About this opportunity
Elderwood Administrative Services lists this RN - Director of Nursing - Assisted Living opportunity in bellevue, New York. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
Salary
Up to $105,000 / year
Overview
Director of Nursing (RN) – Assisted Living Program
Elderwood Assisted Living at Cheektowaga | Cheektowaga, NY Full-time | Onsite leadership position
Lead With Purpose. Support Independence. Build a Nursing Culture That Lasts.
Elderwood Assisted Living at Cheektowaga is seeking an accomplished, people-centered Registered Nurse to lead Resident Care Services and the community’s nursing operations.
This is a visible leadership opportunity within a 77-bed, New York State-certified Assisted Living Program. As Director of Nursing, you will establish clinical expectations, develop employees, oversee resident assessments and care delivery, maintain regulatory readiness, and partner with the Administrator to help residents remain safe, supported, and as independent as possible.
Assisted-living nursing requires a thoughtful balance. Residents call this community home and value their autonomy, routines, relationships, and personal choices. At the same time, their needs may change, requiring strong assessment, early intervention, careful coordination, and clear communication with families and healthcare providers.
The right Director of Nursing will understand how to provide that clinical leadership without losing sight of the dignity, independence, and quality of life at the center of assisted living.
About Elderwood Assisted Living at Cheektowaga
Elderwood Assisted Living at Cheektowaga is a close-knit community offering assisted living, personal care, respite care, and round-the-clock nursing supervision. Our New York State-certified Assisted Living Program helps residents age in place by providing the right level of clinical and personal-care support as their needs evolve.
The community is part of a broader Elderwood campus that also includes independent living and skilled nursing with subacute rehabilitation. This continuum creates opportunities for thoughtful coordination as residents’ needs change.
Why This Role Matters
As Director of Nursing, you will influence nearly every part of the resident and employee experience:
Establish clear clinical and resident-care standards
Oversee Resident Care Services and all direct care provided by nursing and resident-care employees
Build, coach, schedule, and retain a dependable care team
Assess residents at admission, readmission, and when needs change
Strengthen communication with residents, families, providers, pharmacy, and community partners
Maintain readiness for New York State Department of Health reviews
Align staffing, workflows, documentation, and resources with resident needs
Partner with the Administrator on quality, operations, budgeting, and community priorities
Help residents remain safely in the community for as long as their needs can be appropriately supported
This is a position where steady, visible leadership can create meaningful and lasting change.
Build the Next Stage of Your Nursing Leadership Career
Elderwood is committed to developing strong clinical leaders.
Eligible Directors of Nursing may be considered for participation in Widener University’s 12-week Director of Nursing Leadership Academy - one of a limited number of professional-development programs designed specifically for current and aspiring DONs.
The academy combines flexible online coursework, leadership coaching, faculty mentorship, and an immersive campus experience. Participants strengthen practical skills in communication, decision-making, workforce retention, financial management, strategic planning, change leadership, and organizational problem-solving while earning 30 continuing education units.
For a nursing leader who wants to make an immediate impact while continuing to grow professionally, Elderwood offers an opportunity to lead with the resources of a larger healthcare organization behind you.
Who Thrives in This Role?
You may be a strong fit if you:
Lead with presence, consistency, fairness, and follow-through
Understand that assisted living must balance resident independence with safety and clinical oversight
Build trust with residents, families, employees, and providers
Set clear expectations and hold employees accountable respectfully
Recognize changes in condition and ensure timely intervention
Make thoughtful admission and readmission decisions
Remain composed when priorities change or urgent needs arise
Understand staffing, scheduling, budgeting, and regulatory responsibilities
Are willing to participate meaningfully in on-call coverage
Want a leadership role where your decisions are visible and consequential
Lead Close to Home
Elderwood Assisted Living at Cheektowaga is conveniently located for nursing leaders throughout Cheektowaga, West Seneca, Depew, Lancaster, Sloan, South Buffalo, and Buffalo’s eastern neighborhoods.
