Nursing Director of Perioperative Services

Step into a high-visibility Nursing Director of Perioperative Services opportunity where meaningful surgical leadership, modern clinical practice, executive partnership, professional growth, and the coastal quality of life in Mission Viejo come together in one compelling 2026 healthcare career.

The Nursing Director of Perioperative Services will join a mission-driven, not-for-profit health system recognized for comprehensive medical care across Southern California. This healthcare organization supports advanced programs in cancer care, cardiology, neurosciences, orthopedics, women’s services, emergency and trauma care, pediatrics, and neonatal intensive care. Experienced nursing leaders will find an inclusive professional environment that values human connection, patient-centered service, nursing excellence, and in-person collaboration. The hospital also offers the resources and stability of a broad clinical network while maintaining a strong commitment to the communities it serves.

Within Perioperative Services, the Nursing Director will hold 24-hour accountability for operating room services and related surgical departments while working a full-time day schedule. This fast-paced service line calls for a leader who can strengthen patient safety, surgical throughput, clinical quality, staffing effectiveness, and operational performance without losing sight of the nursing practice at the center of every decision. Close partnerships with surgeons, anesthesia professionals, perioperative nurses, technicians, managers, and interdisciplinary stakeholders will allow the Director of Surgical Services to align workflows, address barriers, evaluate technology, and build a coordinated care experience for patients moving through the surgical continuum.

Reporting to the Chief Nursing Officer, the Nursing Director of Perioperative Services will provide multidisciplinary leadership and administrative authority for designated patient care units and departments. Core responsibilities include developing business plans, managing labor and capital resources, monitoring operating budgets, supporting appropriate staffing, advancing evidence-based nursing practice, and ensuring compliance with Joint Commission requirements, California Title 22, and other applicable standards. The Perioperative Nursing Director will also analyze clinical and operational data, establish measurable outcomes, lead quality improvement initiatives, oversee annual competency validation, and help improve patient experience. In the Chief Nursing Officer’s absence, this senior nursing leader may assume authority for nursing department activities.

The Nursing Director of Perioperative Services will have meaningful autonomy to improve care delivery while remaining connected to visible executive and physician partners. This role will collaborate with the Chief Nursing Officer on policies, procedures, standards of care, and strategic priorities while partnering with medical directors and key physicians to establish service-line goals. By promoting open communication across departments, the Surgical Services Director can reduce workflow friction, clarify accountability, and help managers respond effectively to changing patient and operational needs. Technology and innovative applications will be evaluated as tools to support clinical judgment, efficient resource use, sustainability, and safer care rather than as substitutes for experienced nursing leadership.

For an accomplished perioperative leader, this Nursing Director of Perioperative Services position offers a genuine next step in healthcare leadership. The Nursing Director will mentor managers, identify leadership strengths and development needs, recognize staff contributions, support education, and create opportunities for nurses to grow professionally. Additional influence will extend to recruitment, retention, nursing morale, collaborative practice, performance feedback, professional organization participation, and implementation of research-informed improvements. Candidates should bring at least 10 years of nursing experience, including three years in nursing administration, plus a current California Registered Nurse license. A master’s degree in nursing or a BSN combined with a master’s degree in management, policy, administration, or another relevant field is required.

Based in Mission Viejo, the Nursing Director of Perioperative Services can enjoy an Orange County lifestyle shaped by year-round outdoor access, nearby beaches, regional parks, hiking and biking routes, diverse dining, and convenient weekend connections to coastal communities and greater Los Angeles. Mission Viejo offers a more residential setting than many central urban markets, though housing costs reflect the broader Southern California market. For sports-minded healthcare leaders, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will bring international competition to the greater Los Angeles area, adding a major global event within reach. This location makes the Perioperative Nursing Director opportunity especially attractive to professionals seeking a hospital leadership career near both established communities and Southern California’s cultural and recreational destinations.