GENERAL SUMMARY:
The Associate Vice President (AVP), Nursing, is a senior nursing executive accountable for clinical excellence, operational performance, and strategic transformation across multiple service lines and/or hospital-wide nursing functions. The AVP reports directly to the Chief Nursing Officer.
This role has broad scope and decision-making authority, with responsibility for nursing practice, workforce strategy, quality and safety outcomes, financial performance, and patient experience. The AVP is a key member of the nursing executive leadership team, working closely with the President, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), Chief Medical Officer, Chief Quality Officer, VP of Finance, VP of Human Resources, Associate Chief Medical Officer (ACMO), physician and nurse leaders, and other key interdisciplinary executives to translate enterprise strategy into operational action.
The AVP demonstrates a proven ability to lead in highly matrixed, interdisciplinary environments. They are responsible for driving meaningful change across nursing practice, operations, and leadership structures, aligning current performance with the future of care delivery. This role is supported by executive sponsorship and coordinated efforts to advance strategic, operational, and cultural transformation across nursing.
The AVP balances local operational needs with system priorities to ensure consistency, scalability, and alignment with organizational goals, regulatory standards, and Magnet principles. This leader plays a critical role in shaping the future of nursing practice, driving innovation, and building leadership capacity across the organization.
This role requires a leader who can both honor what is strong today and build what is needed for the future. The AVP is expected to deliver visible, measurable results and is accountable for performance across assigned areas.
Principle Duties and Responsibilities:
Scope of Responsibility
· Executive oversight of multiple clinical service lines and/or hospital-wide functions
· Provides executive oversight of multiple clinical service lines and/or hospital-wide functions
· Holds accountability for large, complex operational areas with significant clinical, financial, and human capital impact
· Directly leads Directors, Managers, and assigned team members
· Exercises independent authority in operational, financial, and clinical decision making within scope, and in alignment with the CNO
Key Accountabilities
1. Strategic & Executive Leadership
• Serves as a core member of the nursing executive leadership team, contributing to enterprise strategy, prioritization, and decision-making
• Leads the development and execution of strategic plans for service lines and the hospital, aligned with organizational priorities
• Translates strategy into clear operational priorities, measurable outcomes, and leadership accountability structures
• Brings diverse perspectives and experiences to enhance decision-making, innovation, and the leadership team's effectiveness
• Identifies, challenges, and drives changes in legacy practices that no longer serve patients, staff, or organizational performance
• Establishes clear expectations and performance standards for assigned areas
• Anticipates and escalates emerging risks, opportunities, and performance trends
2. Executive Dyad Partnership (Nursing–Medicine Alignment)
· Functions within a dyad partnership with the Associate Chief Medical Officer (ACMO) or other key executive medical partners to co-lead service line performance
· Shares joint accountability for quality, safety, patient experience, throughput, and financial performance
· Aligns nursing and physician leadership to drive standardization, clinical excellence, and operational reliability
· Engages in joint decision-making and shared prioritization, ensuring unified direction for frontline teams
· Models interdisciplinary leadership, resolves conflict, and drives alignment across disciplines
3. Clinical Excellence, Quality & Safety
· Accountable for achieving and sustaining top-tier performance across quality, safety, and patient outcomes
· Leads high-reliability initiatives and ensures consistent implementation of evidence-based practice
· Ensures compliance with regulatory, accreditation, and readiness requirements
· Partners with Quality, Safety, Risk, and Medical Staff leadership to drive harm reduction and measurable improvements in outcomes
4. Nursing Practice & Professional Governance
· Advances a professional practice environment grounded in shared governance, accountability, evidence-based care, and nursing research
· Champions nursing as a clinical and strategic driver of outcomes
· Leads and supports Magnet enculturation, infrastructure, and performance
· Balances standardization with local innovation, enabling strong clinical leadership
5. Workforce Strategy & Culture
· Leads comprehensive workforce strategy, including:
o Recruitment retention, and pipeline development
o Leadership development and succession planning
o Culture and engagement improvement
· Leads through a leader-of-leaders model, ensuring that Directors and senior leaders are aligned, accountable, and performing at a high level
· Builds an environment of belonging, accountability, and psychological safety
· Coaches and develops leaders to operate with clarity, ownership, and alignment
· Addresses performance decisively while reinforcing a just and accountable culture
6. Operational & Financial Performance
· Accountable for financial stewardship, including labor management, productivity, and expense control
· Partners with Finance to drive data-informed decisions and fiscal discipline
· Accountable for measurable improvements in throughput, capacity management, and operational efficiency
· Ensures adherence to enterprise processes (e.g., staffing models, resource governance)
7. Transformation & Innovation
· Leads large-scale transformation initiatives, including care model redesign, workforce innovation, and future-state planning
· Advances innovation in technology-enabled care, virtual nursing, and new care delivery models
· Leads and advances nursing research, evidence-based practice, and scholarly dissemination
8. Interdisciplinary & External Partnership
· Builds strong partnerships with physicians and interdisciplinary leaders
· Represents the organization in external forums, academic partnerships, and professional organizations
· Demonstrates credible, visible executive presence throughout the organization • Maintains a strong leadership presence across clinical and operational environments, ensuring connection to frontline realities
9. Communication & Executive Presence
· Communicates with clarity, transparency, and purpose at all levels
· Aligns leaders through consistent expectations and accountability structures
· Represents nursing in executive forums, system initiatives, and external engagements
10. Executive Team Integration
· Collaborates closely with peer AVPs to ensure consistency, alignment, and shared accountability across the organization
· Contributes to collective decision-making and enterprise prioritization, avoiding siloed leadership
· Leverages complementary strengths across the AVP team to advance organizational goals and performance
Education/Experience Required:
· Bachelor’s degree in nursing required
· Master’s degree in nursing, Healthcare Administration, Business, or a related field required
· Doctoral degree (DNP, PhD, or equivalent) preferred
· Nurse Executive Leadership Certification (e.g., NEA-BC; CENP) within 12 months of hire
· Minimum of 7 years of progressive nursing leadership experience, including Director-level or above
• Demonstrated success leading:
o Large, complex clinical operations
o Quality, safety, and financial performance improvement
o Organizational change and transformation
Certifications/Licensures Required:
· Current Registered Nurse license (State of Michigan)
Additional Information
- Organization: Henry Ford Hospital - Detroit Main Campus
- Department: Administration-Nursing
- Henry Ford Health Location: Henry Ford Hospital - Detroit Main Campus
- Shift: Day Job
- Union Code: Not Applicable