Chief Nursing Officer

ABOUT THE ROLE Correctional Health Services (CHS) is seeking a collaborative, visible, and highly accountable Chief Nursing Officer to provide executive leadership for nursing and clinical support services within a complex, 24/7 correctional healthcare system. Reporting to the CHS Director and serving on the Senior Executive Team, the CNO is responsible for strategic, clinical, operational, workforce, and fiscal leadership across all CHS facilities. The role ensures nursing operations support evidence-based, medically necessary, integrated healthcare for patients in the Maricopa County jail system. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for nursing across all CHS facilities and 24/7 operations. - Serve as the senior nursing executive and principal advisor to the CHS Director. - Lead, supervise, develop, and evaluate Nursing Managers and other nursing leaders. - Establish and evaluate standards of nursing practice to ensure safe, evidence-based, patient-centered care. - Collaborate with CHS Administration, Chief Medical Officer, and interdisciplinary leaders to promote integrated care. - Partner with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) on operational matters while maintaining clinical independence. - Develop and evaluate nursing staffing models and ensure appropriate clinical coverage across facilities and shifts. - Provide executive oversight of scheduling, workforce utilization, and strategies to manage vacancies and overtime. - Partner with Human Resources to strengthen recruitment, retention, and workforce development. - Use clinical, operational, and financial data to establish priorities and drive measurable improvement. - Maintain continuous nursing readiness for accreditation, regulatory review, and audits. - Participate in Electronic Health Record (EHR) governance, optimization, and workflow evaluation. - Provide executive leadership during significant clinical events, emergencies, or critical incidents. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 1. Seven years of nursing experience in a hospital, ambulatory, correctional, behavioral health, or similarly complex healthcare environment. 2. Two years of nursing leadership experience involving supervision, management, or clinical oversight of nurses and healthcare professionals. 3. Valid, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license issued by the Arizona State Board of Nursing or a multistate license recognized by Arizona. 4. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited nursing program. 5. Master's degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field may substitute for up to two years of the required general professional nursing experience. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS - Must maintain active and valid BLS/CPR certification meeting CHS requirements. - Must obtain Certified Correctional Health Professional (CCHP) certification within 12 months of appointment and maintain it throughout employment. - Must successfully complete and maintain background, security clearance, and other requirements for MCSO secured facilities access. - Ability to work inside a jail, stand, walk, and bend for extended periods, and perform physical tasks like CPR, pushing equipment, climbing stairs, and lifting patients. - Availability outside traditional business hours, including weekends and holidays, for emergencies. - Travel between CHS clinical locations within a 5-mile radius is required. SELECTION PROCESS 1. Consideration is only given to candidates who submit online applications. 2. Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile. 3. Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation, including drug and alcohol testing for safety-sensitive positions. HOW TO APPLY Submit an online application through the Maricopa County Workday portal. EMPLOYMENT DETAILS - Location: 3250 W Lower Buckeye Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85009 - Time Type: Full time - Job Type: Unclassified - Department: Correctional Health - Posting Date: 09/09/26 - Application Deadline: Open Until Filled - Benefits: Tuition reimbursement, work-life balance, growth opportunities, low-cost healthcare, child care benefits (Maricopa County Kids Club), paid vacation/sick/parental leave, extensive wellness program, and enrollment in the Arizona State Retirement System (11.98% contribution with 100% employer match on Day 1).