Assistant Nurse Manager

#140260 (RN) Assistant Nurse Manager - NICU Filing Deadline: Mon 8/3/2026 Apply Now UC San Diego values and welcomes people from all backgrounds. If you are interested in being part of our team, possess the needed licensure and certifications, and feel that you have most of the qualifications and/or transferable skills for a job opening, we strongly encourage you to apply. DESCRIPTION UC San Diego Health is proud to be a four-time Magnet-designated organization and has now earned Magnet with Distinction from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Magnet is the gold standard for nursing excellence, achieved by only about 10% of hospitals worldwide. Magnet with Distinction is awarded to the highest-performing Magnet organizations, with only a select few earning this prestigious honor. This recognition reflects our commitment to transformational leadership, professional nursing excellence, innovation, exceptional patient outcomes, and an empowering practice environment where nurses thrive. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) cares for critically ill infants in the Level III NICU at Jacobs Medical Center as well as the Level II NICU at Hillcrest Medical Center. We provide family-centered and evidence-based care for a mixed infant population. Our specialty services include surgery, laser eye treatment, imaging, central line insertion, transport, high risk delivery resuscitation and palliative care. We are actively seeking a dedicated Assistant Nurse Manager to join our dynamic healthcare team. In this critical role, the Assistant Nurse Manager will demonstrate exceptional leadership by providing support to our nursing staff, patients and families, ensuring seamless operations, and delivering exceptional patient care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The position carries significant responsibility and accountability for both administrative and clinical leadership. With a focus on elevating patient care standards and leading with innovation, the Assistant Nurse Manager will play an essential part in our mission to provide top-notch care to our community. Our ideal candidate is a creative and results-driven professional with a solid background in neonatal nursing and clinical leadership with a proven track record of success in driving positive change and exceeding organizational goals. With exceptional organizational and communication skills, the Assistant Nurse Manager will be adept at fostering a supportive and motivating work environment while maintaining a sharp focus on achieving operational excellence. Key Leadership Responsibilities: Operational Excellence: Develop and implement high standards of care coordination that exemplify excellence in patient care, resource utilization, customer service, and regulatory compliance. Lead and spearhead innovative projects that foster collaboration among multidisciplinary teams, drive improvement, and positively impact patient outcomes. Plan, schedule, and organize departmental work, ensuring optimal distribution of assignments and efficient utilization of personnel, space, and facilities. Supervision and Staff Management: Demonstrate strong leadership skills by supervising, appraising, and providing constructive feedback to nursing and ancillary staff. Staff Competence and Compliance: Foster a culture of continuous learning and professional growth to nurture a skilled and proficient nursing team. Ensure staff competence by monitoring and verifying compliance with licensure and certification requirements. Maintain meticulous documentation of staff credentials and certifications. Budget Development and Integration: Participate in developing and integrating annual operational, capital, and personnel budgets in collaboration with the Department of Finance. Make well-informed financial decisions to optimize resources and support organizational goals and strategic initiatives. If you are passionate about elevating patient care standards, leading with innovation, and making a substantial impact on healthcare delivery, we invite you to join our team and contribute to our mission of providing outstanding care to our community. While not required, a cover letter is highly recommended when applying to this position. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. Registered Nurse (RN) issued by the state of California. BART or BLS at time of hire with commitment to get BART within six (6) months of hire date. Current NRP-Advanced certification. Current certification in Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing from a nationally recognized accrediting organization, i.e., the National Certification Corporation (NCC), within one year (12 months) of hire date. Three (3+) or more years of recent Level III NICU experience. Two (2+) or more years of charge nurse, preceptor, or other nursing leadership experience. Demonstrated knowledge of neonatal levels of care, acuity-based staffing, and regulatory requirements. Experience supporting clinical operations, patient flow, staffing assignments, and care coordination in a neonatal intensive care environment. Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and support nursing staff while promoting professional practice, accountability, and a positive team culture. Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to quickly assess complex situations, determine the appropriate level of intervention, and implement effective solutions. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with patients/families, staff, physicians, leadership, and the interdisciplinary team. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Master’s degree in nursing. Experience working in a large academic medical facility. Experience working in a Magnet-designated organization. Experience with process improvement, Lean, Six Sigma, or other quality improvement methodologies. Strong working knowledge of family-centered care principles and interdisciplinary collaboration in the NICU setting. SPECIAL CONDITIONS This position has both clinical and administrative duties. This position requires flexible shift coverage, and is eligible for shift differentials. Position requires on-call. Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs. Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical. Annual Full Pay Range: $132,600 - $259,800 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%) Hourly Equivalent: $63.51 - $124.43 Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable). The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law. UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening. Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer. Misconduct means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct: UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy UC Anti-Discrimination Policy Abusive Conduct in the Workplace #J-18808-Ljbffr