The System Nursing Director of Nursing Quality, Student Placement & Allied Health and Clinical Staff Education is a pivotal role within the health system and has direct reporting to the University of Utah Health Hospitals & Clinics Chief Nursing Officer.

 

This position is responsible for advancing nursing excellence through strategic oversight of clinical education and quality improvement initiatives. This position ensures the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based patient care by leading system-wide efforts in nursing practice standards, professional development, and performance improvement. Working collaboratively with nursing leadership, Chief Medical Quality Officer, and interdisciplinary teams, the role drives continuous improvement in patient outcomes, regulatory compliance, and staff competency.

 

The incumbent will design, implement, and evaluate educational programs that support lifelong learning and clinical proficiency, while also leading initiatives that align with institutional and Department of Nursing goals for safety, quality, and patient experience. This role requires a visionary leader with deep expertise in nursing practice, education methodologies, and quality frameworks, capable of influencing change across a complex, multi-site academic health system. \

 

As a champion of nursing excellence, this leader will integrate the core competencies of the ANCC Magnet® Recognition Program—transformational leadership, structural empowerment, exemplary professional practice, and new knowledge, innovations, and improvements—into all aspects of nursing education and quality strategy. The role is accountable for cultivating a culture of professional growth, shared governance, and evidence-based practice, and for achieving measurable improvements in nurse-sensitive indicators, staff engagement, and patient outcomes that support the organization’s Magnet® journey and long-term designation goals.

 

Corporate Overview: The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.

 

As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA

Strategic Leadership in Nursing Quality

• Develop and implement system-wide strategies to improve nursing care quality, safety, and patient outcomes.
• Lead initiatives aligned with national benchmarks, regulatory standards, and accreditation requirements.
• Monitor and analyze quality metrics, identify trends, and drive performance improvement efforts.

Oversight of Clinical Education Programs

• Design, deliver, and evaluate educational programs that support clinical competency, professional development, and evidence-based practice.
• Ensure onboarding, orientation, and continuing education programs meet the needs of diverse nursing roles across the health system.
• Collaborate with academic partners to support clinical placements, preceptorships, and transition-to-practice programs.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Partner with nursing leaders, physicians, and other stakeholders to promote a culture of excellence and continuous learning.
• Serve as a liaison between clinical teams and executive leadership to align education and quality initiatives with organizational goals.

Regulatory and Accreditation Compliance

• Ensure nursing practices and educational programs comply with regulatory and accreditation standards.
• Work collaboratively with the system accreditation and patient safety teams to lead efforts for site visits, audits, and accreditation reviews.

Data-Driven Decision Making

• Utilize data analytics to assess educational outcomes, staff competency, and quality performance.
• Translate findings into actionable strategies for improvement and innovation.

Staff Development and Mentorship

• Support career advancement and leadership development for clinical staff through coaching, mentoring, and succession planning.
• Promote a culture of inquiry, lifelong learning, and professional growth.

Innovation and Best Practice Integration

• Identify and implement emerging best practices, technologies, and models of care that enhance nursing quality and education.
• Foster a learning environment that encourages innovation and evidence-based practice.

Budget and Resource Management

• Oversee budgets for education and quality departments, ensuring efficient use of resources.
• Advocate for investments in tools, technologies, and personnel that support strategic goals.

Talent Management

• Hiring, training, developing, and communicating with staff.

Financial Management

• Responsible for developing, monitoring and achieving budget goals.
• Manages labor and non-labor expenses to budget or flex budget.
• Manages revenue to budget to maximize potential revenue.

Performance Management

• Responsible for providing staff feedback on performance, including on-time appraisals and coaching.
• Proactively addresses and resolves conflicts in a timely and constructive manner, fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment.

Building Relationships

• Forms positive relationships with staff, peers, and leadership to support the mission, vision, values, and performance standards of the organization.
• Engages clinical staff through timely communication of updates and organizational news, actively involves team members in decision-making and collaborative workgroups, and provides meaningful feedback and recognition to support a positive and inclusive work environment.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined above.

• Demonstrated leadership, human relations, and effective communication skills.

• Ability to determine the appropriate staff mixes to support patient and customer needs.

• Knowledge of hospital business operations and demonstrated strategic planning skills.

• Knowledge of budgeting practices, reporting analysis, and forecasting.

• Expert in change management, innovation and systems thinking and planning.

• Inspires and achieves outcomes in staff learning through formal/informal teaching methods.

• Expertise in building high functioning teams and processes that lead to teamwork.

Qualifications

Required

• MS Nursing, or Master’s in Nursing Administration, Health Care Administration, Business Administration with a BS in Nursing.

Seven years of progressive clinical leadership experience in a complex acute care hospital setting or equivalency.

• Equivalency:
• Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and eleven years of progressive management experience and accepted or enrolled in Master’s program.

Licenses Required

• Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Utah, or obtain one within 90 days of hire under the interstate compact if switching residency to State of Utah. Must maintain current Interstate Compact (multi-state) license if residency is not being changed to Utah.

* Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.

• This position may involve intensive work that may exert up to 100 pounds and may consistently require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or otherwise moving objects, such as medical equipment, or patients while providing medical care.

Carrying, Climbing, Color Determination, Crawling, Far Vision, Lifting, Listening, Manual Dexterity, Near Vision, Non Indicated, Pulling and/or Pushing, Reaching, Sitting, Speaking, Standing, Stooping and Crouching, Tasting or Smelling, Walking