Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
Clinical Center
Chief Nurse Officer, Nursing Department
Are you interested in a truly unique opportunity in nursing executive leadership?
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) invites outstanding nurse executives with demonstrated
experience leading a clinical research program, proven academic excellence, to apply for the position of
Chief Nurse Officer at the NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD. The NIH Clinical Center (CC) is the largest
hospital in the world totally dedicated to clinical and translational research. The hospital maintains a
200-bed capacity that supports the intramural research programs of Institutes and Centers across the
NIH. The hospital provides care to an extensive range of patients who are research participants with
long-standing relationships with their research teams. As a senior executive and advisor to the Clinical
Center’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO), the incumbent will lead a
department of about 600 full-time equivalent employees and contract staff, providing direct patient
care and patient support services on 14 inpatient units, including behavioral health, plus 20 outpatient
clinics, and 3 day-hospitals units within the Clinical Center.
The Clinical Center is the epicenter for intramural research and collaboration at the NIH. An individual
selected for this position will have an opportunity to foster a research practice environment that
supports innovation, including scholarly activities that lead to increased patient safety, optimal clinical
outcomes, and the achievement of both clinical research goals and principles of high reliability in
healthcare at the CC. The incumbent will have opportunities to integrate scientific goals and objectives
into the practice of clinical research nursing and participate in the clinical care and implementation of
clinical research protocols of the Clinical Center.
The ideal candidate will possess a high level of comfort in leading, consulting, and advising a diverse
clinical research nursing workforce and overseeing nursing and patient care operations in a complex
hospital setting. The ability to partner and provide sound guidance at all levels within a complex clinical
research setting is key in the performance of routine duties associated with this position. The incumbent
must have exceptional communication skills and be capable of interdisciplinary leadership. The ideal
candidate should possess a Ph.D. degree in Nursing, a doctoral degree in another relevant scientific
area, or a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Qualified candidates must have demonstrated experience in
establishing and implementing nursing practice standards, policies, and development experience in
establishing nursing practicing standards, policy, and, developing nurses in both medical treatment and
research settings.
Salary is commensurate with experience and accomplishments. A full Civil Service package of benefits
(including retirement, health, life, and long-term care insurance, Thrift Savings Plan, etc.) is available.
Applications must be submitted via the www.usajobs.gov website, job announcement # NIH-CC-DH-22-
11375853 that will be open from 03/30/2022 to midnight on 04/08/2022. If you have questions about
this position, please contact Ms. Cris Leite (LeiteC@mail.nih.gov). If you have questions about applying
to the vacancy announcement, please contact Archer Mavin, HR Specialist 301-594-7993.