Job Description

Requisition No: 876705

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: NURSING PROGRAM SPECIALIST - 60064530

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60064530

Salary: $40,684.10 - $92,853.80 Annually

Posting Closing Date: 06/15/2026

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The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) isthe state of Florida’s social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking and public assistance. The agency’s mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program office is recognized as the single state authority for substance abuse and mental health services. The Office of SAMH is statutorily responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide system of care for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders.

Northeast Florida State Hospital (NEFSH) is a 706-bed, licensed mental health treatment facility that provides person-centered services to adults suffering from severe and persistent mental illness. The hospital, located in Macclenny, was established in 1959 and is the largest state operated civil treatment facility.

NORTHEAST FLORIDA STATE HOSPITAL IS A TOBACCO FREE FACILITY.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as the Nursing Program Specialist within ourQuality Improvement Department. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team player who works seamlessly across all sections within the program office. This role requires the use of independent judgment, a proactive approach to responsibilities, and exceptional attention to detail. If you are driven, organized, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:

This is a highly professional position in the Quality Improvement Department at Northeast Florida State Hospital (NEFSH), primarily responsible for auditing the delivery of medical and/or nursing services in the hospital. The incumbent will provide instruction and education to nursing staff as needed, the incumbent will also monitor and advise on corrective action plans. This position will be the back up for completing the uttilization review activities in the distinct part unit of the hospital. This position will work closely with the two other Nursing Program Specialists in the QI Department and assist with audits and follow up needed by the Risk Management Department. This position is supervised by the Director of the Quality Improvement Department.

• Conducts analyses of medical services, including mental health and primary care services. Works closely with the Medical Executive Director in developing, reviewing, and making recommendations for improvements in psychiatric and medical processes. Assists MED in ensuring compliance with applicable federal and state standards of care for medical and psychiatric services.
• Develops and conducts training on quality management topics with medical staff. Conducts evaluations on impact of training on improvement of medical processes and services. Obtains and disseminates literature on relevant quality management topics to medical staff and management.
• Assists medical supervisors and staff with the development and/or revision of medical policies and procedures as needed. Reviews procedures for adherence to best practice standards.
• Assists other departments with Continuous Quality Improvement projects, including planning, work mearsurement, and/or improving quality control. May serve as a Project Manager (Leader) or as a Team Member to fulfill this function.
• Participates in peer review audits of medical/health services at other facilities as required.
• Performs other related duties as needed.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of the theories and concepts of preventive health care.
• Knowledge of nursing principles, practices and techniques in specialized areas.
• Knowledge of human anatomy and physiology.
• Knowledge of community resources and organizations.
• Knowledge of the principles of adult learning.
• Skill in the application of nursing theory in specialized areas.
• Ability to teach professional nurses.
• Ability to assess and prioritize service and personnel needs in a specialized area.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to coordinate and evaluate a specialized or educational nursing program.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse in accordance with Florida Statute 464 or eligible to practice nursing in accordance with Florida Administrative Code 210-8.27 and a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in nursing or a related field and two years of nursing experience.
• A master's degree from an accredited college or university in nursing, nursing education, public health, or a related field may substitute for one year of the nursing experience.
• Professional nursing experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required college education.

Candidate Profile (application) Requirements:

Candidate Profile (application) must be complete in its entirety.

• Work History - entered with the most recent/current listed first:
• Any and all State of Florida jobs
• Any and all Florida University jobs
• All periods of employment
• Periods of unemployment
• Gaps 3 months or more*
• Education
• Volunteer Experience
• Include supervisor names and phone numbers including current place of employment.
• * Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed – you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.
• If claiming Right to First Interview, candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions.

If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

• Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits.
• For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com

DCF EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURES

US CITIZEN REQUIREMENTOnly US citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM REGISTRATION All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS). Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov

RETIREE NOTICE If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.

BACKGROUND SCREENING It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and, if applicable, also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and Chapter 408, F.S. No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency. Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.