Director of Nursing - Public Health

Salary : $127,753.60 - $155,292.80 Annually
Location : Ukiah, CA
Job Type: Full-time Permanent
Job Number: 26.222
Department: Public Health
Opening Date: 07/29/2026
Closing Date: 9/10/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

The Position
Seeking an experienced nursing leader to serve as Director of Nursing. This role oversees public health nursing programs, supervises staff, supports program development, ensures regulatory compliance, and partners with the community to advance public health efforts. Ideal candidates have strong leadership skills, public or community health experience, and a focus on improving health outcomes. The current vacancy is in Ukiah.

Under administrative direction, directs staff and functions, including long and short range planning, budget and policy development and staff management. Division is responsible for delivering comprehensive health, wellness and prevention programs and services to County citizens.

Manager Academy is mandatory for all managers and consists of nine courses that must be completed within two years. Participation is required and completed during work hours.

Job Requirements and Minimum Qualifications
Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Manages division staff members responsible for performing various public health nursing services, including, but not limited to: evaluating and assessing clients; determining treatment plans; developing and presenting various programs; and serving as consultant/liaison with various agencies concerning programs, treatment, etc.
• Carries out supervisory/managerial responsibility in accordance with policies, procedures and applicable laws including: interviewing, hiring and training, planning, assigning and directing work; establishing deadlines; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
• Plans, coordinates, assigns, and monitors performance and coaches, counsels, mentors, trains, and advises employees in division for the dual goals of meeting division goals and employee career development.
• Interprets, develops, communicates updates and monitors ordinances, policies, procedures, and standards for the division and County; recommends improvement when necessary; and writes/revises same.
• Makes presentations to various boards and committees regarding division functions.
• Serves as a member and/or chair of various committees, meetings, teams and/or boards; participates in strategic planning, problem solving and goal setting activities; and collaborates, persuades, and negotiates with others outside own work area to coordinate efforts and maintain cooperative and efficient relations.
• Prepares, evaluates and monitors annual budgets and oversees the development and administration of grants.
• Consults with County Counsel and other County officials regarding various matters and for the purpose of seeking advice.
• Responds to requests for health education information by developing teaching plans, presenting information and responding to questions; makes arrangements for speakers, space and equipment.
• Plans long-range goals, objectives, organizational structure, and overall direction for the division.
• Plans and implements short-term or annual goals, objectives, and strategies for the division, projects or programs to ensure efficient organization and completion of work.
• Participates in disaster preparedness and response functions, including attending meetings, workshops and practice sessions.
• Oversees the development and administration of various programs.
• Follows up and represents division on inquiries from various agencies, groups, media, etc., regarding division programs and services; develops media announcements and edits and approves same.
• Directs patient assessments and evaluations and assures compliance with laws and regulations.
• Monitors current, newly adopted, and proposed legislation, rules and regulations and disseminates information to division officials and staff.
• Ensures quality standards and compliance with regulations are maintained.
• Maintains and upgrades professional knowledge, skills, and development by attending seminars and training programs and reading trade and professional journals and publications.
• Prepares complex, routine and non-routine reports as requested utilizing a variety of software; receives, sorts, and summarizes material for the preparation of reports; prepares work reports; and relays and interprets administrative decisions, policies and instructions.
• Interacts with a variety of high-level individuals, both internally and within the community to provide information, disseminate divisional information and assist in resolving administrative issues.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Nursing (or the equivalent in increasingly responsible nursing and management experience); Master's degree is preferred and five years of progressively responsible related experience providing nursing services in a public health care setting with at least two years in a management or supervisory capacity; or, a combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Licenses and Certifications:

Valid State Driver's License
Registered Nurse License
Public Health Nurse Certificate
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of:

• Applicable state, federal and local ordinances, codes, laws, rules and regulations and legislative issues.
• Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting and implementation.
• Administration of staff and activities, either directly or through subordinate supervision.
• Modern methods, techniques and theories of nursing.
• Human resources policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
• Child abuse and neglect.
• Governmental financial operations, including budgeting and grants administration.
• Conflict resolution.
• Methods and techniques of research, statistical analysis and report presentation.
• All computer applications and hardware related to performance of the essential functions of the job.
• Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary.
• Internal departmental policies and procedures.
• County government organization and operations.
• External governmental bodies and agencies related to area of assignment.
• Standard business arithmetic, including percentages and decimals.

Skill in:

• Planning, organizing, assigning, directing, reviewing and evaluating the work of staff.
• Selecting and motivating staff and providing for their training and professional development.
• Mediation techniques to resolve conflicts between management and staff.
• Using tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Making presentations.
• Analyzing and resolving office administrative situations and problems.
• Researching, compiling, and summarizing a variety of informational and statistical data and materials.
• Organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines, and following up on assignments with a minimum of direction.
• Applying logical thinking to solve problems or accomplish tasks; to understand, interpret and communicate complicated policies, procedures and protocols.
• Using a computer to accurately and rapidly enter and retrieve data and information.
• Communicating orally with internal staff, citizens, and other departmental staff in order to give and receive information in a courteous manner.
• Operating and routine maintenance of general office machines such as copiers, facsimile machines, telephone systems, and paging systems.

Mental and Physical Abilities:

• Read and interpret documents such as operation and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Understand and carry out written and oral instructions, giving close attention to detail and accuracy.
• Delegate authority to staff.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Draft and type correspondence.
• Add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.
• Analyze and resolve problems involving several variables.
• While performing the essential functions of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects and to reach with hands and arms, ascend and descend stairs using feet and legs, speak and hear and use color, sound, odor and shape perception and discrimination.
• While performing the essential functions of this job, the incumbent may infrequently be required to push, pull, move, or lift below the neck, objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

Selection Procedure & Other Important Information
Important Application Information:

• It is your responsibility to demonstrate through your application materials how you meet the minimum qualifications of the position/s for which you apply.
• You must complete all sections of the application. A résumé or other information you feel will help us evaluate your qualifications may be attached to your completed application, but will not be accepted in lieu of completing any part of the application. Blank applications that contain only a résumé or those that reference "see résumé" will be rejected as incomplete.
• Check your application before submitting to ensure it is complete and correct; no new or additional information will be accepted after the closing date.
• Inquiry will be made of your former and current employers; please provide the names and telephone numbers of supervisors on your application.
• You must provide the names and contact information of at least three (3) references (not relatives) that have knowledge of your job skills, experience, ability and/or character.
• Application materials are the property of Mendocino County and will not be returned.
• It is your responsibility to keep your NEOGOV profile updated, including any changes to your telephone number or address. Failure to do so may result in missed notification of exams or interviews.
• The exam process listed on this flyer is tentative. Mendocino County reserves the right to make necessary modifications to the examination plan. Such revisions will be in accordance with approved personnel standards. Should a change be made, applicants will be notified.
• The provisions of this job bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.

Examination Process: All complete applications will be reviewed; incomplete applications will not be considered. Based on the number of qualified candidates, applicants meeting the job requirements and qualifications will be invited to participate in an oral examination (weight 100) or an unassembled exam, consisting of an evaluation of education and experience as stated on the application form. The examination process will test the knowledge and abilities described above. A minimum score of 70 must be attained for placement on the employment list.