How to hire a unit director

How to hire a unit director, step by step

Here's a step-by-step unit director hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a unit director job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new unit director
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a unit director do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a unit director, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect unit director also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents unit director salaries for various positions.

   Type of Unit Director	Description	Hourly rate
   Unit Director	Medical and health services managers, also called healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health services. They might manage an entire facility, a specific clinical area or department, or a medical practice for a group of physicians... Show more	$20-62
   Director Of Professional Services	A director of professional services is responsible for evaluating and improving the professional services offered by the firm. Directors of professional services assess the operational processes and systems to ensure high-quality outputs and deliverables... Show more	$45-99
   Director Of Clinical Operations	A director of clinical operations is responsible for monitoring the overall operations of a clinic facility, ensuring the efficiency of staff performance in providing the best quality care services for the patients. Directors of clinical operations enforce safety guidelines and security procedures during operations for everyone's strict compliance to prevent hazards and unforeseen circumstances within the premises... Show more	$40-95

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Patient Care
   • Customer Service
   • Cleanliness
   • Staff Development
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Oversight
   • Direct Supervision
   • Facilitates Achievement
   • Payroll
   • ICU
   • Facilities Management
   • Performance Evaluations
   • Alzheimer

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Prepare and manage payroll and purchasing, which include balancing of accounts within budgetary limits; establish daily interaction with clients.
   • Manage operational organizing of stock and equipment, order supplies and oversee building maintenance, cleanliness and security.
   • Provide case management services to residents in the Alzheimer's unit.
   • Migrate all operations to a new ERP and retail system with a successful implementation.
   • Develop and implement a program which assure quality of life for mid- stage Alzheimer's residents.
   • Oversee labor, as well as, payroll, purchases, complete work orders, and operating supplies.

   More unit director duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your unit director job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A unit director salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a unit director in Kentucky may be lower than in Connecticut, and an entry-level unit director usually earns less than a senior-level unit director. Additionally, a unit director with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average unit director salary

   $74,346yearly

   $35.74 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level unit director salary

   $42,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average unit director salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Connecticut	$101,544	$49
   2	New York	$99,815	$48
   3	Delaware	$95,185	$46
   4	New Hampshire	$88,874	$43
   5	Virginia	$87,484	$42
   6	California	$84,646	$41
   7	Massachusetts	$83,660	$40
   8	Pennsylvania	$78,391	$38
   9	Missouri	$78,152	$38
   10	Minnesota	$74,724	$36
   11	Ohio	$73,650	$35
   12	Michigan	$72,120	$35
   13	Maryland	$72,115	$35
   14	Florida	$71,916	$35
   15	South Carolina	$71,764	$35
   16	Illinois	$69,425	$33
   17	Arkansas	$69,264	$33
   18	Tennessee	$68,791	$33
   19	Georgia	$65,180	$31
   20	North Carolina	$64,860	$31

   Average unit director salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Palo Alto Networks	$167,917	$80.73	2
   2	Deutsche Bank	$123,592	$59.42
   3	Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.	$99,360	$47.77	24
   4	GradyHealth	$93,297	$44.85	5
   5	University of California	$93,265	$44.84	16
   6	CNA Insurance	$90,887	$43.70
   7	University of California-Berkeley	$87,556	$42.09	1
   8	ProMedica Toledo Hospital	$85,119	$40.92	1
   9	Goodwin Recruiting	$83,462	$40.13
   10	Acadia Healthcare	$81,861	$39.36	69
   11	Emory Healthcare	$81,384	$39.13	20
   12	CNA Holding Corporation	$80,824	$38.86
   13	Xanitos	$80,824	$38.86	1
   14	Clinical Management Consultants	$80,725	$38.81
   15	Huntsville Hospital	$80,506	$38.70	1
   16	Universal Health Services	$80,275	$38.59	107
   17	Catholic Medical Center	$79,663	$38.30	1
   18	Arnot Health	$79,550	$38.25	1
   19	Greenfield-Central High School	$78,697	$37.84
   20	UPMC	$78,470	$37.73	28

4. Writing a unit director job description

   A unit director job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a unit director job description:

   Unit director job description example

   Heart. Soul. Expertise. That's what defines an Emory nurse. No matter where you are in your nursing career, when you chose this distinguished profession, you chose to change lives. We are proud to be the only health system in Georgia with four Magnet®-recognized hospitals: Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital, Emory University Hospital, Emory University Orthopedics and Spine Hospital and Emory Johns Creek.
   
