Lactation Consultant

Sutter Health - Palo Alto Medical Foundation; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto Medical Foundation, part of the Sutter Health network, is seeking a full-time Lactation Consultant based in the San Francisco Bay Area. This on-site role provides direct lactation support, assessment, and education to birthing families in inpatient and outpatient settings, including postpartum units and NICUs.

You will conduct lactation assessments, develop feeding plans, model techniques, document care in the electronic health record, and participate in education and quality

Qualifications

• Certification as Lactation Counselor or equivalent required.
• Clinical perinatal and neonatal experience preferred.
• Foundational medical knowledge related to perinatal care and infant nutrition.
• Excellent patient education and communication, with trauma-informed, culturally sensitive care.
• Current CPR/BLS certification as required by facility policy.
• Ability to document care accurately in electronic health records.

Responsibilities

• Perform lactation assessments and develop individualized feeding plans.
• Teach breastfeeding techniques and positioning; monitor infant weight gain.
• Facilitate classes and create patient education materials.
• Document care in the medical record and participate in quality improvement.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurses, and maternal-child health teams.

Skills

Lactation certification

Perinatal care

Neonatal experience

Patient education

CPR/BLS

Team collaboration

Job description

Company Description

Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF), part of the Sutter Health network, is a not-for-profit organization that provides advanced operational and administrative support so clinicians can focus on exceptional patient care. Serving more than 100 communities in Northern California, PAMF and Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group (PAFMG) form one of the largest multi-specialty medical groups in the country, with over 1,800 physicians across more than 45 specialties. Located largely in Silicon Valley and the greater San Francisco/East Bay, the organization operates in one of the most culturally diverse and innovation-driven regions in the U.S. This proximity to cutting-edge medical technologies fosters a culture of continuous improvement and clinical excellence. PAFMG is nationally recognized for quality of care, innovation, and leadership, and offers diverse career opportunities across clinical and support roles.

Role Description

The Lactation Consultant is a full-time, on-site role based in the San Francisco Bay Area. This position provides direct lactation support, assessment, and education to birthing parents, infants, and families in inpatient and outpatient settings, including postpartum units and neonatal intensive care environments. Day-to-day responsibilities include conducting lactation assessments, developing individualized feeding plans, assisting with breastfeeding techniques and positioning, and monitoring infant feeding and weight gain. The role collaborates closely with physicians, nurses, and maternal-child health teams to ensure coordinated, evidence-based care and to address complex feeding issues. The Lactation Consultant also facilitates classes, creates patient education materials, documents care in the medical record, and participates in quality improvement and staff education related to lactation and infant nutrition.

Qualifications

• Certification and core lactation expertise: Certified Lactation Counselor (or equivalent lactation certification), with strong knowledge of Lactation principles and breastfeeding management.


• Clinical perinatal and neonatal experience: Skills and experience in Neonatal Intensive Care and Maternal-Child Health, including support for high-risk infants and birthing parents.


• Foundational medical knowledge: Understanding of Medicine as it relates to perinatal care, infant nutrition, and common breastfeeding-related conditions.


• Strong patient education and communication skills, including the ability to provide trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and inclusive care to diverse families.


• Current relevant clinical license (e.g., RN, midwife, or other appropriate clinical credential) preferred, and current CPR/BLS certification as required by facility policy.


• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team, prioritize multiple patients, and document care accurately in electronic health records.


• Previous experience in hospital-based or outpatient lactation consulting strongly preferred; experience within a large health system is an advantage.