Chief Nursing Officer

The OpportunityAs Stepful's Chief Nursing Officer, you will serve as the clinical voice for our go-to-market organization, walking into rooms with top CNOs and being recognized immediately as a peer, not a vendor. You will challenge CNO thinking, validate our program designs, and bridge the gap between what sales communicates and what clinical executives actually believe.Success in this role will be measured by your direct impact on clinical stakeholder relationships, the credibility of Stepful's brand in nursing leadership circles, and partnership-building velocity. You will spend the majority of your time speaking with clients or presenting at conferences, with the remainder devoted to internal coaching, program quality, and strategic external presence.This is a remote role with a significant travel component (30% expected travel). This role reports to our SVP of Growth.What You'll DoIn the Field (60–70%)Join sales as the clinical voice—not to present, but to converse peer-to-peer with clinical executives, leveraging lived experience and authority rather than talking pointsChallenge and reframe clinical objections in ways an Account Executive simply cannotBuild trusted, lasting relationships with clinical champions inside target accounts that persist beyond any single transactionCo-own clinical validation during the sales process, helping buyers construct their internal business caseInternal (20–30%)Serve as the voice of the clinical operator on our program and product roadmap, stress-testing decisions, messaging, and use cases against real-world nursing workflowsCoach the sales team on clinical fluency: terminology, care delivery models, and what CNOs actually worry aboutReview and stress-test clinical claims in marketing materials, case studies, and ROI modelsHelp develop clinical content—white papers, webinar presence, conference speaking—that builds Stepful's credibility with nursing leadershipStrategic (10–20%)Advise GTM strategy through a clinical lens, identifying which programs, buyers, and problems resonate mostRepresent Stepful externally at nursing and health system conferencesBuild and cultivate a network of clinical advisors and reference customersWhat You'll Bring10+ years of clinical nursing experience, with at least 5 years in a senior nursing leadership role (Director of Nursing, VP Patient Care, CNO, or equivalent) at a recognized health system; you've sat in the seat our buyers sit inDemonstrated ability to operate in a commercial environment. You've worked with vendors, led evaluations, or made significant technology or operational purchasing decisionsComfort with ambiguity and a commercial mindset. You love being in deals, not just advising from a distanceThe willingness and confidence to challenge the status quo of healthcare education, push back on buyers, and push back on our own team when the clinical logic doesn't holdExcellent communicator in both small group settings and in front of large audiencesAt least a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)Bonus Points If…You hold your DNP or another relevant certification (CENP, NEA-BC)You have experience at a top-tier, complex health system—academic medical center, large IDN, or magnet-designated system—whose brand names our buyers recognize and respectYou've held a clinical advisor, CMO/CNO-in-residence, or commercial clinical role at a health tech or medical device companyYou've published, spoken at national nursing or health system conferences, or come with an established professional network in nursing leadershipYou have exposure to, or ownership of, Clinical Education or Clinical Professional DevelopmentInterview ProcessIntroductory call with a Talent Acquisition team memberInterview with Hiring ManagerTake-Home AssignmentVirtual Panel InterviewOn-Site Panel InterviewBenefits & CompensationMeaningful Equity StakeSubsidized Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plan options401(k)FSA, HSA and commuter benefitsLearning stipendOpen vacation policy, including:Guidance of 15 days PTO annuallyStepful closed the last week of December15 work-from-anywhere days10 public holidays observed for 2026The target base salary range for this opportunity is part of a competitive total rewards package including equity and benefits. Individual pay may vary from the target range and is determined by a number of factors including experience, internal pay equity, and other relevant business considerations.Stepful is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.