Director of Risk Management – RN
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Salary Range: $120,000–$150,000
Relocation Assistance Up to $10,000
An outstanding leadership opportunity is available for an experienced RN Director of Risk Management to join a respected acute care hospital in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
This is a highly visible leadership position with responsibility for the hospital's comprehensive Risk Management, Compliance, and Ethics programs, including oversight of affiliated clinics. Reporting directly to the Chief Nursing Officer, the Director will partner closely with hospital executives, physicians, clinical leaders, frontline staff, legal counsel, and other key stakeholders to identify organizational risk, strengthen patient safety, manage active litigation, and promote a proactive culture of compliance and risk prevention.
We're seeking an experienced Registered Nurse who brings a strong combination of hospital risk management expertise, clinical knowledge, leadership experience, and sound judgment. This position requires someone who can effectively navigate complex clinical, regulatory, legal, and operational issues while building credibility across all levels of the organization.
Position Overview
The Director of Risk Management is responsible for the overall development, implementation, administration, and effectiveness of the hospital's risk management program.
This leader will proactively identify potential areas of clinical and organizational risk, investigate incidents, develop mitigation strategies, oversee risk-related education, and collaborate with legal counsel regarding claims and active litigation.
The Director also serves as the facility's Compliance and Ethics Officer, making this an important leadership position within the hospital's overall quality, safety, regulatory, and compliance structure.
Key Responsibilities
Risk Management Leadership
- Provide leadership and oversight for the hospital's comprehensive risk management program and affiliated clinics.
- Identify, evaluate, investigate, and mitigate clinical and organizational risks.
- Develop strategies designed to prevent adverse events and reduce organizational exposure.
- Analyze incidents, trends, claims, and other risk indicators to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Collaborate with executive leadership, physicians, nursing leaders, and department managers regarding risk-related concerns.
- Promote a proactive culture of patient safety, transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Develop and maintain risk management policies, procedures, standards, and reporting processes.
- Ensure appropriate follow-up and corrective action related to identified risks and adverse events.
Claims & Litigation Management
- Coordinate hospital activities associated with active litigation and potential claims.
- Conduct and coordinate investigations related to incidents, claims, and legal matters.
- Participate in interviews and preparation for depositions as appropriate.
- Work closely with legal counsel regarding ongoing litigation and risk-related matters.
- Coordinate the identification, preservation, and collection of legal hold records.
- Gather documentation and other information requested by legal counsel.
- Maintain appropriate confidentiality and documentation throughout investigations and litigation processes.
- Serve as a key liaison between hospital leadership, clinical staff, and legal counsel.
Compliance & Ethics
- Serve as the facility's Compliance and Ethics Officer.
- Support organizational compliance with applicable federal and state regulations, accreditation standards, hospital policies, and ethical requirements.
- Identify potential compliance concerns and coordinate appropriate investigation and follow-up.
- Educate leaders, physicians, and staff regarding compliance expectations and reporting responsibilities.
- Promote an organizational culture that encourages ethical decision-making and appropriate reporting of concerns.
Education & Staff Development
- Develop and provide education regarding the hospital's risk management program.
- Educate physicians, nursing leaders, department managers, and frontline employees regarding incident identification and reporting.
- Provide guidance to leaders regarding risk prevention, documentation, disclosure, and other risk-related issues.
- Maintain awareness of emerging healthcare risk management trends, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.
Collaboration & Performance Improvement
- Partner with the Chief Nursing Officer and executive leadership on risk reduction and patient safety initiatives.
- Collaborate with Quality, Nursing, Medical Staff, Compliance, Legal, and other departments to address organizational risks.
- Utilize risk data and incident trends to develop meaningful performance improvement initiatives.
- Support investigations and root-cause analysis when appropriate.
- Provide leadership recommendations based on identified trends, regulatory requirements, and organizational risk exposure.
Required Qualifications
- Current New Mexico RN license or qualifying multistate/Compact RN license required.
- Bachelor's degree in Nursing from an accredited nursing program required.
- Minimum of 5 years of professional nursing experience required.
- Minimum of 3 years of Director or Manager-level leadership experience preferred.
- Healthcare Risk Management experience is required.
- Strong understanding of clinical risk, patient safety, regulatory compliance, incident investigation, and healthcare operations.
Certification
Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM) certification is preferred at the time of hire.
Candidates who do not currently hold the CPHRM must obtain certification within three years of employment.
Highly Preferred Experience
The strongest candidates will bring:
- Acute care hospital Risk Management experience.
- Previous Director-level Risk Management experience.
- Experience managing claims and active healthcare litigation.
- Experience conducting clinical or organizational risk investigations.
- Experience collaborating directly with healthcare legal counsel.
- Compliance and Ethics experience.
- Experience within a for-profit acute care hospital environment.
- Strong knowledge of regulatory and accreditation requirements.
- Experience educating physicians, leaders, and clinical staff regarding risk management practices.
Prior acute care healthcare risk management experience may be considered in place of some traditional leadership experience depending on the candidate's overall background.
Ideal Candidate
We're seeking a clinically credible RN leader who understands both the patient care environment and the complexities of hospital risk management.
The ideal candidate will be able to:
- Recognize potential clinical and organizational risk before it becomes a larger problem.
- Conduct thorough, objective, and confidential investigations.
- Work effectively with physicians, nurses, executives, attorneys, and frontline employees.
- Navigate sensitive situations with professionalism and sound judgment.
- Effectively manage litigation-related requests and legal documentation.
- Translate complex risk and compliance requirements into practical guidance for hospital leaders and staff.
- Educate employees and physicians on incident reporting and risk prevention.
- Analyze patterns and trends to identify opportunities for organizational improvement.
- Maintain composure and credibility when dealing with complex or high-risk situations.
- Balance patient safety, regulatory requirements, legal considerations, and operational realities.
Compensation & Relocation
Base Salary: $120,000–$150,000
The organization also offers:
- Relocation assistance up to $10,000
- Comprehensive benefits package
- Retirement benefits
- Paid time off
- Professional development opportunities
- Support for continued advancement in healthcare leadership
Why Consider This Opportunity?
This is much more than a traditional nursing leadership position. The Director will have organization-wide visibility and the opportunity to influence patient safety, clinical risk, compliance, litigation management, and organizational performance across the hospital and its affiliated clinics.
You'll report directly to the Chief Nursing Officer and work closely with executive leadership, physicians, clinical teams, and legal counsel, providing significant exposure to senior-level hospital operations.
For an experienced RN Risk Manager—or a current healthcare Risk Director looking for greater responsibility—this is an excellent opportunity to take ownership of a comprehensive hospital risk program while joining an organization willing to provide competitive compensation and relocation assistance.
Qualified RN Risk Management leaders interested in this confidential opportunity in Las Cruces, New Mexico are encouraged to apply.