Director - Emergency Department

Job Description

Job Description

Director — Emergency Department

Howard University Hospital | Washington, DC

Role Summary

As Director of the Emergency Department at Howard University Hospital, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for one of the busiest emergency care environments in the Washington, DC region. Reporting to the Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), you will own clinical operations, patient throughput, quality and patient safety, regulatory compliance, financial performance, and staff development — while building collaborative partnerships with physicians, nursing, Trauma Services, and prehospital and EMS partners to advance emergency care delivery and patient outcomes.

If you are an experienced emergency nursing leader ready to shape care at the bedside and at the system level, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact at one of the nation’s most storied academic medical centers.

What You’ll Do

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Emergency Department, collaborating with administrators, physicians, and interdisciplinary partners on the planning, implementation, and evaluation of departmental goals and initiatives
• Oversee patient flow and throughput — including triage operations, length of stay, boarding, and left-without-being-seen rates — and lead improvement efforts to optimize timely, high-quality emergency care
• Model and promote a professional practice environment that fosters nurse autonomy, accountability, engagement, and shared governance
• Conduct counseling and coaching with direct reports; oversee performance appraisals, professional development, and corrective action; and support recruitment, hiring, and retention of Emergency Department nursing staff
• Ensure departmental compliance with EMTALA, The Joint Commission, CMS, the DC Department of Health, and other applicable regulatory standards, and maintain continuous survey readiness
• Manage departmental financial performance, including budget development and monitoring, staffing and resource allocation, and productivity
• Lead quality, patient safety, and patient experience initiatives, and coordinate with Trauma Services, prehospital and EMS partners, and hospital emergency management on emergency care and surge and disaster preparedness

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required; Master’s degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or a related field required within two (2) years of hire
• Current Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in the District of Columbia required
• BLS, ACLS, PALS, and TNCC certification required
• National certification in nursing leadership or emergency nursing (e.g., NE-BC, CNML, or CEN) required within one (1) year of hire
• Minimum of five (5) years of Registered Nurse experience in an emergency or acute care setting
• Minimum of three (3) years of nursing leadership experience, preferably in emergency services, including experience in systems-level leadership

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior Emergency Department leadership experience in a Level I Trauma Center
• CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse) certification

What We Offer

• Work-life balance
• Recognition and rewards for professional expertise
• Competitive, comprehensive benefit plans including health, disability, vacation, sick leave, and 403(b) retirement plan
• Tuition remission at Howard University for you and/or eligible dependent children — up to two (2) courses per semester
• A mission-driven environment rooted in over 150 years of excellence, service, and advocacy for the communities we serve

About Howard University Hospital

Howard University Hospital (HUH) is the nation’s only teaching hospital located on the campus of a historically Black university. With a legacy dating back to 1862 — when it operated as Freedmen’s Hospital, providing care and refuge to those who had been denied it elsewhere — HUH has grown into one of the most comprehensive healthcare facilities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and is a designated DC Level 1 Trauma Center. Today, HUH continues its proud tradition of delivering exemplary, patient-centered, and culturally responsive care to the community, while providing exceptional learning and professional development opportunities for the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Position Details

Pay & Schedule

This is a full-time, exempt position. Salary range: $173,000 – $190,341 annually , commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Compliance Statements

Culture of Care: Howard University Hospital supports a Just Culture that promotes accountability, learning, and patient safety.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Howard University Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Reasonable Accommodation: Howard University Hospital is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state and local laws. If you require an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Department at View email address on ziprecruiter.com .

Pay Transparency: Salary ranges listed in job postings reflect the expected compensation range for the position and are provided in accordance with applicable pay transparency laws. Final compensation is determined based on experience, education, internal equity, and other relevant factors.

Disclaimer: The above statements describe the general nature and level of work performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position.