Assistant Clinical Manager (PACU)

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, a nationally recognized Level I Trauma Center, is seeking an Assistant Clinical Manager (ACM) for its 14 bed, 24-hour Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).

The ACM provides leadership, operational oversight, staff development, and clinical support to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality patient care.

The ACM serves as a clinical resource, coaches staff, promotes professional practice, and assists in achieving departmental and organizational goals.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Operations


* Supports daily PACU operations and patient flow.


* Assists with staffing, scheduling, productivity management, and bed capacity coordination.


* Serves as operational lead in the absence of the Clinical Manager.


* Collaborates with physicians, anesthesia providers, perioperative leadership, and ancillary departments to optimize patient care and throughput.


* Participates in strategic planning and department performance improvement initiatives.

Quality & Patient Safety


* Promotes a culture of safety, accountability, and service excellence.


* Monitors compliance with regulatory, accreditation, and organizational standards.


* Participates in quality improvement activities, audits, and data analysis.


* Assists with investigating safety events and developing corrective action plans.


* Supports implementation of evidence-based practices and clinical standards.

Staff Development & Engagement


* Provides coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback to staff.


* Supports onboarding, orientation, competency validation, and ongoing education.


* Encourages professional growth, certification, and shared governance participation.


* Assists with performance evaluations and employee relations activities.


* Fosters a collaborative and inclusive work environment.

Clinical Excellence


* Serves as a clinical resource for complex patient care situations.


* Supports adherence to department policies, procedures, and standards of care.


* Promotes patient-centered care and positive patient experiences.


* Assists in managing patient and family concerns and service recovery opportunities.

Minimum Qualifications


* Associate of Science and actively enrolled in Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)


* Current California Registered Nurse license.


* Minimum three years of recent PACU, ICU, or perioperative nursing experience.


* ACLS, BLS, and PALS from the American Heart Association (AHA).

Preferred Qualifications


* Two years previous charge nurse, lead nurse, educator, or supervisory experience.


* Leadership experience in an acute care hospital setting.


* Experience with quality improvement initiatives and regulatory compliance.


* Demonstrated ability to lead change, develop staff, and improve operational performance.


* Strong communication, conflict resolution, and team-building skills.


* CPAN certification ...