Director of Nursing

Director of Nursing (DON) - Senior Living / Skilled Nursing

Location: Columbia, South Carolina

Salary: $95,000 - $120,000 Bonus + Benefits

Type: Full-Time Senior Leadership Role

About the Role

We are currently partnering with a well-established senior living and skilled nursing operator in the Columbia market to appoint an experienced Director of Nursing (DON).

This is a key leadership role responsible for overseeing all clinical operations, leading the nursing team, and ensuring the highest standards of resident care, compliance, and operational stability across the community.

The ideal candidate will be a strong clinical leader with experience in long-term care, a calm and steady leadership style, and the ability to build and retain high-performing teams while maintaining excellent regulatory standards.

This opportunity offers genuine influence within the organization and the chance to work closely with Executive Leadership to shape both clinical outcomes and overall community performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction for all nursing services, including RNs, LPNs, CNAs, and direct-care staff
• Oversee day-to-day nursing operations across the community and ensure strong clinical standards are maintained
• Develop, implement, and monitor policies, procedures, and best practices to support compliance and high-quality care delivery
• Lead staffing, scheduling, recruitment, onboarding, and retention strategies for nursing teams
• Collaborate closely with the Executive Director / Administrator on budgets, staffing models, and operational planning
• Drive survey readiness and maintain compliance with CMS, state regulations, and quality standards
• Lead quality assurance and performance improvement initiatives, including infection prevention, medication management, resident safety, and resident satisfaction
• Support and mentor Nurse Managers, ADONs, and Unit Managers to strengthen internal leadership pipelines
• Act as a key contact for residents, families, physicians, and external healthcare partners
• Help shape a positive, team-oriented culture focused on resident-centered care and long-term stability

Qualifications & Experience

• Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in South Carolina (or ability to obtain)
• Minimum 5+ years of progressive nursing leadership experience within skilled nursing, long-term care, senior living, or a similar setting
• Strong knowledge of CMS regulations, compliance standards, and survey readiness
• Proven success improving staffing retention, team stability, and operational performance
• Experience managing budgets, staffing models, and nursing department performance
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Professional presence with a strong commitment to resident-centered care and clinical excellence

Preferred

• Previous experience as a Director of Nursing or Assistant Director of Nursing
• BSN or MSN preferred
• Multi-site, turnaround, or building stabilization experience
• Experience improving survey outcomes and returning facilities to compliance
• Strong understanding of reimbursement models and long-term care operations

Why This Role Stands Out

• Senior leadership opportunity with real operational influence
• Supportive executive team and strong organizational backing
• Competitive compensation package above market average
• Stable, growing organization with long-term career progression
• Opportunity to lead meaningful change and improve resident outcomes
• Columbia is one of the strongest senior living markets in South Carolina for leadership growth and advancement

Next Steps

If you're an experienced nursing leader open to exploring a role where you can make genuine impact, I'd be happy to share more details confidentially.

We're seeing increasing demand for strong clinical leadership across South Carolina, and this is one of several Director of Nursing opportunities currently active within the market.