Director of Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Director of Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

New Mexico

Salary: $125,000 – $150,000 Relocation Assistance Available – Up to $10,000

An outstanding leadership opportunity is available for an experienced Critical Care nursing leader to join a respected acute care hospital as Director of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) . This is an excellent opportunity for a collaborative and results-driven leader who is passionate about clinical excellence, staff development, patient safety, and delivering exceptional critical care services.

Reporting directly to the Chief Nursing Officer, the ICU Director will provide strategic, clinical, and operational leadership for a high-performing Intensive Care Unit while partnering with physicians and multidisciplinary teams to drive quality outcomes and operational excellence.

Position Overview

The ICU Director is responsible for the overall leadership and daily operations of the Intensive Care Unit, including clinical quality, patient safety, staffing, regulatory compliance, budgeting, productivity, and employee engagement.

This leader will play a key role in developing a culture of accountability, mentoring future nurse leaders, improving patient outcomes, and ensuring the delivery of exceptional critical care services.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Intensive Care Unit
• Lead, mentor, and develop nursing staff while promoting a culture of accountability and clinical excellence
• Partner with physicians and interdisciplinary teams to improve patient outcomes and operational performance
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and accreditation standards
• Develop, implement, and maintain departmental policies, procedures, and clinical best practices
• Oversee staffing, scheduling, workforce planning, and employee engagement initiatives
• Manage departmental budgets, productivity, and financial performance
• Lead quality improvement initiatives, patient safety programs, and performance improvement efforts
• Prepare for and maintain regulatory and accreditation readiness
• Foster a positive, collaborative environment focused on exceptional patient care and staff development

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in New Mexico or eligibility to obtain licensure
• BLS and ACLS certifications
• Minimum seven years of healthcare experience
• Minimum three years of progressive nursing leadership experience
• Demonstrated success managing ICU operations, staff development, budgeting, and quality improvement initiatives
• Strong communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Master's in Healthcare Administration, MBA, or other advanced healthcare degree
• Leadership experience within a for-profit acute care hospital
• Experience leading critical care service line growth and operational improvement initiatives
• Strong knowledge of regulatory compliance, accreditation standards, and performance improvement methodologies

Ideal Candidate

We're seeking a confident and engaging nursing leader with a strong critical care background and a passion for developing high-performing teams. The ideal candidate has successfully managed ICU operations, driven quality and patient safety initiatives, and built collaborative relationships with physicians, nursing leadership, and executive teams.

Candidates with experience in budgeting, productivity management, program development, and leading teams through organizational change will be especially successful in this role.

Why This Opportunity?

• Executive nursing leadership role reporting directly to the Chief Nursing Officer
• Competitive salary of $125,000–$150,000
• Relocation assistance up to $10,000
• Opportunity to lead a critical care department and influence organizational strategy
• Collaborative executive leadership team committed to clinical excellence
• Excellent opportunity for continued professional growth and career advancement

If you're an experienced ICU nursing leader looking to make a meaningful impact while leading a high-performing critical care team, we'd welcome the opportunity to discuss this confidential search.