Chief Nursing Officer

Position Summary: The CNO provides strategic and operational leadership for all clinic operations and participant care services within the residential SUD treatment program and I-Care Clinic including nursing medication management MAT and integrated primary and behavioral health services. This role ensures coordinated trauma-informed and evidence-based care across medical providers clinical teams Recovery Advocates and external partners while prioritizing participant safety and continuity of care. The position is accountable for regulatory compliance survey readiness medication management practices and the development and enforcement of clinical policies standards and documentation collaboration with the Medical Director and executive leadership the role participates in quality improvement risk management infection control and emergency preparedness efforts using data-driven outcomes. As a member of the executive team this position oversees department staffing and budgets supports staff development and retention and partners with the CEO and Board of Directors to advance the organizations mission and strategic goals. Other duties may be assigned.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Clinical and Integrated Care Oversight

Oversee all clinic operations and participant care services including nursing medication management MAT integrated primary and behavioral health services and residential medical care.

Ensure coordination of care across medical providers nursing behavioral health Recovery Advocates and external partners.

In collaboration with the Medical Director establish implement and enforce clinical standards that support participant safety trauma-informed care and evidence-based SUD treatment.

Provide clinical oversight of MAT services including assessments follow-up participant education and referrals to higher levels of care as indicated.

Regulatory Compliance

Ensure compliant medication practices including ordering storage self-administration inventory control and disposal in accordance with Chapter 564 and applicable regulations.

Oversee medication documentation audits error reporting and corrective action processes.

Ensure clinical services are survey-ready and compliant with all licensing accreditation and funder requirements.

Direct Care and Recovery Advocate Oversight

Provide leadership and operational oversight of Recovery Advocates and other direct care staff to ensure consistent safe and therapeutic residential services.

Ensure appropriate staffing levels scheduling training and supervision to meet clinical regulatory and participant safety requirements.

Promote effective communication and collaboration between direct care nursing and clinical teams.

Patient Safety & Infection Control

In collaboration with the Medical Director oversee infection prevention control and quarantine protocols for communicable diseases.

Ensure participant safety practices incident reporting and risk mitigation processes are consistently implemented.

Oversee clinical emergency preparedness and continuity of care procedures.

Quality Risk Management and Clinical Governance

Collaborate with Medical Director on clinical performance standards and quality of care.

Lead the development approval and ongoing review of clinical policies procedures and protocols to

Job Title: Chief Nursing Officer

Department: Administration

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

FLSA Status: Exempt

Date: 12/15/2025

ensure alignment with evidence-based practice and regulatory requirements.

Participate in organizational risk management compliance and quality committees.

Ensure accurate timely and compliant documentation in Electronic Health Records (e.g. CMBHS Athena).

Use clinical data and outcomes to guide quality improvement initiatives and support reporting requirements.

Ensure ethical clinical practice and compliance with patient rights confidentiality and informed consent standards.

Staff Leadership and Development

Foster a supportive accountable and rewarding work environment that promotes staff engagement retention and performance.

Lead recruitment onboarding training evaluation and professional development for nursing medication services and direct care leadership staff.

Executive Leadership and Administration

Provide strategic oversight of clinical budgets staffing models and resource allocation to support clinical quality and organizational sustainability.

Collaborate with the CEO executive team and Board of Directors to advance organizational strategy and mission.

Attend Board meetings and provide clinical and operational reports to the CEO.

Represent the organization in advocacy community and public events as needed.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience:

Current unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Texas (BSN required; MSN or higher preferred).

Minimum of 57 years of progressive nursing leadership experience preferably in SUD treatment behavioral health residential treatment or integrated care settings.

Demonstrated experience with MAT/OBOT programs medication management and regulatory compliance in substance use treatment environments.

Strong executive leadership clinical judgment and decision-making skills.

In-depth knowledge of SUD treatment MAT trauma-informed care and behavioral health regulations.

Excellent communication collaboration and organizational skills.

Commitment to patient-centered care ethical practice and continuous quality improvement.

Competencies: To perform the job successfully an individual should demonstrate the following:

Communications Express ideas and thoughts verbally and in written form. Exhibit good listening and comprehension. Keep others adequately informed. Select and use appropriate communication methods.

Conflict Resolution Encourage open communications. Confront difficult situations. Maintain objectivity. Manage emotions. Use negotiation skills to resolve conflicts.

Customer Service Manage difficult or emotional customer situations; Respond promptly to customer needs; Solicit constituent feedback to improve service; Respond to requests for service and assistance; Meet commitments.

Dependability Follow instructions respond to management direction; Take responsibility for own actions; Keep commitments; Commit to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Complete tasks on time or notify appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Ethics Treat people with respect; Inspire the trust of others; Work ethically and with integrity; Uphold organizational values.

Problem Solving Identify and resolve problems in a timely manner; Gather and analyze information skillfully; Develop alternative solutions; Work well in group problem solving situations; Use reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Language Ability: Ability to read analyze and interpret general scientific and technical journals and documents. Ability to follow technical procedures or governmental regulations. Ability to effectively present information to groups such as CEO Board of Directors top management public groups and clients.

Math Ability: Ability to add subtract multiply and divide in all units of measures using whole numbers common fractions and decimals.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions finished in written oral diagram or schedule form.

Computer Skills: Must have strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word Excel Outlook). Previous EHR software experience.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Provides strategic leadership supervision and accountability for department managers overseeing the I-CARE Clinic including contract nursing staff and participant care services (Recovery Advocates and Medication Technicians).

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this position the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger handle and feel. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand climb or balance stoop kneel crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision requirements include close vision distance vision peripheral vision depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

This position requires local travel travel between Houston and Austin and some weekend/evening hours.

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as assigned by the CEO.