Nursing Director of Behavioral Health

A 280-bed acute care hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida is seeking a Nursing Director of Behavioral Health to lead a 124-bed behavioral health unit. This is a full-time, on-site leadership role with a daytime schedule and no weekend requirements.

Reporting through hospital leadership, the Director holds full accountability for the daily operations, quality improvement initiatives, fiscal performance, and productivity of the behavioral health department. This leader plans, organizes, and directs patient care delivery across the unit while serving as the primary liaison between patients and their representatives, physicians, and nursing staff. The role carries direct responsibility for staff performance management and ensuring all departmental activities remain in alignment with safety, regulatory, and organizational policy requirements. A strong emphasis on resource utilization is central to this position, balancing maximum productivity with effective cost management.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of a 124-bed behavioral health unit
• Lead quality improvement initiatives and drive departmental performance
• Manage fiscal responsibilities including budgeting, productivity, and cost control
• Plan, organize, and direct the delivery of patient care across the unit
• Serve as the primary point of contact between patients, families, physicians, and staff
• Conduct staff performance management and support professional development
• Ensure all departmental activities comply with safety, regulatory, and policy standards
• Maximize resource utilization while maintaining high standards of patient care
• Collaborate with hospital leadership to align behavioral health operations with organizational goals

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required
• Master's degree must be obtained within six months of employment start date
• Current Registered Nurse license required
• Basic Cardiac Life Support certification required
• Fingerprint clearance required
• Minimum of five years of Director-level behavioral health experience required, or a seasoned Manager with five or more years in a current acute care setting will be considered

Schedule

• Full-time, daytime hours, no weekends