(RN) Assistant Nurse Manager - NICU - 140260

About the role

UC San Diego Health is proud to be a four-time Magnet-designated organization and has now earned Magnet with Distinction from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) cares for critically ill infants in the Level III NICU at Jacobs Medical Center as well as the Level II NICU at Hillcrest Medical Center. We provide family-centered and evidence-based care for a mixed infant population.

We are actively seeking a dedicated Assistant Nurse Manager to join our dynamic healthcare team. In this critical role, the Assistant Nurse Manager will demonstrate exceptional leadership by providing support to our nursing staff, patients and families, ensuring seamless operations, and delivering exceptional patient care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Responsibilities

The position carries significant responsibility and accountability for both administrative and clinical leadership. Key responsibilities include:

• Develop and implement high standards of care coordination that exemplify excellence in patient care, resource utilization, customer service, and regulatory compliance.
• Lead and spearhead innovative projects that foster collaboration among multidisciplinary teams, drive improvement, and positively impact patient outcomes.
• Plan, schedule, and organize departmental work, ensuring optimal distribution of assignments and efficient utilization of personnel, space, and facilities.
• Demonstrate strong leadership skills by supervising, appraising, and providing constructive feedback to nursing and ancillary staff.
• Oversee the recruitment process, including screening, interviewing, and hiring new employees who align with organizational values.
• Counsel and take disciplinary actions, when necessary, in consultation with Human Relations/Labor Relations, ensuring adherence to discipline-related action plans.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and professional growth to nurture a skilled and proficient nursing team.
• Ensure staff competence by monitoring and verifying compliance with licensure and certification requirements.
• Maintain meticulous documentation of staff credentials and certifications.
• Participate in developing and integrating annual operational, capital, and personnel budgets in collaboration with the Department of Finance.
• Make well-informed financial decisions to optimize resources and support organizational goals and strategic initiatives.

Requirements

The ideal candidate is a creative and results-driven professional with a solid background in neonatal nursing and clinical leadership with a proven track record of success in driving positive change and exceeding organizational goals.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing.
• Registered Nurse (RN) issued by the state of California.
• BART or BLS at time of hire with commitment to get BART within six (6) months of hire date.
• Current NRP-Advanced certification.
• Current certification in Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing from a nationally recognized accrediting organization, i.e., the National Certification Corporation (NCC), within one year (12 months) of hire date.
• Three (3+) or more years of recent Level III NICU experience.
• Two (2+) or more years of charge nurse, preceptor, or other nursing leadership experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of neonatal levels of care, acuity-based staffing, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience supporting clinical operations, patient flow, staffing assignments, and care coordination in a neonatal intensive care environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and support nursing staff while promoting professional practice, accountability, and a positive team culture.
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to quickly assess complex situations, determine the appropriate level of intervention, and implement effective solutions.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with patients/families, staff, physicians, leadership, and the interdisciplinary team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in nursing.
• Experience working in a large academic medical facility.
• Experience working in a Magnet-designated organization.
• Experience with process improvement, Lean, Six Sigma, or other quality improvement methodologies.
• Strong working knowledge of family-centered care principles and interdisciplinary collaboration in the NICU setting.

Pay

The Hiring Pay Scale for this position is $87.50 - $99.00 / Hour. The Annual Full Pay Range is $132,600 - $259,800 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%). The Hourly Equivalent is $63.51 - $124.43.

Schedule

This position requires 8-Hour Rotating Shifts, Sunday-Saturday, and is eligible for shift differentials. The position also requires flexible shift coverage, on-call, and the ability to work various hours and locations based on business needs.