Director Emergency Services & Preparedness

Job Summary:

Organizational Culture & Leadership (Core Responsibility)

The Nursing Director is a visible and values-driven leader who actively shapes a positive and high-performing culture.

Key Expectations:

• Foster a culture of trust, accountability, teamwork, and psychological safety.
• Promote open communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and shared ownership of outcomes.
• Support staff engagement, recognition, professional growth, and retention.
• Model professionalism, respect, and continuous improvement aligned with the hospital’s mission and values.
• Lead through change with transparency and consistency.

Emergency Department Leadership

The Nursing Director provides overall leadership for the Emergency Department, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality care delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide direct oversight of the Emergency Department Nurse Manager, including staffing, daily operations, and resource allocation.
• Lead planning, organization, coordination, and evaluation of ED services using Evidence-Based nursing practice.
• Drive performance related to CMS ED throughput measures, NDNQI indicators, LWBS, patient experience, and quality outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with CMS, DNV, Joint Commission, NH Nurse Practice Act, and other regulatory and accreditation standards.
• Evaluate staffing models and skill mix based on patient acuity and volume.
• Support department productivity, charge capture, and responsible financial stewardship.
• Present departmental performance data, initiatives, and outcomes to executive leadership and governing bodies.
• Lead recruitment, onboarding, retention, and succession planning efforts.
• Ensure completion of annual performance reviews, career interviews, and mandatory education and compliance requirements.
• Promote shared governance and staff participation in unit-based and organizational committees.

Emergency Management & Preparedness

The Nursing Director provides strategic oversight of the hospital’s Emergency Management Program, ensuring continuous readiness and regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide direct oversight of the Emergency Management & Preparedness manager.
• Assess, update, and maintain the Emergency Management Plan (EMP).
• Ensure compliance with CMS Emergency Preparedness, DNV, OSHA, FEMA, and New Hampshire emergency preparedness requirements.
• Lead development and completion of After-Action Reports (AARs) and corrective action plans with clear timelines and accountability.
• Conduct post-event debriefings to identify lessons learned and improvement opportunities.
• Lead hospital-wide drills, exercises, and the annual Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (HVA).
• Train and advise leaders and staff on ICS/HICS principles and emergency response best practices.
• Evaluate emergency equipment and supply readiness, standardization, and availability.
• Maintain audit-readiness for regulatory and accreditation reviews.
• Strengthen integration with regional healthcare preparedness coalitions, emergency responders, and mutual aid partners.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on emergency preparedness strategy and emerging risks.

Stroke Program Oversight

• Provide direct oversight of the Stroke Program Coordinator.
• Collaboration with Stroke Quality Manager.
• Support and ensure ongoing compliance with DNV Stroke Certification standards and help prepare for successful annual DNV Stroke Certification Surveys.
• Collaborate with the Stroke Medical Director and interdisciplinary teams to meet quality and performance metrics.
• Identify gaps, develop improvement initiatives, and ensure accountability across departments.
• Evaluate equipment, supplies, and workflows to support program success.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of progressive leadership experience in emergency services and/or emergency management.
• Current New Hampshire RN license required.
• BSN required.
• Master’s degree in Nursing, Public Health, Homeland Security, or related field preferred (or equivalent experience).  Or enrolled in a Master’s degree program within 1 year of hire.
• BLS required.
• ACLS preferred and required within 3 months of hire.
• FEMA ICS 100, 200, 700, 800 required; ICS 300/400 preferred.
• Knowledge of CMS Emergency Preparedness requirements, DNV standards, FEMA ICS/HICS frameworks, and NH emergency preparedness regulations.
• CPI training preferred (or obtained within 3 months).
• National nursing certification and professional organization membership preferred.
• Flexibility to support hospital response efforts during emergencies.

Covenant Health Mission Statement

We are a Catholic health ministry, providing healing and care for the whole person, in service to all in our communities.

Our Core Values:

•Compassion

We show respect, caring and sensitivity towards all, honoring the dignity of each person, especially the poor, vulnerable and suffering.

•Integrity

We promote justice and ethical behavior, and responsibly steward our human, financial and environmental resources.

•Collaboration

We work in partnership, dialogue and shared purpose to create healthy communities.

•Excellence

We deliver all services with the highest level of quality, while seeking creative innovation.

Applicants, employees and former employees are protected from employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, and genetic information (including family medical history).

Comp Range:

$113,269.47 - $157,519.03

Rate of pay displayed reflects the beginning of the pay scale.  At the time of an offer, determination of your offer will reflect your skills and experience as it relates to the position.

Our people make the difference. See firsthand what makes our employees and culture shine!