Interim Chief Nursing Officer

IMMEDIATE INTERIM OPPORTUNITY Interim Chief Nursing Officer Reports To: Chief Executive Officer Duration: 6-12 Months Location: Florida, United States Accommodation provided Our client, a multi-site primary care hospital system in the United States, is seeking an experienced Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) to lead a critical change and stabilization mandate following a recent strategic leadership transition. This engagement is designed as an “overhire” to assess, reset, and rebuild the nursing function. The organization is currently experiencing underperformance and low workforce engagement, alongside increasing pressure to elevate patient outcomes, experience, and system reliability. The interim executive will partner closely with the CEO and executive leadership team to provide objective insight, restore confidence in nursing leadership, and implement a clear, actionable roadmap for sustainable improvement. Mandate Overview The interim CNO will be accountable for: Conducting a comprehensive strategic review of the nursing function across all sites. Providing independent, data-driven insights and recommendations to the CEO and Board. Leading enterprise-wide change initiatives to improve care delivery, staff engagement, and operational performance. Establishing the organizational structure, leadership capability, and governance framework required for long-term success. Supporting the recruitment, onboarding, and transition of a permanent Chief Nursing Officer. Key Responsibilities 1. Strategic Review & Executive Advisory Assess the current state of nursing services across the system (structure, leadership capability, workforce stability, patient outcomes, and culture). Identify key risks, performance gaps, and systemic inefficiencies. Develop a clear, prioritized roadmap for transformation aligned with organizational strategy. Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO, providing objective, evidence-based insights to inform decision-making. 2. Change Leadership & Transformation Execution Drive meaningful, sustainable change across nursing practice and care delivery models, challenging the status quo and embedding a culture of accountability. Lead initiatives to improve patient experience, care quality, and clinical outcomes. Advance system-wide improvements through innovation, process redesign, and adoption of leading practices. Strengthen alignment between clinical teams and administration to enable effective execution. 3. Clinical Leadership & Quality Oversight Champion safe, high-quality, patient-centered care grounded in strong clinical governance and ethical practice. Identify and mitigate clinical and operational risks, ensuring compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards. Guide the organization’s response to operational pressures and evolving healthcare demands with resilience and clarity. 4. Workforce Engagement & Talent Strategy Develop and execute a targeted plan to improve nurse engagement, retention, and workforce stability. Strengthen leadership at all levels by coaching and supporting nursing leaders and frontline management. Implement strategies to attract, retain, and develop nursing talent in a competitive labor market. Foster a positive, inclusive culture that supports performance, accountability, and professional growth. 5. Organizational Design & Capability Building Design and implement an optimized nursing organizational structure, aligned to system needs and future strategy. Clarify roles, accountabilities, and reporting relationships to drive efficiency and effectiveness. Build leadership capability and succession pipelines to sustain performance over the long term. Support education, mentorship, and knowledge transfer across the nursing workforce. 6. Innovation, Technology & System Enablement Advance the adoption of technology, data analytics, and digital tools to improve care delivery and operational performance. Encourage innovation and continuous improvement across nursing practices and systems. Leverage data to inform decision-making, track progress, and sustain outcomes. 7. Transition & Permanent CNO Integration Partner with executive leadership to define the profile and requirements for the permanent Chief Nursing Officer. Support the recruitment and selection process (as appropriate). Lead a structured handover and onboarding process, ensuring the incoming CNO is positioned for success. Embed sustainable structures, processes, and cultural improvements prior to exit. Ideal Candidate Profile Proven experience as a Chief Nursing Officer or senior nursing executive within a U.S. hospital or health system. Demonstrated success leading turnaround, transformation, or post-transition stabilization mandates. Strong track record improving patient experience, clinical quality outcomes, and workforce engagement. Deep understanding of multi-site hospital operations and regulatory environments. Credible, visible leader with the ability to influence at Board and frontline levels. Skilled in organizational design, culture change, and executive advisory. Engagement Context: This is a high-impact interim assignment requiring a leader who can quickly establish credibility, diagnose complex challenges, and drive measurable improvement. The successful candidate will leave a lasting legacy by: Stabilizing and elevating the nursing function Restoring confidence in leadership and culture Building the structure and capability required for long-term success Ensuring a seamless transition to a permanent Chief Nursing Officer PLEASE SEND YOUR CV (AS A WORD DOC) TO: View email address on click.appcast.io (Subject: Job Title) LHH Knightsbridge Interim Management is a service to help our clients address a wide range of scenarios including leadership support due to sudden departures, driving key change initiatives or leading transformation projects. Our interim executives step in with minimal downtime to meet specific objectives and deliver results. All have held senior positions in the past and have now chosen to offer their unique depth and breadth of experience to organizations on a limited engagement basis. Follow the LHH Knightsbridge LinkedIn page and set up a job alert to learn about new Executive Interim opportunities. Lee Hecht Harrison Knightsbridge Corp. is committed to providing equitable treatment and accommodation to ensure a barrier-free recruitment process. In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and our AODA policy, a request for accommodation will be accepted as part of the hiring process. If you require accommodation to apply or if selected to participate in an assessment process, please provide your accommodation needs in advance to the Recruitment Lead for this opportunity. We thank all interested candidates in advance; however, only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted. June 2026