Position Overview

The Chief Nurse Executive provides strategic, clinical, and administrative leadership for nursing services across all Illinois Department of Corrections facilities. This role is accountable for setting and maintaining statewide standards of nursing practice, ensuring safe, evidence-based, and compliant care for individuals in custody. The Chief Nurse Executive leads policy and program development, oversees quality improvement and infection control initiatives, conducts operational audits, and ensures compliance with state, federal, and accreditation requirements. Serving as a full-line supervisor and subject matter expert, this position partners closely with executive leadership, external agencies, and academic institutions to advance correctional healthcare excellence, strengthen the nursing workforce, and drive continuous improvement across the system. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. 

Essential Functions

• Serves as the chief nurse for the agency and assumes authority, responsibility, and accountability for the delivery of comprehensive nursing services.
• Provides consultation and training to the Office of Health Services and administration regarding the provision of nursing services to individuals in custody.
• Participates in operational inspections and conducts facility audits to ensure compliance with health care standards.
• Serves as a full-line supervisor.
• Serves as subject matter expert for the Department and the Chief of Health Services on nursing care issues.
• Works closely with the Quality Improvement and the Infection Control Coordinators to establish and maintain a statewide, comprehensive, and standardized Quality Improvement and Infection Control programs.
• Acts as liaison with the Illinois colleges of nursing and health organizations.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires a license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Illinois.
• Requires the candidate to have a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing or higher.
• Requires four (4) years of progressively responsible administrative and supervisory experience in a healthcare field and as a Registered Nurse.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers at least three (3) years of experience as a Nursing Director.
• Prefers at least three (3) years of experience working as a nurse in a correctional setting.
• Prefers at least three (3) years of experience developing and implementing nursing policies and procedures.
• Prefers at least two (2) years of experience conducting audits ensuring compliance with health care standards.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. Requires appropriate, valid driver's license.
• Required to maintain a current, active license as a Registered Nurse in the State of Illinois.
• Requires ability to be on-call.
• Requires the use of agency-supplied technology.
• Requires ability to pass the IDOC/IDJJ background check.
• Requires ability to pass a drug screen. The use of unauthorized drugs by an employee, regardless of position held, is prohibited.
• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non- State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non- State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.
• This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.
• Required to utilize digital technology, tools, platforms, and processes in managing and supporting various digital enhancements for greater efficiency, productivity, and digital transformation efforts within the department.
• Applicants are required to abide by all vaccine and/or other medical standards as set out by the employer.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.