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Chief Nursing Officer

Virginia.gov
United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 1 Jul 2026
💰 $131,030/yr

About the role

Title: Chief Nursing Officer

State Role Title: 49114

Hiring Range: $131,030 minimum, negotiable based on relevant years of experience

Pay Band: 6

Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location: Southern Va Mental Health Inst

Agency Website: https://www.svmhi.dbhds.virginia.gov/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental services support individuals by promoting recovery, self-determination, and wellness in all aspects of life. DBHDS operates 12 facilities: 8 behavioral health facilities for adults, a training center, a psychiatric facility for children and adolescents, a medical center, and a center for behavioral rehabilitation. State facilities provide highly structured, intensive services for individuals with mental illness, intellectual disability, or need substance use disorder services. DBHDS is committed to a life of possibilities for all Virginians. This position will work at Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute, a 72-bed Joint Commission accredited State Mental Health Facility, located in Danville, VA.

SVMHI is seeking a dedicated Chief Nursing Officer to provide executive leadership for our nursing department, ensuring safe, high-quality, and trauma-informed patient care. Duties include, but are not limited to, developing nursing standards and policies, managing budgets and staffing, ensuring regulatory compliance (CMS, The Joint Commission), and aligning nursing practices with agency strategic goals for civil and forensic patients ages 18-64. This position manages nursing personnel including overseeing hiring, performance management, competency development, and ensuring adequate staffing levels. This position fosters a positive work environment, mentoring nursing supervisors and promoting professionalism in the department. This position acts as a member of the facility Executive Leadership Team, participating in high level decision making and driving nursing excellence.

Exceptional State Benefits Include:
· 13 paid holidays, 12+ paid vacation days, 8 paid sick days and 4+ paid family personal days per year; Family Medical Leave, Short- and Long-term disability coverage; Low-cost, comprehensive Anthem or
AETNA health insurance benefits; Group life and optional life insurance, and Flexible Reimbursement accounts.

Other state benefits include:
· Internships, Career Ladders and Continuing Education Opportunities
· Referral Bonuses
· Student Loan Repayment opportunities
· Virginia 529 College Savings Plan may be available for this role
· State Employee Discounts and More!

Minimum Qualifications

Unrestricted RN license, or license eligible, to practice registered nursing in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Experience in a nursing leadership or supervisory role.
Mater's degree in nursing from an accredited school of nursing.
Working knowledge of psychiatric nursing care.

This position also requires:
Comprehensive knowledge of and clinical experience in the principles, practices, and standards of psychiatric nursing for adult mental health population, ages 18-64, both civil and forensic.
Executive leadership skills with demonstrated ability to engage in the effective strategic planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating services.
Demonstrated ability to manage a nursing department in providing comprehensive treatment to adult psychiatric patients in a hospital setting.
Considerable knowledge of and experience with administrative practices and procedures, including program planning, implementation, and management; budget development; and management / supervision of nursing staff.
Experience with implementing nursing standards in accordance with regulatory guidelines and in performance improvement processes.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to effectively use an electronic health record and technology.
Knowledge of Infection Prevention and Control processes and requirements.
Extensive knowledge of performance improvement principles. 
Ability to deal effectively with professional & non-professional personnel within & outside the facility by identifying commonalties, building consensus, and focusing on resolving problems. 
Extensive knowledge of nursing management. 
Ability to interpret governing directives and effectively integrate nursing services. 
Demonstrated ability to establish working systems and processes and to develop and involve others. 
Demonstrated abi

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