Lead Nurse Practitioner

Job Description

Job Description

Day-to-Day

A large industrial employer is seeking a Lead Nurse Practitioner to serve as the clinical leader of its newly expanded Occupational Health Clinic supporting an 8,000-employee shipyard workforce. This position was created to provide dedicated clinical leadership after department management transitioned to a non-clinical operations structure, creating a unique opportunity for an experienced provider to shape medical strategy, mentor clinicians, and elevate healthcare delivery across the organization.

Reporting directly to the Medical Department Manager, you will oversee and develop a team of 2-3 Nurse Practitioners while maintaining a manageable patient load of approximately 4-8 patients per day. This role extends far beyond patient care, serving as the primary clinical voice in highly visible cross-functional meetings involving Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Workers' Compensation, Labor Relations, Union Leadership, and Legal teams. Success in this role requires the ability to collaborate within a strong union environment where partnership, relationship-building, and understanding collective bargaining agreements are essential. Clinical leaders are respected contributors at the table and work alongside union representatives and operational leaders to drive employee health outcomes.

The onboarding experience is highly immersive and designed to build long-term success. All new leaders participate in a comprehensive orientation program alongside skilled trades employees, learning shipyard operations, safety culture, production processes, company history, and Navy mission impact. Rather than being handed a binder and expected to figure things out independently, the organization prioritizes hands-on relationship building and mentorship. During the first 60 days, the focus is understanding the language of the trades, production environment, safety culture, and key stakeholder relationships. Leadership is heavily invested in employee success, providing direct mentorship, advocacy, resources, and support to ensure providers can deliver exceptional medical care.

Must-Haves

• Master's Degree in Nursing
• Active Nurse Practitioner license and ability to practice in Maine
• 5+ years of Nurse Practitioner experience (Family Practice, Adult Medicine, Occupational Health, Urgent Care, ER, or Acute Care)
• Previous leadership, supervisory, or provider mentorship experience
• Strong nursing and clinical assessment background
• Experience coaching, mentoring, and developing clinicians
• Ability to navigate the shipyard and participate in sea trials as needed
• Understanding of occupational health principles and injury management

Plusses

• Occupational Health experience
• Industrial, manufacturing, construction, shipyard, aerospace, or defense industry experience
• Urgent Care, Emergency Medicine, Acute Care, or Musculoskeletal injury experience
• DOT, OSHA, Medical Surveillance, Employee Health, or Return-to-Work program experience
• Experience leading Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, or multidisciplinary healthcare teams
• Teaching, training, preceptor, or provider development experience
• Experience developing new clinical programs, wellness initiatives, or process improvements