What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Nursing – Behavioral Health position at Beth Israel Lahey Health?
When you join the growing BILH team, you're not just taking a job, you’re making a difference in people’s lives.
The Director of Nursing, Inpatient Behavioral Health provides strategic and operational leadership across inpatient units, ensuring safe, high-quality, patient-centered care. Reporting to the Executive Director, this role supports Nurse Managers and drives consistency in clinical standards, staffing, regulatory compliance, quality outcomes, and financial performance.
In partnership with clinical and administrative leaders, the Director ensures care aligns with professional and regulatory standards while fostering a collaborative, high-performing team. This is a leadership-focused role with indirect patient care oversight.
Job Description:
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Clinical Leadership & Regulatory Oversight
- Maintain expertise in psychiatric nursing and inpatient regulations
- Lead development and standardization of nursing policies and practices
- Ensure compliance with DMH, DPH, CMS, and Joint Commission standards
- Translate regulatory changes into operational practice
- Promote trauma-informed, patient-centered care
Quality, Safety & Performance Improvement
- Oversee patient safety systems and clinical risk trends
- Lead quality and safety initiatives (restraints, falls, medication safety)
- Drive corrective action plans and sustained improvements
- Partner to ensure survey readiness
Financial & Operational Management
- Manage nursing budgets and labor expenses across six units
- Analyze productivity, census, and staffing models
- Conduct variance analyses and implement solutions
- Support financial decision-making among nursing leaders
Leadership & Workforce Development
- Supervise Nurse Managers and oversee hiring and performance management
- Support succession planning and leadership development
- Ensure compliance with HR policies and union agreements
Strategy & Systems Improvement
- Evaluate service line performance and set strategic direction
- Standardize processes and align with system initiatives
- Use data and benchmarking to drive improvements
Communication & Collaboration
- Partner with interdisciplinary and executive teams
- Serve as liaison for nursing
- Facilitate communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution
Professional Leadership
- Mentor Nurse Managers and lead change initiatives
- Promote accountability, ethics, and evidence-based practice
Minimum Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Nursing (required)
- RN license in Massachusetts (required)
- 7 years progressive nursing leadership; 5 years in management
- Behavioral health and multi-unit experience preferred
- Experience in unionized settings preferred
Scope & Schedule
Oversees six inpatient behavioral health units with accountability for quality, safety, compliance, labor, and leadership development.
- On-call required; hours vary based on operational needs
Pay Range:
$130,000.00 USD – $195,000.00 USD
The pay range listed for this position is the annual base salary range the organization reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position at this time. Actual compensation is determined based on several factors, that may include seniority, education, training, relevant experience, relevant certifications, geography of work location, job responsibilities, or other applicable factors permissible by law.
As a health care organization, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to care for and protect our patients, our colleagues and our communities. Beth Israel Lahey Health requires that all staff be vaccinated against influenza (flu) as a condition of employment.
More than 35,000 people working together. Nurses, doctors, technicians, therapists, researchers, teachers and more, making a difference in patients' lives. Your skill and compassion can make us even stronger.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled
Salary : $130,000 - $195,000