Director of Nursing

Director of Nursing (DON) (Residential Assisted Living)

-Location: Falls Church / McLean / Arlington, VA (across our three 8-resident luxury-style residential assisted living homes; full-time on-site with occasional support across all three)

-Salary: $125,000 – $150,000 base + quarterly performance bonus (tied to clinical outcomes, resident satisfaction, compliance, and quality metrics)

Job Type: Full-Time About Paragon Assisted Living We are a premier assisted living community, with a mission to deliver personalized service, purposeful engagement, and exceptional quality of life for every resident. Our culture is defined by compassionate leadership, team empowerment, and a relentless commitment to dignity, community, and innovation. We operate three Northern Virginia homes (max 8 residents each).

Your Mission

As Director of Nursing, you will oversee all facets of clinical operations, and the daily operations for a single location. Your mission is to ensure resident satisfaction, regulatory excellence, quality of care, and team engagement — while serving as a visionary ambassador to families, staff, and the broader community.

What You’ll Actually Do

-Provide clinical leadership and oversee daily nursing operations across our three small residential homes (up to 8 residents each), including care planning, medication management, resident assessments, and coordination with medical professionals.

-Support the Executive Director in managing day-to-day community operations while ensuring top-quality care and full compliance with all Virginia assisted living regulations and licensing requirements.

-Lead hiring, training, supervision, performance coaching, and development of caregivers and nursing staff — building a culture of feedback, excellence, and compassion (not fear).

-Maintain “zero-miss” standards for documentation, infection control, incident reporting, care plans, and survey readiness every single day.

-Act as the primary liaison between residents, families, caregivers, and healthcare partners — addressing concerns promptly, closing loops, and turning interactions into trust and advocacy.

-Handle key administrative responsibilities such as scheduling, reporting, budgeting basics, vendor coordination, and continuous system improvements across homes.

-Step in as a hands-on “working leader” when needed — assisting residents with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and providing direct care in our intimate residential environment.

-Participate in ongoing professional development and quality improvement initiatives while mentoring others for future leadership growth.

Who You Are (Requirements) Must-Have

-Active RN license in Virginia (unrestricted)

-5+ years progressive nursing leadership in senior living, assisted living, or long-term care (residential/small-home background strongly preferred)

-Direct-care experience (CNA, PCA, HHA, or equivalent) and willingness to remain hands-on

-Deep expertise in clinical workflows, compliance, documentation, infection control, and quality assurance

-Proven ability to build and develop teams with high standards, empathy, and clear communication

Preferred

-Experience in small residential (≤10-bed) settings or multi-home operations

-Prior DON or clinical leadership role in assisted living

-Bachelor’s degree in Nursing or related field

-Certification in gerontology or infection prevention

Compensation & Benefits -$125,000 – $150,000 base + quarterly bonus tied to real clinical outcomes

-Full medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance Generous PTO + paid holidays + rollover

-Executive coaching, tuition/CEU reimbursement

-Referral bonuses, and recognition program

Why Join Us?

This is a high-impact clinical leadership role with direct collaboration alongside the Executive Director and Founders. You will drive meaningful resident outcomes while building the skills and visibility to grow within our expanding organization.

How to Apply

Apply directly on Indeed with your resume. For stronger consideration, include a brief note highlighting:

One clinical team you developed or turned around

One quality or compliance system you improved

One example of resident or family impact you delivered

Paragon Assisted Living is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $125,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person