Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) – Behavioral Health

Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) – Behavioral Health

Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
Compensation: $130,000 – $160,000 + Bonus | Relocation Assistance Available

An outstanding opportunity is available for an experienced nursing executive to step into a Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) role within a new behavioral health hospital launch in Tennessee. This is a high-impact, ground-floor leadership position ideal for a proven nursing leader who thrives in building programs, shaping culture, and driving clinical excellence in an inpatient psychiatric setting.

Position Overview
The CNO will provide strategic and operational leadership for all nursing services, setting the vision for patient-centered care while ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. This leader will play a critical role in building and developing the nursing team from the ground up, establishing best practices, and aligning nursing operations with overall organizational goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and execution of nursing strategy in a startup behavioral health environment
• Provide executive oversight for nursing operations, including staffing, budgeting, quality outcomes, and performance improvement
• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing nursing leadership team and frontline staff
• Ensure delivery of safe, efficient, and patient-centered care across all service lines
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and senior leadership to support clinical and operational excellence
• Oversee policy development, regulatory compliance, and accreditation readiness
• Manage patient acuity, census fluctuations, and resource allocation to optimize care delivery
• Drive a culture of accountability, service excellence, and continuous improvement
• Lead recruitment, onboarding, and ongoing development of nursing personnel
• Monitor and improve patient satisfaction, clinical outcomes, and operational efficiency

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing required; Master's Degree preferred
• Active RN license required
• Minimum 6+ years of RN experience; 10+ years preferred
• Minimum 3+ years of progressive nursing leadership experience required
• Prior CNO or Director of Nursing experience strongly preferred
• Behavioral Health experience required, including at least 2 years in an inpatient psychiatric setting
• Experience in a freestanding psychiatric hospital strongly preferred
• Startup or facility opening experience highly desirable

The Ideal Candidate
This role is best suited for a hands-on, strategic nursing leader with deep behavioral health experience and a passion for building teams and programs from the ground up. The ideal candidate brings strong clinical credibility, operational expertise, and the ability to lead through growth and change in a startup environment.