Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)

Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)

Reports to: President and CEO

Location: Heritage Behavioral Health Center, Decatur, IL

Schedule: Full-time, exempt; Monday–Friday with core hours of 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. This is an executive-level position and carries the expectation of availability and responsiveness outside of standard hours as needed to support staff, clinical operations, and organizational priorities.

Position Overview:

Heritage Behavioral Health Center (HBHC) is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) providing comprehensive, integrated behavioral health and primary care services to individuals and families across central Illinois. We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Nurse Practitioner (NP) to serve as our Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) and provide executive-level leadership over all nursing operations across the organization.

The CNO at Heritage serves as the senior nursing leader responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care that aligns with CCBHC standards, regulatory requirements, and Heritage's mission. This role partners closely with executive leadership and interdisciplinary clinical teams to drive nursing strategy, policy development, quality improvement, and workforce development across all programs and sites. This is primarily an executive leadership role, with approximately 85% of time dedicated to administrative and operational responsibilities and 15% reserved for flexible, need-based clinical practice rather than a scheduled patient panel. We welcome applications from both Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP) and Primary Care Nurse Practitioners (PCNP) who demonstrated leadership experience and a commitment to advancing nursing practice within a behavioral health setting.

Leadership & Team Expectations

• Champion a culture of compassionate, patient-centered care grounded in trauma-informed and recovery-oriented principles
• Lead nursing staff with integrity, transparency, and accountability across all levels of the organization
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive work environment that supports staff development and retention
• Maintain a visible, approachable leadership presence across clinical programs and sites
• Model and reinforce professional standards, ethical practice, and continuous improvement

Core Responsibilities:

Nursing Operations & Clinical Leadership

• Lead and oversee all nursing operations across Heritage programs and service sites, ensuring compliance with CCBHC standards and applicable federal, state, and local regulations
• Develop, implement, and evaluate nursing policies, procedures, and clinical protocols to maintain high standards of care and regulatory compliance
• Serve as the organizational expert on nursing practice standards, scope of practice, and clinical care delivery across behavioral health, primary care, and community-based settings
• Provide direct oversight of nursing staff across the continuum of care, including clinic-based, crisis, and residential/community settings
• Maintain clinical competency and availability for limited, need-based direct patient care (approximately 15% of time) on a flexible basis; no formal or scheduled patient panel is expected

Strategy, Quality & Compliance

• Collaborate with executive leadership and interdisciplinary teams to integrate nursing services with organizational strategic goals and clinical operations
• Monitor patient care outcomes and quality metrics, utilizing data to drive continuous improvement in nursing practice, patient safety, and care delivery
• Lead and participate in quality improvement initiatives, accreditation processes, and regulatory reviews relevant to nursing services
• Ensure organizational readiness for surveys, audits, and compliance reviews by maintaining up-to-date policies, documentation, and staff training

Workforce Development & Staff Support

• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, performance evaluation, and professional development of nursing staff to foster a skilled, engaged, and motivated workforce
• Identify training needs and develop or coordinate educational programming to support clinical competency and staff growth
• Support nursing staff leaders across programs and sites, serving as a resource and escalation point for clinical and operational issues
• Promote and support the well-being, resilience, and professional satisfaction of nursing staff at all levels

Interdisciplinary Collaboration & Communication

• Ensure effective communication and coordination between nursing staff, clinical departments, and organizational leadership to optimize patient care delivery
• Participate in executive leadership meetings and contribute to organizational planning and decision-making from a nursing and clinical perspective
• Collaborate with IT, compliance, and program leadership on initiatives impacting clinical workflows, including electronic health record (EHR) systems and eMAR implementation
• Serve as a key advocate for nursing staff and patients, representing nursing's voice in organizational priorities and resource planning

Resource & Financial Management

• Participate in budget planning and resource allocation to support nursing services, staffing needs, and operational efficiency
• Evaluate and manage nursing-related vendor relationships, supply chains, and equipment needs in partnership with operations leadership
• Utilize data and outcomes to make informed recommendations for resource investment and program development

Performance Expectations / What Success Looks Like

The Chief Nursing Officer will be successful in this role when:

• Nursing staff across all programs feel supported, well-prepared, and equipped to deliver high-quality care
• Nursing policies, protocols, and practices are current, compliant, and consistently implemented across the organization
• Quality metrics and patient outcomes reflect continuous improvement and alignment with CCBHC standards
• Executive leadership and interdisciplinary teams view the CNO as a trusted, collaborative partner in advancing Heritage's mission
• Nursing workforce development efforts result in a skilled, engaged, and stable nursing team across all sites

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Deep knowledge of behavioral health nursing practice, CCBHC standards, and applicable regulatory requirements
• Demonstrated leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to inspire and guide diverse nursing teams
• Analytical skills to interpret quality metrics, patient outcomes, and operational data to drive improvement
• Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills across multidisciplinary teams and executive leadership
• Strategic thinking and resource management skills to support operational efficiency and program advancement
• Proficiency with electronic health record (EHR) systems and clinical data tools
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and lead effectively in a complex, fast-paced behavioral health environment

Education and Experience:

• Active, unrestricted Nurse Practitioner license in the State of Illinois required; Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) or Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PCNP) certification required.
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) required; Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) preferred. Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 5–7 years of progressive nursing experience, including demonstrated leadership or management experience; experience in behavioral health, community health, or similarly complex clinical environments preferred
• Demonstrated knowledge of behavioral health nursing practices, and regulatory compliance
• Experience with quality improvement processes, patient safety standards, and clinical outcomes management
• Experience in budget management and strategic planning within healthcare organizations preferred
• Familiarity with electronic health record (EHR) systems and data analytics tools relevant to clinical operations preferred
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) required; Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $175,000 – $205,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on job-related factors permitted by law, such as experience and training; licensure and certifications; market factors; departmental budgets; and responsibility.

Heritage offers the following with this position:

• Generous Time Off: Vacation, sick, personal, and holiday leave
• Wellness Benefits: Every other Friday off (paid), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and fitness reimbursement
• Insurance: Health, dental, vision, flex spending accounts (healthcare, dependent care), and additional life insurance
• Retirement: 401(k) and Roth options
• Professional Growth: Tuition assistance and continuing education opportunities