Chief Medical Officer

County of Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 266,000 - 340,000; Full time

Job summary

The County of Santa Barbara in California seeks an experienced physician executive to serve as Chief Medical Officer, focusing on administration, management, and organizational leadership across a complex health system. The ideal candidate will guide clinical operations, strengthen accountability, and align clinical and administrative priorities to improve care delivery for diverse communities.

With a strong background in primary care and FQHC leadership, the CMO will drive data-driven

Qualifications

• Strong background in primary care and FQHC leadership.
• Experience in clinical program management, quality improvement, and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to lead across clinical and administrative teams with data-driven decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead clinical operations and guide care delivery across the health system.
• Align clinical and administrative priorities to improve outcomes.
• Provide executive leadership to support accountability and effectiveness.

Skills

Healthcare leadership

Administration

Data-driven decisions

Regulatory compliance

Job description

The County of Santa Barbara, California, is seeking an experienced physician executive to serve as its next Chief Medical Officer (CMO), with a primary focus on administration, management, and organizational leadership. This is an exceptional opportunity for a collaborative healthcare leader to guide clinical operations, strengthen accountability and effectiveness, and support the continued evolution of care delivery across a complex healthcare system. As a key member of the executive leadership team, the CMO helps align clinical and administrative priorities and advance approaches that improve service delivery and outcomes for diverse communities throughout Santa Barbara County. The ideal candidate brings a strong background in primary care and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) leadership, with experience in clinical program management, healthcare administration, quality improvement, and regulatory compliance. This experience should be complemented by data-driven decision-making and the adaptability, communication, and relationship-building skills needed to lead successfully across clinical and administrative teams.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Annual Salary: $266,475 – $340,098 DOE/DOQ, PLUS the County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits.

Round one virtual interviews will take place on October 23. Finalists will move forward to round two in-person interviews on October 30. Selected candidates must be available for all interview dates.