Director Of Nursing

To be considered for this position you must complete the state application and attach all required documents through the Montana State Careers site at www.statecareers.mt.gov.

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) has a career opportunity within the Montana State Hospital.

The Director of Nursing (DON) administers, manages, and coordinates activities for the provision of patient care services at the Montana State Hospital. This role leads, collaborates, integrates, and evaluates the development and maintenance of professional nursing practice. The position will serve as a liaison and facilitate collaboration between the medical staff, treatment teams, ancillary staff, and nursing services. The incumbent will develop hospital goals, policies, and procedures with other executives of the hospital and is an active participant in the hospital safety, quality, and strategic planning process. The DON reports directly to the CEO of the hospital. This position will also be expected to take some call on overnight and weekends.

Why Join DPHHS

Our mission at DPHHS is serving Montanans in their communities to improve health, safety, well-being, and empower independence. By joining our department, you will have the opportunity to perform meaningful work in public service to our state and its residents.

The State of Montana's comprehensive benefits package includes healthcare coverage, retirement plans, paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, work/life balance, and eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. In addition, DPHHS is the largest state agency with a wide range of advancement opportunities whether you are joining the workforce or have several years of experience.

Qualifications for this Career Opportunity

• Extensive knowledge of nursing in a psychiatric setting.

• Demonstrated ability to engage staff in promoting a professional practice culture that advances evidence-based nursing practice.

• Ability to research, compile, and analyze data from multiple sources to identify and resolve a wide variety of issues and problems

• Strong financial and business expertise related to budget planning and execution workforce optimization, operation efficiency, and innovated models of care delivery.

• Meet minimum qualifications:

• Licensed as a Registered Nurse in the State of Montana or able to attain licensure in the State of Montana prior to the first day of work.

• Master's Degree in psychiatric or mental health nursing, or its equivalent from a school of nursing accredited by the National League for Nursing or be qualified by education and experience in the care of the mentally ill.

• 5 years' experience in psychiatric or mental health

• 5 -7 years of related and progressively responsible leadership experience in a behavioral health setting.

How to Apply

To be considered for a DPHHS position, submit the following required documents with your application on the State of Montana Careers website. When submitting the required documents, you must check the "relevant document" box to ensure your attachments are uploaded correctly to your application for this position.

• Cover Letter

• Resume

• References

Successful applicants will be subject to background checks relevant to the position and must pass reference checks before an offer will be extended. DPHHS is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For a copy of the full job description or if you need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, contact DPHHS Human Resources listed below.

Additional Information

This position may be eligible for a statutory 2.5% an hour base pay increase effective July 1, 2026.

This position is open until filled with frequent screening of applicants.