   Our nurses are integral members of inter-professional teams in hospitals and clinics that are committed to outstanding patient care. We're eager to share what we learn with hospitals around the country, and the world. We've got the backing, knowledge, experience and permission to lead the way in developing new and better approaches to preventing and treating disease, and our patients get treatments years before anyone else.
   
   3S-Emory Healthcare would like to invite you to join our 22 bed GI unit. We have SIBR rounds which enhances our collaborative relationship with our doctors and we are a dedicated teaching unit for nursing students.
   
   3SW-Emory Healthcare would like to invite you to join our 22 bed GI/Bariatric unit with a mixture of Med/Surg patients. This unit is part of the New Kaiser expansion and on its journey to becoming a Bariatric Center of Excellence.
   We're defining a new standard of care for humankind. Are YOU ready to join us?
   
   Description
   
   The shift for this position is 8a-4:30p.
   
   JOB DESCRIPTION:
   Directs all aspects of management and ensures the provision of optimum patient care for a nursing unit; provides leadership in the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies, procedures, strategies, and services for the unit. Prepares, develops, and submits department budget to nursing administration for final approval. Monitors expenditures to ensure compliance with fiscal constraints and explains any variances. Directs the allocation of resources within selected areas through planning, budget process, analysis of statistical reports and other pertinent information. Directs and supervises nursing staff. Develops, implements, and coordinates continuous quality/ performance improvement to enhance clinical practice and administrative process. Ensures the competence of department staff and their understanding of policies and regulations pertaining to nursing services; oversees the provision of care, and monitors staff compliance with organizational and regulatory agency requirements. Develops and interprets departmental short and long term goals and objectives. Meets with other staff members to discuss progress and to develop future courses of action. Analyzes departmental strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and constraints. Identifies measurable objectives and monitors progress toward the achievement of specified goals in keeping with operational standards. Establishes, revises, administers and communicates policies, procedures and related forms in accordance with state, federal, and organizational guidelines. Communicates and monitors compliance with regulatory, licensing and accreditation standards. Prepares staffing plan, reviews and approves work schedules to ensure adequate staff coverage around the clock. Projects staffing needs, interviews and hires employees to fill vacant positions; resolves staffing issues. Monitors patient care and analyzes nursing care patterns and initiates quality improvement procedures to enhance patient services; ensures a safe, therapeutic environment. Initiates patient placement to ensure the delivery of optimal nursing care and arranges for continuity of care when warranted by patient condition. Directs the provision of personalized, coordinated quality services responsive to changing health care trends. Coordinates and establishes nursing care practices; uses selected nursing practice theory as a framework for coordinating patient care and by providing theory based nursing practice information in unusual or complex patient care situations. Works with manager to formulate plan for professional development. Attends educational in-services as appropriate. Participates in professional activities and organizations to maintain knowledge of current trends, practices, and developments. Maintains records on departmental personnel activities and processes. Uses information systems to retrieve, implement, and retain essential records and services. Maintains integrity and confidentiality of management and clinical information. Actively participates in ongoing or ad hoc committees or task forces to identify and resolve patient care issues. Directs development of priority competencies (technical skills, critical thinking, human relations skills) for each type of staff on selected areas within a clinical service line. Supports clinical research and conducts or participates in studies to improve clinical, educational and organizational performance within the clinical service line. Performs other related duties as required.
   
   MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
   Graduate of an accredited school of nursing. Master's degree required. Either Bachelor's or Master's degree must be in Nursing. Must have a valid, active unencumbered Nursing license or temporary permit approved by the Georgia Licensing Board. Five years of experience which includes three years of clinical nursing and 2 years of nursing leadership. BLS required. Some jobs in this classification may require ACLS and Healthcare Provider certifications.
   
   PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
   
   (Medium): 20-50 lbs; 0-33% of the work day (occasionally); 11-25 lbs, 34-66% of the workday (frequently); 01-10 lbs, 67-100% of the workday (constantly); Lifting 50 lbs max; Carrying of objects up to 25 lbs; Occasional to frequent standing & walking, Occasional sitting, Close eye work (computers, typing, reading, writing), Physical demands may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.
   
   ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS:
   
   Factors affecting environment conditions may vary depending on the assigned work area and tasks. Environmental exposures include, but are not limited to: Blood-borne pathogen exposure Bio-hazardous waste Chemicals/gases/fumes/vapors Communicable diseases Electrical shock, Floor Surfaces, Hot/Cold Temperatures, Indoor/Outdoor conditions, Latex, Lighting, Patient care/handling injuries, Radiation, Shift work, Travel may be required. Use of personal protective equipment, including respirators, environmental conditions may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right unit director for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your unit director job on Zippia to find and recruit unit director candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with unit director candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new unit director

   Once you've decided on a perfect unit director candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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