Nurse Manager — Labor & Delivery & Postpartum

Howard University Hospital  |  Washington, DC

Role Summary

As a Nurse Manager — Labor & Delivery & Postpartum at Howard University Hospital, you will provide operational and clinical leadership for two of our most dynamic and mission-critical units — Labor & Delivery and Postpartum / Mother-Baby — within our comprehensive Women and Infant Services program. Reporting to the Director of Women and Infant Services, you will oversee daily operations, staffing, quality outcomes, regulatory compliance, and patient care delivery across both units, ensuring a seamless continuum of safe, high-quality, family-centered care for our patients from admission through discharge.

You will collaborate with obstetricians, neonatologists, nursing leadership, and interdisciplinary teams to advance clinical excellence, build a high-performing nursing team, and sustain the standards of practice that define HUH as a premier perinatal care destination in the Washington, DC metro area.

What You’ll Do

Operations & Staffing

• Lead daily operations of the Labor & Delivery and Postpartum / Mother-Baby units, ensuring safe staffing levels, efficient workflows, and consistent delivery of patient- and family-centered care
• Develop, manage, and adjust staffing plans and scheduling across both units to maintain safe clinical coverage at all times, including nights, weekends, and holidays
• Provide direct clinical care as needed to support staffing continuity, patient safety, and unit operations
• Coordinate with Women and Infant Services leadership on unit capacity, throughput, and patient flow between L&D, Postpartum, and the NICU

Staff Development & Performance

• Supervise, develop, coach, and evaluate nursing and support staff across both units; conduct performance appraisals and implement performance improvement plans as needed
• Partner with the NICU Nurse Educator and other clinical educators to support onboarding, orientation, and ongoing competency for L&D and Postpartum staff
• Foster a professional practice environment grounded in HUH’s CARES values, shared governance principles, and a Just Culture framework
• Champion staff engagement, retention, and professional development across both units

Quality, Safety & Patient Experience

• Monitor, analyze, and act on quality, safety, and patient experience data; identify practice gaps and implement evidence-based interventions to drive continuous improvement
• Lead unit-level performance improvement initiatives and participate in department- and hospital-level PI activities and committees
• Ensure sustained readiness for obstetric emergencies including postpartum hemorrhage, shoulder dystocia, cord prolapse, eclampsia, and maternal sepsis; oversee emergency drills, debriefs, and bundle compliance
• Monitor perinatal quality metrics including elective delivery rates, oxytocin safety, hemorrhage bundle activation rates, skin-to-skin compliance, and breastfeeding initiation
• Promote safe patient handling, infection prevention, and medication safety practices in alignment with institutional policies

Regulatory Compliance & Finance

• Ensure unit compliance with Joint Commission, CMS, DC Department of Health, and other applicable perinatal care standards and regulatory requirements
• Support budget monitoring and responsible resource utilization; identify opportunities for operational efficiency without compromising care quality
• Promote adherence to the Health Sciences Compliance Program, Howard University Code of Ethics, Health Sciences Standards of Conduct, and HIPAA; attend all mandatory compliance training
• Maintain strict confidentiality of patients, families, and staff

Strategic Leadership & Collaboration

• Partner with obstetricians, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, neonatologists, lactation consultants, social workers, and other interdisciplinary team members to optimize care coordination and outcomes
• Participate in shared governance councils and committees at the unit, department, and hospital levels
• Support strategic initiatives, program development, and growth of Women and Infant Services
• Serve as a visible and accessible leader who models clinical excellence, professional accountability, and compassionate care

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN) required; Master’s Degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or a related field preferred
• Current Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in the District of Columbia required
• Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certifications through the American Heart Association required
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification required
• Minimum five (5) years of clinical nursing experience, including at least three (3) years in a Labor & Delivery or Women’s Services setting
• Minimum two (2) years of nursing leadership, charge, or supervisory experience in a clinical setting
• Demonstrated knowledge of perinatal quality standards, obstetric safety bundles, and evidence-based practice
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and performance improvement skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Nationally recognized certification in obstetric nursing (e.g., RNC-OB) or nursing leadership (e.g., NE-BC, CENP)
• AWHONN Intermediate or Advanced Fetal Heart Monitoring certification
• Experience managing multiple clinical units or a combined L&D / Mother-Baby service line
• Familiarity with AIM (Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health) safety bundles and perinatal core measures
• Experience with Joint Commission survey preparation and regulatory readiness in an obstetric setting

About Howard University Hospital

Howard University Hospital (HUH) is the nation’s only teaching hospital located on the campus of a historically Black university. With a legacy dating back to 1862 — when it operated as Freedmen’s Hospital, providing care and refuge to those who had been denied it elsewhere — HUH has grown into one of the most comprehensive healthcare facilities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and is a designated DC Level 1 Trauma Center. Today, HUH continues its proud tradition of delivering exemplary, patient-centered, and culturally responsive care to the community, while providing exceptional learning and professional development opportunities for the next generation of healthcare professionals.

What We Offer

• Work-life balance
• Recognition and rewards for professional expertise
• Competitive, comprehensive benefit plans including health, disability, vacation, sick leave, and 403(b) retirement plan
• Tuition remission at Howard University for you and/or eligible dependent children — up to two (2) courses per semester
• A mission-driven environment rooted in over 150 years of excellence, service, and advocacy for the communities we serve

Position Details

Pay & Schedule

This is a full-time, exempt position. Salary range: $94,842 – $151,746 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Compliance Statements

Culture of Care: Howard University Hospital supports a Just Culture that promotes accountability, learning, and patient safety.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Howard University Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Reasonable Accommodation: Howard University Hospital is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state and local laws. If you require an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Department at HUHLA@huhosp.org.

Pay Transparency: Salary ranges listed in job postings reflect the expected compensation range for the position and are provided in accordance with applicable pay transparency laws. Final compensation is determined based on experience, education, internal equity, and other relevant factors.

Disclaimer: The above statements describe the general nature and level of work performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position.