Behavioral Health Director of Nursing

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Competitive Compensation – Salary and benefits package designed to reward your expertise, leadership, and contributions.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage – Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options to support you and your family.
• Future Security – 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching to help you build long-term financial stability.
• Generous Paid Time Off – Paid Time Off (PTO) and Extended Illness Bank (EIB) to support work-life balance and personal well-being.
• Career Growth Opportunities – Professional development, leadership training, and advancement opportunities across our organization.
• Recognition & Reward Programs – We celebrate employee achievements and contributions to our success.
• Exclusive Employee Discounts & Perks – Access to special savings and benefits designed for our team members.

Role: Behavioral Health Director of Nursing
Location: Merit Health Central in Jackson, MS

Schedule: Day Shift Schedule

Job Summary

The Director, Nursing Services is responsible for the strategic, operational, and financial oversight of nursing operations within assigned departments or facilities. This role provides leadership in developing and implementing nursing practices that ensure high-quality, patient-centered care, compliance with regulatory standards, and alignment with organizational goals. The Director, Nursing Services collaborates with clinical and administrative leaders to foster an environment that promotes professional development, nursing excellence, and continuous improvement.

Essential Functions

• Provides leadership and direction for nursing operations across assigned area(s), ensuring efficient resource utilization, regulatory compliance, and quality outcomes.
• Promotes a culture of accountability, patient safety, and continuous improvement through performance monitoring and outcome measurement.
• Leads initiatives to improve patient experience, clinical outcomes, staff engagement, and operational efficiency.
• Recruits, retains, and develops high-performing nurse leaders and clinical staff through effective mentoring, coaching, and performance management.
• Facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration and promotes effective communication between nursing and other departments.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Maintains regular and reliable attendance.
• Complies with all policies and standards.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Supervision and Staff Management
  • Provides leadership, mentorship and professional development opportunities for departmental staff.
  • Schedules employees to ensure effective use of resources. Consults with leadership on any potential staffing issues.
  • Conducts performance evaluations, sets goals and provides feedback to staff on their performance and development.
• Strategic Planning and Financial Oversight
  • Collaborates with hospital leadership to set the strategic direction for the department, including budgeting, resource allocation and long-term planning.
  • Monitors expenditures, ensuring cost-effective delivery of services.
  • Evaluates and implements new technologies to enhance operational efficiency.
  • Develops and implements departmental policies and procedures and protocols to optimize quality and overall efficiencies.
• Quality Assurance and Regulatory Compliance
  • Ensures compliance with all relevant regulatory bodies. May oversee the accreditation process with relevant agencies ensuring that services meet or exceed industry standards.
  • Participates in audits, inspections and accreditation processes as applicable.
  • Follows established quality control practices to ensure accuracy, consistency and safety.
• Collaboration and Communication
  • Works closely with leadership teams to coordinate and improve service delivery.
  • Stays up-to-date with industry advancements, new