Director of Nursing – Hospital & Patient Care Services

Location: Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Employment Type: Full-Time
Career Level: Executive Leadership
Experience Required: 10–15 Years
Salary Range: USD $5,000 – $7,500 per month

Job Overview

We are seeking an accomplished, visionary, and highly experienced Director of Nursing to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for all nursing departments across a large hospital or multi-specialty medical center in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. This executive-level role is responsible for driving excellence in nursing practice, patient safety, clinical quality, regulatory compliance, and workforce development while aligning nursing operations with the hospital’s overall mission, values, and strategic objectives.

The Director of Nursing will serve as the highest authority for nursing services, overseeing nursing leadership teams, clinical nursing staff, and patient care delivery models across inpatient, outpatient, emergency, critical care, and specialty units. This role requires a leader who can balance clinical excellence with operational efficiency, financial stewardship, and people development in a complex and highly regulated healthcare environment.

The ideal candidate will be a respected nursing leader with deep clinical knowledge, strong executive presence, and the ability to influence organizational culture, patient outcomes, and interdisciplinary collaboration at the highest level.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Nursing Governance

• Provide strategic leadership and overall direction for all nursing departments and clinical nursing services
• Serve as the chief nursing authority within the hospital
• Align nursing strategies with hospital goals, quality objectives, and patient care standards
• Represent nursing leadership as part of the hospital executive and senior management team
• Promote a culture of clinical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement

Nursing Practice, Standards & Clinical Excellence

• Develop, implement, and maintain nursing policies, procedures, and professional practice standards
• Ensure evidence-based nursing practice across all clinical areas
• Establish and monitor standards of care aligned with international healthcare benchmarks
• Promote patient-centered care and holistic nursing practices
• Ensure consistency in nursing practice across departments and specialties

Patient Safety, Quality & Outcomes

• Oversee initiatives to improve patient safety, clinical quality, and nursing-sensitive indicators
• Monitor patient outcomes, incident reports, and adverse events
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action initiatives for clinical issues
• Ensure implementation of risk management and patient safety programs
• Drive continuous quality improvement and performance excellence in nursing care

Regulatory Compliance & Accreditation

• Ensure full compliance with national nursing regulations, licensing requirements, and hospital policies
• Lead nursing compliance with hospital accreditation standards (CBAHI, JCI, or equivalent)
• Prepare nursing departments for regulatory inspections, audits, and accreditation surveys
• Ensure adherence to ethical, legal, and professional nursing standards
• Maintain documentation and reporting in line with regulatory requirements

Workforce Planning, Staffing & Budget Management

• Develop and oversee nursing staffing models to ensure safe and effective patient care
• Lead workforce planning, recruitment strategies, and retention initiatives
• Manage nursing budgets, labor costs, and resource utilization
• Optimize staffing efficiency while maintaining patient safety and care quality
• Support long-term workforce sustainability and succession planning

Talent Development, Training & Performance Management

• Lead recruitment, onboarding, mentoring, and professional development of nursing staff
• Develop leadership pipelines for nurse managers, supervisors, and charge nurses
• Implement performance management, appraisal, and competency assessment systems
• Promote continuous education, certification, and clinical skill development
• Foster a culture of learning, engagement, and professional growth

Interdisciplinary Collaboration & Clinical Integration

• Collaborate closely with physicians, medical leadership, and allied health professionals
• Strengthen interdisciplinary teamwork and communication across clinical departments
• Support integrated care models and coordinated patient pathways
• Address operational and clinical challenges through collaborative leadership
• Ensure nursing input is represented in clinical decision-making

Operational Oversight & Clinical Efficiency

• Oversee nursing operations across inpatient, outpatient, emergency, ICU, and specialty units
• Ensure effective shift coverage, patient assignment, and workflow efficiency
• Monitor operational KPIs related to nursing productivity and care delivery
• Support optimization of clinical workflows and resource allocation
• Ensure nursing operations support hospital throughput and patient flow goals

Innovation, Best Practices & Nursing Advancement

• Drive innovation in nursing practice, care delivery models, and patient engagement
• Introduce best practices, new technologies, and evidence-based innovations
• Support digital healthcare initiatives affecting nursing workflows
• Encourage research, quality projects, and nursing-led improvement initiatives
• Position nursing as a strategic contributor to hospital excellence

Performance Monitoring & Data-Driven Decision Making

• Analyze clinical performance indicators, staffing metrics, and patient outcomes
• Monitor trends in quality, safety, and workforce performance
• Use data to guide strategic decisions and improvement initiatives
• Establish nursing dashboards and performance reporting systems
• Ensure transparency and accountability in nursing performance

Executive Reporting & Representation

• Prepare detailed nursing performance, quality, and workforce reports
• Present nursing updates, risks, and strategic initiatives to executive leadership and boards
• Represent nursing leadership in hospital committees and governance forums
• Advocate for nursing priorities, resources, and professional advancement
• Support hospital-wide strategic planning and transformation initiatives

Qualifications & Educational Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (mandatory)
• Master’s degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or Healthcare Management preferred
• Valid and active nursing license
• Recognized nursing leadership or executive certification is highly desirable
• Strong foundation in clinical nursing practice and healthcare management

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of progressive nursing leadership experience
• Proven experience in senior nursing leadership roles (Director, Chief Nurse, or equivalent)
• Experience managing large nursing teams in hospitals or multi-specialty medical centers
• Strong exposure to acute care, critical care, or complex clinical environments
• Experience working with hospital accreditation and regulatory bodies
• GCC or international healthcare experience is an advantage

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional leadership, influence, and executive presence
• Deep understanding of nursing practice, patient care systems, and hospital operations
• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making abilities
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
• High emotional intelligence and people leadership capabilities
• Strong financial, workforce, and operational management skills
• Ability to lead large, diverse, and multidisciplinary teams
• Strong commitment to patient safety, ethics, and clinical excellence

Benefits & Compensation

• Highly competitive executive salary package
• Performance-based executive incentives
• Comprehensive healthcare and insurance benefits
• Paid annual leave as per Saudi labor law
• Relocation support and housing assistance (as applicable)
• Stable executive role within a leading healthcare organization
• Long-term leadership growth and succession opportunities
• Opportunity to shape nursing excellence and patient care at a strategic level

Why Join Us

This role offers an exceptional opportunity for a senior nursing leader to shape the future of nursing practice and patient care within a major healthcare institution. As Director of Nursing, you will play a pivotal role in driving clinical excellence, workforce development, and patient safety while contributing directly to the hospital’s strategic vision and long-term success.