Director of Nursing (RN) at Pillar Care Continuum – East Hanover, New Jersey

Location: East Hanover, NJ

Job Type: Full Time | Director Level

ABOUT PILLAR CARE CONTINUUM

Pillar Care Continuum is dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with disabilities and other special needs by supporting personal growth, independence and participation in the community. Founded in 1953 to meet the needs of children with cerebral palsy and their families, Pillar Care has steadily grown and now delivers life-affirming services to infants, children, adults and their families throughout northern New Jersey through 27 program locations. Pillar Care provides specialized programs to meet a wide range of educational, therapeutic, and social needs of people with various disabilities. The agency serves over 1,650 families each year and employs 700 full- and part-time employees.

Position Overview
Pillar Care Continuum (PCC) is seeking a dynamic and compassionate Director of Nursing (DON) to provide strategic clinical leadership and elevate the quality of care across our Residential Group Homes and Day Programs. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced nurse leader to shape clinical operations, drive excellence, and make a meaningful impact on the individuals and communities we serve.

The Director of Nursing oversees all clinical services, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, compliant, and person-centered care. This role plays a critical part in strengthening clinical outcomes, optimizing efficiency, and empowering nursing and direct support teams.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Operations

• Partner with senior leadership to define and execute strategic initiatives that advance clinical excellence.
• Collaborate with Operations and HR to support onboarding, training, and staff development aligned with PCC’s mission and values.
• Analyze data, audits, and stakeholder feedback to identify trends, improve performance, and enhance engagement.
• Maintain and continuously improve policies, procedures, and clinical practices to ensure compliance with NJ Department of Health, DDD, HCBS, and DHS regulations.
• Lead quality assurance initiatives, including chart audits and regulatory readiness activities.

Clinical Leadership & Oversight

• Provide leadership and oversight of all clinical operations across residential and day program settings.
• Supervise, mentor, and support RN and LPN staff to ensure safe, high-quality, evidence-based care.
• Oversee medication administration protocols and maintain clinical authority across all sites.
• Serve as a liaison between nursing staff, direct care teams, families/guardians, and external providers.
• Ensure timely, accurate clinical documentation and compliance with regulatory standards.
• Lead continuous quality improvement efforts to enhance care delivery and outcomes.

Clinical Case Management

• Conduct comprehensive assessments and develop individualized care plans.
• Review and approve health and nursing components of Individualized Service Plans (ISPs) in accordance with DDD standards.
• Provide direct clinical care when needed, including wound care, IV therapy, and medication management.
• Participate in on-call rotation to support after-hours clinical needs.
• Oversee medication administration, monthly reviews, and error resolution.
• Manage training and certification for medication administration across residential programs.
• Ensure coordination and documentation of medical appointments across all programs.
• Regular travel (daily/weekly) throughout New Jersey to provide clinical oversight and meet supervisory visit standards across multiple group home locations

Skills & Competencies

• Proven leadership in clinical team supervision and performance management
• Strong understanding of infection control, medication management, and regulatory compliance
• Excellent communication, organization, and critical thinking skills
• Collaborative, results-driven approach with a passion for mentorship and continuous improvement

Qualifications

• Active, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in New Jersey (Required)
• Minimum of 7 years of clinical experience, including at least 2 years in a supervisory or management role (Required)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN); Master’s in Health Administration or Public Health strongly preferred
• Experience in DDD, home care, home health, geriatrics, or infusion services
• Strong knowledge of NJ DDD regulations, HCBS waiver requirements, and medication administration standards
• Experience supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and/or behavioral health needs

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary : $ 105,000-$115,000 annually

Pillar Care takes into consideration a combination of candidate’s work

experience and qualification as well as the scope of the role,

complexity and external market and internal market value when

determining salary level.

Benefits:

Competitive Insurance Benefits

(Medical, Dental, Vision, EAP, Life Insurance)

Flexible Spending Account/Health Reimbursement Account

Paid Holidays; Generous PTO

401K with Employer Matching

Educational Assistance Program

This job description is a brief listing of the functions and requirements of the position named above. It is not intended to serve as a contract for employment nor to list in specific detail every aspect of the job nor to limit the performance of those duties. Other tasks may be assigned as deemed necessary by agency administration.

Every Pillar Care employee is responsible for the implementation of the Exposure Control Plan (ECP). As specified in our exposure control plan this position is classified as: Category 2

Category 2

Employees who perform tasks that involve no exposure to blood ·or body fluids but may perform unplanned procedures usually performed by Category I employees.