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Chief Nursing Officer

Department

Hospital Administration

Entity

Aga Khan University Hospital

Location

Nairobi, Kenya

Introduction

The Aga Khan University (AKU) is a leading private, not-for-profit institution dedicated to improving the quality of life through excellence in education, research, and healthcare delivery. As part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), AKU operates teaching hospitals and academic programs across Africa and Asia, delivering world-class, patient-centered care grounded in ethical and professional standards.

The Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi is seeking a dynamic, strategic, and experienced nursing leader to fill the position of Chief Nursing Officer (CNO). 

Responsibilities

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the CNO will provide overall leadership and strategic direction for nursing services and multidisciplinary care programs across the institution. This executive role is central to advancing clinical excellence, patient safety, professional practice standards, workforce development, and alignment with the Hospital’s strategic objectives.

Specific responsibilities will include:


  •  Strategic Leadership and Planning: Provide strategic leadership for nursing services aligned with the Hospital’s overall strategic plan, including the development, implementation, and monitoring of nursing strategic and operational plans with clear, measurable outcomes. This role provides executive oversight for a nursing workforce of over 700 nurses, with 10 direct reports, ensuring strategic alignment and operational effectiveness across all nursing services.
  • Nursing and Professional Practice Excellence: Lead the implementation of nursing and professional practice standards across the institution, ensuring delivery of evidence-based, high-quality, and patient-centered care, while establishing professional practice structures that support clinical quality, accreditation, continuous improvement, and compliance with JCIA standards.
  • Multidisciplinary Programs of Care: Oversee multidisciplinary clinical programs through the Directors of Nursing, foster effective collaboration among nursing, medical, allied health, and support teams, and standardize clinical processes to enhance care coordination, patient flow, and clinical documentation, with oversight of the provision of clinical care to 220+ inpatient beds on a daily basis.
  • Financial and Resource Management: Lead the development and management of nursing operational and capital budgets, optimize staffing levels, FTEs, and overall resource utilization through performance and utilization data, and oversee planning and management of space, renovations, and nursing-related infrastructure projects.
  • Performance and Talent Management: Set performance goals and oversee appraisal processes for nursing leadership and staff, champion staff development, succession planning, and continuous professional education, and promote a learning-oriented, high-performance culture within the nursing workforce.
  • Governance, Quality, and Patient Experience: Oversee quality management, patient safety, and service excellence initiatives; liaise with medical leadership on clinical governance, credentialing, and quality oversight; and uphold ethical standards, confidentiality, and a strong client-centered approach to care.
  • Participate in institutional committees and strategic initiatives as required and perform other duties as assigned by the Chief Executive Officer.
  • Leading nursing services in a highly competitive healthcare environment with increasing demand for skilled professionals.
  • Meeting and exceeding high patient expectations while maintaining quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will have:

  • Minimum of a Master of Science in Nursing with at least 10 years’ experience in senior nursing leadership roles within a complex healthcare environment
  • Registered and holding a current practicing license with the relevant Nursing Council.
  • Proven experience in strategic planning, quality management, and multidisciplinary clinical operations.
  • Demonstrated experience managing large teams and complex healthcare systems.
  • Strong strategic and visionary leadership capabilities.
  • Excellent interpersonal communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
  • Demonstrated financial acumen with experience in budget development and resource management.
  • Strong analytical, planning, project management, and problem-solving skills.
  • Commitment to professional ethics, continuous improvement, and lifelong learning.
  • Inspirational, transformational leadership grounded in integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
  • Collaborative, inclusive, and patient‑centered approach focused on team success and service excellence.

To Apply

​Interested candidates are requested to submit their applications addressed to The Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition via email hr.recruitment@aku.edu with the position title Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) in the subject line. Applications should include:

  •  A covering letter expressing interest and suitability for the role;
  • An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae;
  • Names and contact details of three referees (referees will only be approached at the final stage of the search and selection process, and only with the candidate’s express permission).

As an equal opportunity employer, AKU believes in promoting a diverse and inclusive culture and is committed to adopt appropriate standards for safeguarding and promoting a respectful relationship with and between diverse workforce of its faculty, staff, trainees, volunteers, beneficiaries, wider communities, and other stakeholders with whom it works, including children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees/trainees and partners to share this commitment.

Comprehensive employment reference checks for the finalists will be conducted.

Applications should be submitted latest by February 28, 2026