Regional Director of Nursing - Orange County
Listed compensation
$150k-$160k
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
Partner with us in making a positive change!
Join a team where your work truly matters. We're proud to have been certified as a Great Place to Work for 8 years by our own employees. We invite you to partner with us in our mission to improve mental healthcare.
Job Title
Regional Director of Nursing - Orange County
Division/Program
Irvine: Coastal Star Crisis Stabilization Unit
Starting Compensation
150,000 - 160,000 USD Per Year
Working Location
Irvine, CA
Working Hours/Shift
8 Hour AM Shift
Why Join Our Team?
- Competitive Compensation: Offering a salary that matches your skills and experience.
- Generous Time Off: Enjoy ample vacation and holiday pay.
Comprehensive Benefits Package
- Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- Additional voluntary benefits to support your lifestyle.
Professional Growth Opportunities
- On-the-job training with access to paid CEU opportunities.
- Career development programs designed to help you grow.
- Supervision for BBS hours for AMFT, ACSW, and APCC professionals (where applicable).
Employee Recognition & Rewards: A culture that celebrates and rewards your hard work and dedication
What You Bring to SBHG (Qualifications)
Education
- Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing required.
- Bachelor’s degree preferred.
- Master's degree in Nursing preferred.
Experience
Two (2) years direct service experience treating the mentally ill and four (4) years supervisory experience in an inpatient setting, required.
- License or Certification
- Registered Nurse (CA)
- Current BLS CPR certification
How You Will Make a Difference
The Regional Director of Nursing provides oversight to all East Region programs that provide nursing services. This position works closely with the program/agencies RN’s, LVN’s, LPT’s, Program Directors/Managers, and Administrators to ensure that quality nursing care is provided at each program/agency.
Assists with training of newly hired nursing staff and ensures core competencies are met. Reviews documentation of nursing staff to ensure compliance. The Regional Director of Nursing will assist Administrators in selecting, hiring and supervising all nursing staff for the East Region.
Division/Program Overview
The Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) is a place where people experiencing a mental health crisis can go to be stabilized. These facilities operate 24/7 to provide crisis stabilization.
Population Served: Up to 16 adults (ages 18 and up) and 8 adolescents (ages 13 to 17).
Facility & Setting: Can be compared to an Urgent Care Center where people often go for a medical emergency instead of going to the hospital ER. Patients may stay up to 23 hours.
Clinical Services: Provides important services to those in need of immediate crisis intervention and stabilization. Designed to prevent psychiatric hospitalizations.
Length of Stay: stay of up to 23 hours
Skills & Transition: The CSU will help clients to stabilize and will also provide referrals to other needed services. Transportation is provided as needed.
Learn more about SBHG at: starsinc.com
For Additional Information
mlawrence@starsinc.com
Key Responsibilities
The Regional Director of Nursing oversees nursing services across East Region programs to ensure high-quality care and regulatory compliance. This role also manages the hiring, training, and supervision of nursing staff within the region.
Requirements
Candidates must be a Registered Nurse in California with at least two years of direct service experience in mental health and four years of supervisory experience in an inpatient setting. A degree in nursing is required, with a bachelor's or master's degree preferred.
Qualifications
- Education
- Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
- Experience
- 5+ years of experience
Key Skills
Nursing Leadership — Registered Nurse Career Context
The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$155k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $140k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $150k–$160k | Nursing Leadership median $133k (middle half $114k–$169k)24 comparable listings, Oct 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$140k in purchasing power | California index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Nursing Leadership listings in California | 435 active | 5,992 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026 |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | California Registered Nurse listings: 10% state a sign-on bonus (median $8k) · 4% offer loan repayment435 active listings, Oct 2026 |
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Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,187 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.
Benefits & Perks
Living in Irvine
- Typical 3-bedroom home value
- $1.36M≈ 9.0× annual pay
- Typical market rent
- $3,604/mo≈ 29% of gross pay
- Residents’ average commute
- 25 min
- Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
- 113.6
- State income tax
- Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology
Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.
BEA 2024 · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.
Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.