Chief Nursing Officer; CNO Behavioral Health

Overview

Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) – East Tennessee Behavioral Health
Knoxville, TN | Relocation Assistance Available

Step Into a Leadership Role That Truly Makes a Difference

Are you an experienced, mission‑driven nursing leader ready to shape care at the executive level? Join East Tennessee Behavioral Health, a modern, state‑of‑the‑art behavioral health facility, and become part of Acadia Healthcare, the nation’s largest stand‑alone provider of mental health and addiction treatment.

About East Tennessee Behavioral Health

Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, East Tennessee Behavioral Health is a 90‑bed inpatient hospital providing specialized treatment for adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients facing acute behavioral health challenges.

Your Impact as Chief Nursing Officer

As CNO, you will be a key member of the hospital’s executive leadership team. You’ll guide nursing strategy, oversee clinical operations, and lead high‑performing teams — all with a focus on safety, quality, and dignity in patient care.

What’s In It For You?

• Relocation Assistance & or Sign‑On Bonus – We’ll support your move and welcome you with a generous bonus.
• Professional Growth & Career Pathing – From Corporate Nursing to CEO‑in‑Training, your development is our priority.
• Competitive Salary & Bonuses
• Comprehensive Health Benefits – Medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with Company Match
• Generous PTO – Includes vacation, holidays, extended sick leave, and mental health days.
• Industry‑Leading Training & Support – You’ll be paired with a corporate nurse executive mentor from day one.

What You’ll Do:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership to the nursing department
• Lead, mentor, and develop nursing staff across all units
• Ensure compliance with TJC, CMS, and other regulatory standards and maintain survey readiness
• Oversee nursing budgets, staffing, recruitment, and scheduling
• Collaborate closely with physicians, administrative leaders, and multidisciplinary teams
• Monitor patient outcomes and drive continuous improvement in clinical care delivery
• Participate in executive decision‑making and long‑term facility planning

How We’ll Support You:

While each of our hospitals operates independently, you’ll never be alone. You’ll receive hands‑on support from:

• Corporate nurse leadership for ongoing mentorship and guidance
• Corporate recruiting to help you build a strong clinical team
• Access to Acadia’s CEO‑in‑Training Program if you’re looking to grow into hospital operations leadership

What You Bring:

• Active RN license (Tennessee or eligible for reciprocity)
• Significant nursing leadership experience (CNO, DON, or equivalent)
• Behavioral health or psychiatric inpatient experience strongly preferred
• Strong operational, strategic, and interpersonal skills

• Master’s degree in nursing or mental health nursing strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in nursing or commensurate experience required.
• 10+ Years RN experience preferred. 6 years RN experience required.
• RN License in the state of TN required.
• Nursing leadership experience in a freestanding psychiatric hospital strongly preferred.
• Prior CNO/DON experience strongly preferred.
• 2 years behavioral health experience as an RN in an inpatient psychiatric setting required.
• 3 years of progressive nursing management or administrative nursing experience required.

Only candidates with Behavioral Health experience as an RN in an inpatient psychiatric setting will be considered for this role.

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment regardless of an individual’s characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and local laws.

We’re so grateful for every application we receive. While we carefully review each one, we may only be able to contact those whose experience most closely matches the role. Thank you for understanding and for considering us in your job search.