AVP Nursing Institute

At Memorial Hermann, we pursue a common goal of delivering high quality, efficient care while creating exceptional experiences for every member of our community. When we say every member of our community, that includes our employees. We know that when our employees feel cared for, heard and valued, they are inspired to create moments that exceed expectations, while prioritizing safety, compassion, personalization and efficiency. If you want to advance your career and contribute to our vision of creating healthier communities, now and for generations to come, we want you to be a part of our team.

Job Summary

The AVP, Nursing Institute provides enterprise-wide leadership to advance nursing excellence across a multi campus health system. This leader is responisble for the strategy, operations, growth, research, and external impact of Memorial Hermann’s Nursing Institute. Provides enterprise-wide leadership to advance nursing excellence while partnering across interdisciplinary clinical teams to redesign care delivery models, elevate clinical practice, and strengthen the work environment. This role amplifies the voice of nurses and clinical professionals, drives evidence-based practice transformation, and positions Memorial Hermann as a national leader in clinical innovation, nursing science, education, and integrated practice advancement.
The AVP, Nursing Institute is also responsible for integrating all operational, academic, research, innovation, and business development functions of the Institute to ensure alignment with system strategy, nursing priorities, regulatory standards, and sound financial stewardship. This leader establishes and sustains internal and external partnerships, drives program expansion and diversified funding, and sets new benchmarks for nursing- and clinically driven outcomes, implementation science, and system-wide standardization. This role reports to the System Chief Nursing Executive.

Job Description

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing required. Master’s degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, Business, or related field required. Doctorate (DNP or PhD) preferred.

Licenses/Certifications: 

• Current State of Texas license or temporary/compact license to practice professional nursing (if clinically based).

Experience / Knowledge / Skills:  

• Seven (7) years of progressive nursing or healthcare leadership experience with enterprise or system-level scope or exposure required

• Five (5) years of direct clinical experience required

• Must have demonstrated experience leading large-scale operations, research programs, innovation initiatives, and strategic growth portfolios

• Must have demonstrated experience leading interdisciplinary initiatives and influencing outcomes without direct operational authority.

• Must have demonstrated expertise in financial planning, P&L oversight, capital planning, and diversified funding models

• Experience negotiating and managing academic, industry, and community partnerships and contracts require

• Deep understanding of healthcare quality improvement, research infrastructure, and human subject research regulations (FDA, OHRP, CMS) required

• Exceptional executive communication, facilitation, analytical, and presentation skills required

Principal Accountabilities

• Provides leadership and accountability for the Nursing Institute, establishing the vision, mission, strategic priorities, and enterprise metrics aligned with Memorial Hermann’s system nursing, clinical, quality, and workforce strategies

• Oversees all operational functions of the Institute, including nursing- and clinically aligned research, innovation initiatives, academic and community partnerships, education programs, simulation, and business development activities, ensuring system integration and scalability

• Provides centralized governance and strategic oversight for Magnet® designation and redesignation across the system, including infrastructure development, performance monitoring, and sustained excellence

• Partners with system and facility nursing leaders to align Magnet strategy with professional practice models, shared governance, workforce engagement, quality outcomes, and enterprise priorities

• Leads, builds, and continuously advances a cutting-edge, interdisciplinary Simulation Center supporting workforce onboarding, competency validation, interdisciplinary team training, safety initiatives, and new care model development

• Establishes and executes multi-year strategic, operational, and financial plans, including annual operating budgets, capital investments, resource allocation, and P&L oversight across multiple funding streams

• Diversifies and optimizes funding through competitive grants, industry collaborations, philanthropy, sponsored research, and internally funded initiatives that support Institute sustainability and growth

• Develops, grows, and governs nursing and clinically aligned research and implementation science portfolios, ensuring scientific rigor, regulatory compliance, and operational feasibility

• Serves as executive sponsor for research compliance, ensuring adherence to Practice Acts, Joint Commission standards, FDA, OHRP, CMS, and Memorial Hermann policies

• Leads negotiation, execution, and lifecycle management of MOUs, partnership agreements, and funded contracts with academic institutions, industry, and community organizations

• Collaborates with nursing, medical, operational, IT, innovation, finance, and quality leaders to drive integrated practice transformation, standardization, and technology-enabled care delivery improvements

• Establishes governance structures, SOPs, and review processes that reduce implementation burden, streamline workflows, and ensure consistent adoption of best practices across the system

• Oversees comprehensive performance measurement, benchmarking, analytics, and reporting to identify trends, assess impact, and drive continuous improvement

• Serves as a national nursing and clinical thought leader through publications, presentations, and representation at professional, academic, and industry forums

• Builds, mentors, and sustains a high-performing leadership team; oversees talent selection, development, succession planning, and retention

• Prepares and delivers routine executive-level updates to senior leadership

• Ensures safe care to patients, staff and visitors; adheres to all Memorial Hermann policies, procedures, and standards within budgetary specifications including time management, supply management, productivity and quality of service.

• Promotes individual professional growth and development by meeting requirements for mandatory/continuing education and skills competency; supports department-based goals which contribute to the success of the organization; serves as preceptor, mentor and resource to less experienced staff.

• Demonstrates commitment to caring for every member of our community by creating compassionate and personalized experiences. Models Memorial Hermann’s service standards by providing safe, caring, personalized and efficient experiences to patients and colleagues.

• ​Other duties as assigned.