Director of Nursing – Emergency Department

Location: Northwest Alabama
Schedule: Full-Time | Exempt | On-Site
Reports To: Chief Nursing Officer
Category: Nursing Leadership | Emergency Services

Opportunity Overview

A respected acute care hospital in Northwest Alabama is seeking an experienced Director of Nursing – Emergency Services to provide strategic and operational leadership for a busy, high-acuity Emergency Department.

This is a senior nursing leadership opportunity for an ER-focused leader who can drive clinical excellence, support frontline teams, strengthen patient outcomes, and partner closely with hospital and physician leadership. The Director will oversee daily operations, quality performance, staff engagement, regulatory readiness, and ongoing process improvement across Emergency Services.

This role is well-suited for a hands-on, relationship-driven nursing leader who understands the pace and complexity of emergency care and can lead multidisciplinary teams in a high-volume environment.

Position Summary

The Director of Nursing – Emergency Services is responsible for leading all aspects of Emergency Department operations, including clinical practice, staffing, quality, patient experience, regulatory compliance, financial performance, and team development.

The Director will work closely with the CNO, physicians, advanced practice providers, nursing leaders, and frontline staff to ensure safe, effective, patient-centered care. This leader will also play a key role in recruitment, retention, staff education, performance improvement, and building a highly engaged emergency services team.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for Emergency Services.
• Oversee day-to-day Emergency Department operations, staffing, workflow, and clinical performance.
• Lead initiatives focused on patient outcomes, quality, safety, throughput, patient satisfaction, and cost-effective care.
• Partner with nursing leadership, providers, and hospital executives to improve care coordination and service delivery.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, accreditation, clinical, and patient safety standards.
• Support recruitment, retention, engagement, and development of Emergency Department staff.
• Promote a positive, collaborative, accountable team culture.
• Oversee staff education, competencies, and adherence to evidence-based clinical standards.
• Monitor operational and clinical metrics, identify improvement opportunities, and implement performance-improvement initiatives.
• Participate in budgeting, resource allocation, financial planning, and productivity management.
• Serve as an inspirational leader and visible advocate for patients, staff, and the broader nursing team.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing required.
• Current Alabama RN license or eligibility to obtain licensure.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive nursing leadership experience in Emergency Services.
• Strong background leading multidisciplinary teams in an acute care environment.
• Proven ability to build effective relationships with physicians, staff, peers, and senior leadership.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and implement improvement initiatives.
• Experience with budgeting, financial management, and resource allocation.
• BLS and ACLS required, or ability to obtain within the required timeframe.
• Nursing license must be in good standing.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct Emergency Department leadership experience strongly preferred.
• Experience in a high-volume or complex acute care Emergency Department.
• Demonstrated success improving quality, throughput, patient experience, staff engagement, or operational performance.
• Strong change-management and team-development skills.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a confident, collaborative nursing leader with a strong Emergency Services background and the ability to balance clinical quality, operational discipline, and staff engagement. This person should be comfortable leading in a fast-paced environment, working closely with physicians and senior leadership, and using data to drive measurable improvements.

Strong candidates will bring credibility with frontline nurses, sound judgment under pressure, and the ability to create structure, accountability, and momentum within a busy emergency care setting.

Compensation & Benefits

This position offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, which may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid time off
• Retirement benefits with employer contribution opportunities
• Life and disability insurance options
• Tuition assistance and professional development support
• Career advancement opportunities
• Employee wellness and support programs
• Performance-based incentive opportunity where applicable

Why Northwest Alabama

Northwest Alabama offers a strong quality of life with a lower cost of living, outdoor recreation, a welcoming community feel, and easy access to regional amenities. The area is a great fit for healthcare leaders who want meaningful professional impact while enjoying a more balanced lifestyle outside of a major metropolitan market.