Risevoic
Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer - Behavioral Health
Company : Legacy Health
Location : Portland, OR, 97232-2003
Job Type : Full Time
Date Posted : 4 January 2026
Overview
Unity Center for Behavioral Health is seeking an inspiring and experienced Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer to join its senior leadership team. In this pivotal role, you will shape the strategic direction of behavioral health patient care across seven specialized units, leading 11 direct reports and nearly 400 dedicated staff members.
Ideal candidates bring extensive experience in leading a unionized nursing environment and a strong background in behavioral health leadership. The ability to build trust and credibility with staff at all levels, champion open communication, and foster a culture where every voice is valued is essential. You will influence outcomes, including in areas without direct authority, and will demonstrate collaborative leadership that moves teams toward shared goals.
As Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, you will work closely with the Chief Medical Officer and other organizational leaders to design and implement care programs and policies that prioritize patient safety and quality. You’ll empower nursing professionals, set clear goals, and provide the resources and support needed for success. Your leadership will be anchored in compassion, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to inclusion for our staff and patients.
Lead by example, build authentic connections with your teams, and help shape the future of behavioral health nursing in a collaborative, high-impact setting. This is an exceptional opportunity for a visionary leader ready to make a lasting difference.
Responsibilities
- Responsible for hospital wide psychiatric nursing patient care programs, policies, and procedures that describe how patients’ nursing care needs, treatment, and services are assessed, evaluated, and met.
- Works collaboratively with the President and CMO aligning on strategic and operational initiatives and goals.
- Influential in hospital and organizational strategic planning and implementation in concert with the organization’s mission and vision.
- Works collaboratively with Unity Center for Behavioral Health’s partner hospital VP CNOs at Legacy Emanuel and Randall Childrens.
Qualifications
Education:
- MSN/MN, MBA, MHA and/or Doctoral degree in nursing required.
Experience:
- Eight years of diverse and progressively more responsible health care and/or related administrative experience, including minimum of five years’ experience in a clinical nursing leadership role in a psychiatric inpatient setting
Skills:
- Able to lead people in setting goals, giving appropriate support, evaluating, directing, and holding employees accountable while maintaining high morale and productivity.
- Excellent communication skills (verbal and written).
- Thorough understanding of current developments and trends in healthcare management and areas of defined accountability.
- Knowledge of development and implementation of effective operational and financial controls.
- Keyboard skills and ability to navigate electronic systems applicable to job functions are essential.
Licensure
- Current Oregon State RN licensure.
Pay Range
USD $122.07 - USD $177.00 /Hr.Our Commitment to Health and Equal Opportunity
Our Legacy is good for health for Our People, Our Patients, Our Communities, Our World. Above all, we will do the right thing.
If you are passionate about our mission and believe you can contribute to our team, we encourage you to apply—even if you don't meet every qualification listed. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can grow and succeed.
Legacy Health is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion or creed, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
To learn more about our employee benefits click here: www.legacyhealth.org/For-Health-Professionals/careers/benefiting-you
Related Jobs
Cottage Grove, OR
Top trending job titles hiring now
Popular Searches for Chief Nursing Officer
Frequently asked questions
This leadership role is key in guiding patient care policies across seven specialized behavioral health units, coordinating efforts among nursing staff and collaborating with medical leaders to ensure strategic, high-quality psychiatric nursing programs are effectively implemented hospital-wide.
Success hinges on strong communication, adeptness at managing unionized teams, and the ability to foster inclusive, goal-oriented environments that support nearly 400 staff members. Expertise in psychiatric inpatient care and strategic operational planning is also critical.
Leaders in this position often advance to executive roles overseeing broader clinical services or healthcare operations, leveraging their experience in behavioral health to influence system-wide policy and organizational strategy in larger healthcare networks.
Portland's healthcare environment emphasizes integrated behavioral health and community wellness, so leaders must navigate local regulatory frameworks, union presence, and collaborative care models while responding to regional mental health demands and resource availability.
Portland shows a growing need for senior behavioral health leaders due to increased focus on mental health services, making executive nursing positions highly sought after, especially those with union leadership and psychiatric inpatient expertise.
Legacy Health prioritizes inclusive leadership and collaboration across multiple hospitals, emphasizing compassionate, accountable nursing care within a unionized environment. Their focus on staff empowerment and strategic innovation sets them apart in Portland’s healthcare sector.
Legacy Health fosters growth through leadership collaboration with senior executives, access to continuing education, and involvement in shaping policies that impact care quality and staff engagement, ensuring their CNOs can lead transformative behavioral health initiatives.
The pay range for this senior behavioral health nursing leadership position at Legacy Health spans from approximately $122 to $177 per hour, reflecting the advanced expertise and responsibilities required in managing large nursing teams and complex psychiatric care programs.
By partnering closely with the Chief Medical Officer and other executives, the CNO aligns nursing initiatives with clinical goals, integrating care programs and policies that emphasize patient safety, quality, and multidisciplinary collaboration within behavioral health services.
A current Oregon RN license is mandatory, alongside advanced nursing degrees such as MSN or doctoral qualifications. Additional credentials in healthcare administration or behavioral health nursing strengthen a candidate’s capacity to lead this complex and unionized environment.