Chief Medical Officer (CMO) - Sutter West Bay Medical Group (San Francisco, CA)

Sutter West Bay Medical Group; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading multispecialty medical group in San Francisco seeks a Chief Medical Officer to lead clinical and operational strategies. The ideal candidate will have extensive clinical experience, proven leadership skills, and a commitment to patient-centered care. This role offers the opportunity to drive quality improvement and enhance care delivery in a dynamic healthcare environment, demanding innovation and collaboration across practices. The CMO will partner closely with executive leadership to influence organizational strategy and ensure high standards of clinical excellence.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of clinical experience with progressive leadership responsibility.
• Significant experience in physician group administration and clinical operations.
• Effective in working within a large health system and matrixed organizational structure.

Responsibilities

• Lead and integrate clinical and operational strategy across SWBMG.
• Advance clinical quality, patient safety, access, and patient experience.
• Oversee physician recruitment, onboarding, and performance management.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical Credibility

Strategic Planning

Data-Driven Decision Making

Collaboration

Education

M.D. or D.O.; board certified in an appropriate specialty

Advanced leadership or management training (MBA, MHA, MMM)

Job description

Overview

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) is a senior executive role and a key member of the Sutter West Bay Medical Group (SWBMG) Executive Team, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer. The CMO serves as the principal physician leader for the organization and works in a close dyad partnership with the Ambulatory Chief Executive Officer, jointly accountable for clinical performance, physician engagement, access, quality, and overall ambulatory care delivery outcomes. This is a highly visible and influential leadership position. The CMO helps shape organizational strategy, aligns clinical and operational priorities, and leads group level and systemwide initiatives to improve care delivery, patient experience, and health outcomes across a complex, integrated healthcare environment. This position is based in San Francisco, with leadership responsibility extending across SWBMG practices in San Francisco, Marin County, and regional/outreach locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

Scope of Leadership

The CMO provides executive oversight for clinical quality, patient safety, physician performance, and medical staff engagement across SWBMG. As the senior physician executive, the CMO partners in a physician–administrator dyad with the Ambulatory CEO, ensuring alignment between clinical priorities, operational execution, financial stewardship, regulatory compliance, and Sutter Health’s broader strategic objectives. The role bridges clinical and administrative perspectives, fosters innovation in ambulatory care delivery, advances quality and access, supports physician wellbeing and leadership development, and strengthens SWBMG’s culture of collaboration, accountability, and excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve in a dyad partnership with the Ambulatory CEO to lead and integrate clinical and operational strategy across SWBMG.
• Lead strategic and operational initiatives to advance clinical quality, patient safety, access, and patient experience.
• Represent the physician's voice in executive decision making, governance forums, and ambulatory operations oversight.
• Oversee physician recruitment, onboarding, development, and performance management in partnership with Service Line Chairs and executive leaders.
• Champion physician engagement, wellbeing, and leadership development.
• Partner with administrative and financial leaders to ensure effective resource stewardship, utilization management, clinical efficiency, and value-based care performance.
• Serve as a primary liaison with Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation (SPMF) and Sutter Health leaders for quality, compliance, and system integration efforts.
• Represent SWBMG in community, regulatory, and system level forums as directed by the CEO or Board.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a respected, accomplished physician leader with strong clinical credibility and demonstrated success in medical group or health system leadership. They are strategic, collaborative, and data driven, with the ability to lead through influence, function effectively in a dyad leadership model, and drive results in a complex, matrixed healthcare environment. A deep commitment to clinical excellence, equity, physician engagement, and patient centered care is essential.

Qualifications

• M.D. or D.O.; board certified in an appropriate specialty.
• Minimum of 10 years of clinical experience with progressive leadership responsibility.
• Significant experience in physician group administration, clinical operations, quality improvement, and value-based care.
• Demonstrated effectiveness working within a large health system and matrixed organizational structure.
• Eligible for and maintains an active California medical license.
• Advanced leadership or management training (MBA, MHA, MMM, or equivalent) preferred.

Organization Details

Sutter West Bay Medical Group (SWBMG) is a fast-growing, premier, physician led, multispecialty medical group with nearly 500 physicians and advanced practice clinicians serving patients in San Francisco, Northern California and beyond. SWBMG delivers integrated, patient centered care across primary through quaternary care, grounded in clinical excellence, collaboration, and innovation, and is a key partner within Sutter Health’s regional care delivery network.

Equal Opportunity Statement

It is the policy of Sutter Health and its partners to provide equal employment for all qualified individuals; to prohibit discrimination in employment because of race, color, creed, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, registered domestic partner status, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, national origin (including possession of a driver’s license issued to individuals who did not present proof of authorized presence in the U.S.), age, medical condition, physical or mental disability, military or protected veteran status, political affiliation, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical condition, genetic information or any other characteristic made unlawful by local, state or federal law, ordinance or regulation. We promote the full realization of equal employment opportunities through a positive continuing program within each medical group, company, hospital, department, and service area. Equal employment opportunities apply to every aspect of Sutter's employment policies and practices.