discussions.
Lead and monitor care line quality, safety, and patient experience priorities (including OKRs and metrics) in partnership with ELT leaders.
Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement
Serve as a trusted ELT partner, modeling shared leadership and advancing the care line’s culture, mission, and strategy.
Align physician, nursing, and administrative leaders on shared goals, navigating differences through collaboration and trust.
Translate care line strategy into actionable guidance so leaders across departments and sites execute in a coordinated way.
Build strong relationships with nursing leaders, physicians/APPs, staff, interdisciplinary partners, and senior system leaders.
Leadership and Workforce Development
Model transformational leadership that inspires innovation, empowerment, and professional excellence.
Cultivate a culture where nurses at all levels feel informed, inspired, and connected to the care line’s mission.
Build credibility and alignment with key stakeholders to ensure nursing’s integral role in strategic advancement.
Knowledge / Skills / Abilities
Seasoned senior nurse and enterprise leader with deep cardiovascular expertise and experience leading complex, multi-site operations through influence and integration.
Proven executive presence and ability to partner as a co-leader with administrative and physician partners in setting strategy, allocating resources, and driving enterprise-level results in matrixed environments.
Strong clinical, operational, and financial leadership track record, including measurable improvement in quality, safety, patient experience, workforce outcomes, and performance.
Demonstrated strategic and systems thinking, builds multi-year strategies and leads systemwide clinical integration across sites and partner organizations.
Collaborative, human-centered leader with high emotional intelligence, strong communication, sound judgment, and a commitment to team-based, interdisciplinary practice and innovation.
Qualifications
Qualifications Required
Bachelor of Science in Nursing required; Master of Science in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or Business strongly preferred.
Five years progressive leadership experience.
Clinical practice experience in cardiovascular and/or cardiology care.
Leadership experience in a Magnet designated hospital or health system preferred
Licenses Required
- Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Utah, or obtain one within 90 days of hire under the interstate compact if switching residency to State of Utah. Must maintain current Interstate Compact (multi-state) license if residency is not being changed to Utah.
* Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.
Qualifications (Preferred)
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.
- This is a sedentary position that may exert up to 10 pounds and may lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. This position involves sitting most of the time and is not exposed to adverse environmental conditions.
Physical Requirements
Carrying, Climbing, Color Determination, Crawling, Far Vision, Lifting, Listening, Manual Dexterity, Near Vision, Pulling and/or Pushing, Reaching, Sitting, Speaking, Standing, Stooping and Crouching, Tasting or Smelling, Walking
Multi-lingual Candidates Welcomed
To inquire about this posting, email: [email protected]
EEO Statement
University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics, a part of The University of Utah, values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and patients from all backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education and quality healthcare for historically underrepresented students and patient populations.
All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics, a part of The University of Utah, is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran's status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.
To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, please contact the University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics Human Resources office at 801-581-6500. If you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator's office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at:www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/
Online reports may be submitted atoeo.utah.edu/
The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Hospitals and Clinics Human Resources at (801) 581-6500 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or Hospitals and Clinics Human Resources at (801) 581-6500 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
Requisition Number 82206
Reg/Temp Regular
Employment Type Full-Time
Shift Day
Work Schedule M-F
Clinical/Non-Clinical Status Non-Clinical
Location Name University of Utah Hospital
Workplace Set Up On-site
City SALT LAKE CITY
State UT
Department UUH CST 27O NURS SRVC ADMIN
Category Executives
Workplace Set Up On-site
