Assistant Director of Nursing – Behavioral Health

Assistant Director of Nursing – Behavioral Health

Michigan

Salary: $110,000 – $125,000 $7,500 Sign-On Bonus Relocation Assistance Available – Up to $10,000

An exceptional leadership opportunity is available for an experienced Behavioral Health Registered Nurse to join a respected inpatient behavioral health hospital as an Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) . This position is ideal for a strong nursing leader who is passionate about developing high-performing teams, improving patient outcomes, and helping shape the future of behavioral healthcare.

Working alongside the Chief Nursing Officer/Director of Nursing, the Assistant Director of Nursing will provide operational leadership for nursing services while fostering a culture centered on patient safety, clinical excellence, collaboration, and compassionate care.

Position Overview

The Assistant Director of Nursing plays a vital leadership role in the daily operations of the nursing department, helping ensure the delivery of exceptional behavioral health services while maintaining compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards.

This leader will collaborate closely with physicians, nursing staff, executive leadership, and interdisciplinary teams to drive quality initiatives, improve patient outcomes, support staff development, and ensure operational excellence across the organization.

In the absence of the Director of Nursing, the Assistant Director will oversee nursing operations and provide leadership for the department.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the Chief Nursing Officer/Director of Nursing to lead daily nursing operations
• Promote a culture focused on patient safety, quality outcomes, and exceptional patient care
• Provide leadership, coaching, mentoring, and performance management for nursing staff
• Assist with recruitment, onboarding, staff development, and employee engagement initiatives
• Evaluate staffing needs and ensure appropriate nursing coverage to meet patient care demands
• Collaborate with physicians and multidisciplinary teams to deliver comprehensive behavioral health services
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, accreditation, and organizational standards
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives, regulatory readiness, and performance improvement programs
• Assist with departmental budgeting and effective resource management
• Support policy development, clinical workflow improvements, and nursing best practices
• Respond to crisis situations, investigate incidents, and assist with corrective action planning
• Monitor clinical documentation to ensure accuracy, quality, and regulatory compliance
• Participate on hospital committees and organizational leadership initiatives
• Provide direct patient care when needed

Required Qualifications

• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license
• Minimum one year of leadership or nursing management experience
• Minimum one year of inpatient behavioral health, psychiatric, addiction recovery, or closely related nursing experience
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and critical thinking skills
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams while maintaining high standards of patient care and safety

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing (BSN) or higher strongly preferred
• Five or more years of Registered Nurse experience
• Two or more years of Behavioral Health nursing experience
• Previous experience as a Nursing Manager or Assistant Director of Nursing
• Experience leading teams within an inpatient psychiatric hospital
• Experience working in a unionized healthcare environment
• CPR certification (or willingness to obtain upon hire)
• De-escalation and restraint certification (training provided if needed)

Ideal Candidate

We're seeking a collaborative and confident nursing leader who thrives in a fast-paced inpatient psychiatric environment. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated success leading nursing teams, mentoring staff, improving clinical operations, and creating a positive culture focused on safety, accountability, and exceptional patient care.

Candidates must be a Registered Nurse with current inpatient psychiatric nursing experience . Leadership experience as an RN is required, with strong preference given to those who have led nursing teams in an inpatient behavioral health setting. Experience working within a unionized hospital environment is highly desirable.

Why This Opportunity?

• Executive nursing leadership opportunity with room for continued career growth
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
• $7,500 sign-on bonus
• Relocation assistance up to $10,000
• Opportunity to work alongside an experienced executive nursing leadership team
• Make a meaningful impact on patient outcomes while developing and mentoring the next generation of behavioral health nurses

If you're an experienced behavioral health nursing leader ready to take the next step in your career, we'd welcome the opportunity to discuss this confidential search.