Nursing Manager NICU

Job Description: The NICU Nurse Manager / RN Manager / Nursing Manager at St. Joseph Hospital (Denver, CO) leads clinical operations within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), ensuring delivery of high-quality, safe, family-centered neonatal care.

This role partners with neonatologists, pediatric specialists, and interdisciplinary teams to drive patient outcomes, caregiver engagement, and operational excellence in a high-acuity environment. The Nurse Manager oversees staffing, budgeting, regulatory compliance, and team development, aligning NICU performance with Intermountain Health strategic priorities.

About Intermountain Health – St. Joseph Hospital

St. Joseph Hospital in Denver, Colorado , part of Intermountain Health, is a leading facility for   advanced neonatal and   pediatric care , providing specialized NICU services for high-risk infants and families.

The NICU at Saint Joseph is a 51-bed Level 3 NICU, where we perform surgery, provide care for babies down to 22 weeks, Total Body Cooling and other high acuity babies. As a proud member of Vermont Oxford, our NICU features an active quality team dedicated to advancing neonatal care. Our team is committed to excellence, collaboration, and ongoing improvement, and we value the supportive culture we have fostered together.

We are a   mission-driven organization committed to caregiver well-being, professional growth, and delivering   exceptional patient care . We are proud to be an   equal opportunity employer dedicated to a   diverse and inclusive workplace .

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership & Neonatal Patient Care

• Lead NICU operations to ensure safe, high-quality, evidence-based neonatal care for critically ill infants
• Promote compliance with Joint Commission, CMS, OSHA, DOPL, and neonatal care standards
• Partner with neonatologists, respiratory therapists, and   pediatric   teams to drive clinical outcomes
• Monitor and improve NICU quality metrics, patient outcomes, and family experience
• Ensure adherence to NICU best practices, including infection prevention and developmental care

Operations & Financial Management

• Manage NICU budget, staffing plans, and resource allocation
• Ensure appropriate nurse-to-patient ratios for acuity-based neonatal care
• Drive operational efficiency and cost management in a high-acuity setting
• Oversee specialized neonatal equipment, supplies, and utilization

Team Leadership & Development

• Hire, onboard, and retain NICU nurses and support staff
• Conduct performance evaluations, competency validation, and peer reviews
• Support NICU-specific education, certifications (NRP), and leadership development
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and family-centered care

Strategy & Continuous Improvement

• Align NICU goals with hospital and Intermountain Health strategy
• Lead quality improvement initiatives focused on neonatal outcomes and patient safety
• Drive accountability for clinical performance, regulatory readiness, and patient experience

Core Skills

• Leadership
• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Financial acumen
• Clinical knowledge
• Resource management
• Patient safety
• Mentorship
• Community outreach

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN)
• Active Registered Nurse (RN) license (current state or compact; CO transfer within 60 days)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification (or obtained within required timeframe)
• Leadership or supervisory experience
• Minimum 2+ years NICU   or critical care nursing experience
• Completion of required leadership training within 1 year

Preferred Qualifications

• NICU or neonatal specialty certification (RNC-NIC, CCRN-Neonatal)
• Previous NICU management or multi-unit leadership experience
• Experience in Level III or Level IV NICU settings

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement and financial well-being programs
• Paid time off and wellness resources
• Career development, tuition assistance, and education support

Apply Today

If you are an experienced NICU Nurse Manager, RN Manager, or Neonatal Clinical Leader, apply today to lead high-performing teams, improve neonatal outcomes, and grow your leadership career in Denver, Colorado.

We encourage you to highlight your NICU leadership impact, including patient outcomes, team development, and operational improvements. Contact Chan Owens with questions: View phone number on apply.j-vers.com  View email address on apply.j-vers.com

Physical Requirements

• Ongoing need for employee to see and read information, labels, assess patient needs, operate monitors, identify equipment and supplies.
• Frequent interactions with patient care providers, patients, and visitors that require employee to verbally communicate as well as hear and understand spoken information, alarms, needs, and issues quickly and accurately, particularly during emergency situations.
• Manual dexterity of hands and fingers to manipulate complex and delicate equipment with precision and accuracy. This includes frequent computer use and typing for documenting patient care, accessing needed information, medication preparation, etc.
• Expected to lift and utilize full range of movement to transfer patients. Will also bend to retrieve, lift, and carry supplies and equipment. Typically includes items of varying weights, up to and including heavy items.
• Need to walk and assist with transporting/ambulating patients and obtaining and distributing supplies and equipment. This includes pushing/pulling gurneys and portable equipment, including heavy items. Often required to navigate crowded and busy rooms (full of equipment, power cords on the floor, etc.)
• May be expected to stand in a stationary position for an extended period of time.
• For roles requiring driving: Expected to drive a vehicle which requires sitting, seeing and reading signs, traffic signals, and other vehicles.

Location:

Saint Joseph Hospital

Work City:

Denver

Work State:

Colorado

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

The hourly range for this position is listed below. Actual hourly rate dependent upon experience.  

$50.97 - $78.69

We care about your well-being – mind, body, and spirit – which is why we provide our caregivers a generous benefits package that covers a wide range of programs to foster a sustainable culture of wellness that encompasses living healthy, happy, secure, connected, and engaged.

Learn more about our comprehensive benefits package here .

Intermountain Health is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

At Intermountain Health, we use the artificial intelligence ("AI") platform, HiredScore to improve your job application experience. HiredScore helps match your skills and experiences to the best jobs for you. While HiredScore assists in reviewing applications, all final decisions are made by Intermountain personnel to ensure fairness. We protect your privacy and follow strict data protection rules. Your information is safe and used only for recruitment. Thank you for considering a career with us and experiencing our AI-enhanced recruitment process.

All positions subject to close without notice.