Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Patient Care Services

Santa Barbara, California, The Cottage Health Associate Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO), Patient Care Services, is a highly visible executive nursing leadership role, reporting directly to the Vice President, Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer (CNO). Serving as a key strategic partner and trusted deputy to the CNO, the ACNO will help lead a high-performing nursing enterprise at an exciting moment in the organization's evolution, including its system-wide Magnet journey, advancement of high reliability principles, and continued growth. The ACNO provides executive leadership and operational oversight for a broad portfolio of acute care, service line, and nursing operations functions, including Cottage Children's Medical Center, Orthopedics, Oncology, Infusion, Neurology/Urology, Pulmonary-Renal/Infectious Disease, Surgical Trauma and overflow units, as well as patient flow and resource management functions such as the Nursing Resource Unit, Administrative House Supervisors, Bed Control, Transfer Center, and Staffing Office. The role is accountable for advancing clinical quality, patient safety, workforce engagement, operational performance, financial stewardship, and regulatory readiness across areas where nursing is practiced. Working closely with physician leaders, operational executives, and interdisciplinary partners, the ACNO will play a critical role in strengthening system integration, standardizing best practices, developing nursing leaders, and fostering a culture of professional practice, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. The ACNO will represent the CNO across the organization, serve as an enterprise leader through Administrator-on-Call responsibilities, and advance Cottage Health’s standing as the premier place to work, practice, and receive care in the region. The ideal candidate will be an accomplished nursing leader who brings a strong foundation in nursing practice, sound leadership principles, and a demonstrated ability to guide teams through complex operational and organizational challenges. This executive will possess exceptional judgment, emotional intelligence, and communication skills, enabling them to build credibility with caregivers, physicians, and colleagues across the organization. The successful ACNO will combine intellectual curiosity and professional rigor with a genuine commitment to patients, families, team members, and the community. They will bring the confidence to address difficult issues, the humility to listen and learn, and the adaptability to succeed within Cottage Health's highly collaborative culture. IDEAL EXPERIENCE

Five (5) or more years of progressively responsible healthcare leadership experience Prior experience as a nurse executive, including ACNO, Senior Director of Nursing, or equivalent preferred. Experience leading performance improvement and/or change management initiatives to elevate outcomes in the areas of clinical quality, patient safety, patient and staff engagement, and resource allocation. Experience in a Magnet organization and/or with the Magnet designation process, with a deep understanding of the principles of shared governance and interdisciplinary collaboration. Experience in a High Reliability Organization is a plus. Specialty certification in clinical or administrative nursing or areas of oversight. Nurse Executive Certification preferred. A bachelor's degree in nursing, plus a master's degree in nursing or a related business or administrative field is required. A Doctorate of Nursing Practice or Ph.D. is a plus. Active nursing license. If not already licensed in the State of California, eligible for licensure in the state. This role is also eligible for incentive and a robust benefits program. Cottage Health is committed to competitive pay for its employees. Each job is evaluated annually to ensure a market-competitive pay range – this is a leading practice in our industry and reinforces Cottage’s commitment to its employees. We rely on the contributions, creativity and skills of our remarkable staff—and our compensation reflects the value we place on finding the best team members.