Located near I-90 and accessible from Route 33 and other major local corridors, the community may also offer a practical commute from Lackawanna, Williamsville, Amherst, Clarence, Elma, Alden, Orchard Park, and surrounding Erie County communities.
Responsibilities
What You’ll Lead as Director of Nursing (RN) of this Assisted Living Program:
Resident care and clinical oversight
Direct Resident Care Services and oversee the quality and consistency of care provided by nursing and resident-care employees
Evaluate prospective residents before admission and determine whether their needs can be safely and appropriately supported
Complete admission and readmission assessments
Review medical and social histories, physician orders, hospital information, and transfer documentation
Conduct hospital assessments when necessary to support safe readmission decisions
Monitor resident status and ensure changes in condition are recognized, communicated, documented, and addressed
Coordinate with healthcare providers, pharmacy, hospitals, families, and other care partners
Help residents and families understand care needs, available services, and changes to the resident’s plan
Promote resident rights, dignity, independence, preferences, and quality of life
Employee leadership and development
Lead staffing, scheduling, training, performance management, and personnel functions for Resident Care Services
Establish clear expectations for nursing and resident-care employees
Maintain a visible, accessible leadership presence throughout the community
Coach employees and address performance concerns promptly and consistently
Support orientation, competency development, continuing education, and regulatory training
Build accountability while maintaining respectful, professional communication
Evaluate staffing patterns and adjust resources to reflect resident acuity and operational needs
Partner with Human Resources and recruitment teams on hiring, onboarding, retention, and employee development
Quality, compliance, and regulatory readiness
Serve as the Nursing Department’s primary representative for matters involving the New York State Department of Health
Maintain working knowledge of regulations applicable to New York assisted-living and adult-care settings
Ensure assessments, service plans, documentation, medication-management practices, and resident-care systems meet applicable requirements
Monitor quality indicators, incidents, hospital transfers, changes in condition, and other clinical trends
Develop corrective actions and performance-improvement plans when needed
Maintain readiness for surveys, audits, and regulatory reviews
Support infection prevention, emergency preparedness, medication safety, and resident-safety initiatives
Develop and reinforce policies, procedures, and clinical workflows
Operations and financial stewardship
Partner with the Administrator on community operations and strategic priorities
Prepare, manage, and monitor the Nursing Department budget
Evaluate staffing costs, supplies, equipment, and other clinical-resource needs
Conduct workflow analysis and improve systems affecting care delivery, documentation, communication, and employee efficiency
Balance resident-care priorities with responsible operational and financial decision-making
Participate in the facility’s on-call program, including reporting onsite during off‑hours when resident or operational needs require it
Qualifications
What You’ll Need as Director of Nursing (RN) of this Assisted Living Program:
Required
Current license and registration to practice as a Registered Professional Nurse in New York State
At least two years of supervisory nursing experience
Ability to lead staffing, scheduling, training, employee development, and performance-management functions
Strong clinical‑assessment, communication, organization, and decision‑making skills
Proficiency with electronic medical records, electronic communication, and standard computer applications
Ability to participate in the facility’s on‑call program, including working onsite during off‑hours when necessary
Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English at the level necessary for safe care and effective workplace communication
Preferred
Previous clinical or leadership experience in assisted living
UAS-PRI certification
Experience with geriatric care, aging in place, memory support, home care, or long‑term care
Knowledge of New York Adult Home, Enriched Housing Program, Assisted Living Residence, Assisted Living Program, Enhanced Assisted Living Residence, and Special Needs Assisted Living Residence requirements
Experience with Department of Health surveys, regulatory readiness, quality improvement, or corrective‑action planning
Budget‑management and clinical‑workflow experience
Experienced nurse leaders from assisted living, home care, care management, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, or other geriatric settings are encouraged to apply. Candidates without direct assisted‑living experience should be prepared to demonstrate their ability to learn and apply New York’s adult‑care and assisted‑living requirements.
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Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.