Vice President of Clinical Services (Skilled Nursing)

We are a premier, mission-driven healthcare organization providing comprehensive skilled nursing and specialized long-term care throughout Maryland. Committed to elevating clinical standards, resident-centered care, and operational integrity, our regional network emphasizes progressive clinical pathways, interdisciplinary excellence, and rigorous regulatory compliance. We foster a collaborative culture grounded in accountability, clinical mentorship, and continuous quality improvement, ensuring our centers serve as pillars of clinical excellence in the communities they support.

The Vice President of Clinical Services serves as the senior clinical authority and executive strategist across our portfolio of six skilled nursing facilities situated in the greater Baltimore region. This is a high-visibility, field-based leadership position requiring a daily, hands-on presence across our buildings to drive survey readiness, elevate care delivery models, mentor facility Directors of Nursing (DONs), and align clinical practice with organizational performance goals. Five of the facilities form a tight, efficient cluster located approximately 5 to 25 minutes apart, with one outlying center approximately one hour away. The VP of Clinical Services will bridge executive strategy and bedside nursing practice, spearheading quality improvement programs, managing risk, and maintaining clinical excellence across every bed in the network.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee all clinical operations, nursing standards, and patient-care policies across all six skilled nursing facilities.
• Champion quality outcome metrics, including the CMS Five-Star Quality Rating System, Quality Measures (QMs), readmission reduction, and infection prevention initiatives.
• Design, implement, and monitor robust Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) programs tailored to each building's clinical needs.
• Collaborate with Medical Directors, attending physicians, pharmacy partners, and therapy leaders to maintain integrated, interdisciplinary care plans.
• Serve as the executive lead for all State (Maryland Department of Health / Office of Health Care Quality) and Federal (CMS) annual surveys, complaint investigations, and revisits.
• Lead immediate root-cause analyses and author actionable, sustainable Plans of Correction (POCs) in response to any deficiencies.
• Standardize clinical auditing systems to proactively identify risks, documentation deficiencies, and care delivery gaps prior to regulatory scrutiny.
• Maintain a dedicated, daily presence across the portfolio, rotating actively between centers to assess real-time operations, evaluate clinical workflow, and engage directly with facility leadership and floor staff.
• Prioritize and manage on-site visits across the five tightly clustered facilities (5–25 minutes apart) while establishing structured, routine presence at the facility located one hour away.
• Step into an active leadership capacity during high-acuity situations, outbreak management, or clinical leadership transitions.
• Directly recruit, onboard, mentor, and evaluate facility Directors of Nursing (DONs), Assistant Directors of Nursing (ADONs), and Clinical Reimbursement / MDS teams.
• Cultivate a culture of retention, professional development, and clinical accountability across all nursing tiers.
• Partner with Human Resources and local administrators to address nurse staffing patterns, agency reduction strategies, and skill-mix optimization.
• Partner with Regional Operations and MDS/Reimbursement leadership to ensure clinical documentation accurately reflects resident acuity under the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM).
• Provide clinical oversight for nursing labor budgets, clinical supply utilization, and pharmacy formulary management without compromising patient care standards.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Licensure: Active, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Maryland (or compact multi-state license eligible for immediate Maryland endorsement).
• Industry Background: Minimum of 7–10+ years of progressive nursing leadership strictly within the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF). Background must reflect direct experience handling the clinical complexities and regulatory landscape unique to SNF operations.
• Multi-Site Experience: Proven track record in a regional, multi-facility clinical oversight capacity (e.g., Regional Director of Clinical Services, Regional Nurse Consultant, or VP of Nursing) overseeing multiple long-term care buildings.
• Survey Track Record: Demonstrated history of successful state and federal health inspections, survey defense, and POC implementation within skilled nursing settings.
• Physical & Travel Requirement: Ability and willingness to maintain a daily, field-based physical presence across the six facilities throughout the Baltimore area (reliable personal transportation required).
• Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required; Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), MHA, or MBA strongly preferred.
• Certifications: Director of Nursing administration credential (e.g., CDONA) or Infection Preventionist certification (IP-BC / a-IPC) is an asset.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary:$250,000+ (commensurate with background, regional scope, and depth of multi-facility experience; open to higher for exceptional candidates).