Job description

Clinical Nurse Manager 3 (CNM3)

Location: Acute Hospitals across Ireland

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Salary: Competitive, aligned with senior nursing management scales

Reporting To: Director of Nursing / Assistant Director of Nursing

About the Role

We are seeking highly experienced and dynamic Clinical Nurse Manager 3 (CNM3) professionals to take on senior nursing leadership positions within Ireland’s leading hospitals.

As a CNM3, you will provide strategic leadership, operational oversight, and clinical governance across designated hospital departments. You will support the Director of Nursing and wider senior management team in shaping nursing practice, ensuring high standards of patient safety, and embedding continuous quality improvement.

This role requires strong leadership, the ability to manage multidisciplinary teams, and proven experience in managing resources in a complex acute hospital environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across multiple wards/departments within the hospital.

• Act as a key member of the senior nursing management team, contributing to hospital-wide governance, service development, and strategic planning.

• Oversee and coordinate the clinical and managerial performance of CNM1s, CNM2s, and other nursing staff.

• Ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality patient care in compliance with HIQA, JCI, and hospital standards.

• Lead on clinical governance, audit, accreditation, and risk management processes.

• Manage staffing, rostering, and workforce planning, ensuring effective allocation of resources.

• Drive service improvements and change management initiatives in line with best practice and evolving patient needs.

• Support the implementation of specialist programmes, innovation in patient care, and new clinical pathways.

• Act as a senior escalation point for complex clinical and operational issues.

• Promote a culture of continuous learning, evidence-based practice, and professional development.

• Collaborate with medical consultants, allied health professionals, and senior management to ensure integrated, patient-centred care.

Candidate Requirements

• Registered General Nurse (RGN) with active registration on the NMBI Register (or eligibility to register).

• Minimum 7-10 years post-registration experience, with at least 3-5 years in a senior nursing management role (CNM2 or equivalent).

• Proven experience in acute hospital settings (e.g., surgical, medical, theatre, ICU, ED, or specialist units).

• Strong track record in leadership, service development, and change management.

• In-depth knowledge of HIQA standards, clinical governance, and patient safety frameworks.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.

• Ability to manage budgets, staffing resources, and performance management systems.

• Relevant post-graduate qualification in healthcare/nursing management essential (e.g., MSc in Management/Leadership or equivalent).

• Evidence of ongoing professional development.

Benefits

• Senior management salary with additional benefits package.

• Pension scheme, healthcare cover, and hospital-specific perks.

• Access to funded postgraduate courses and CPD opportunities.

• Leadership role within state-of-the-art, expanding private hospital networks.

• Opportunity to influence service design and make a tangible impact on patient outcomes.