Chief Clinical Officer Job Description Template

The chief clinical officer (CCO), or “chief clinical operations officer,” is an important member of the hospital executive suite. They oversee all non-physician, clinical staff and develop facility-wide policies to help optimize care delivery. Top CCO candidates typically have extensive expertise in clinical care delivery and strong leadership skills, so it’s important to write a comprehensive chief clinical officer job description when hiring for this role.

To help you find the strongest candidate for your C-suite, we’ll provide a template outlining the key components of a chief clinical operations officer job description below. Tailor this template as needed to attract applicants with the qualifications you’re looking for.

Chief Clinical Officer (CCO)

Tips: This is the introductory section of your job description, so it should provide an overview of what the role is, unique aspects of your facility, and any essential qualities you’re looking for. The introduction should be written to grasp the attention of the right applicants, so it’s important to keep this as concise and specific as possible.

Template:

We’re seeking an experienced nursing leader to join the executive suite at our nationally renowned community hospital. [Facility name] is committed to fostering a culture of safety and providing high quality care to each and every patient. As our Chief Clinical Officer, you’ll play a key role in helping us further this mission through leading the development of innovative business and care strategies.

Benefits

Tips: This section of the chief clinical officer job description should outline the financial and personal benefits that you’re offering with the job. The CCO is a role that you’ll likely want to fill with someone who will remain at your facility long-term. So, consider what aspects of your benefits package would incentivize a candidate to stay committed to your team.

Template:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) matching
• Increased PTO with each year of employment
• Opportunity for annual raises based on performance
• Relocation assistance provided

Duties and Responsibilities

Tips: For a chief clinical officer, duties and responsibilities can encompass a wide range of areas related to business development and care optimization. This section should pinpoint and bullet the most essential functions that candidates should anticipate carrying out in the course of their employment.

When drafting this section, also be mindful of the differences between a chief clinical officer vs. chief medical officer (CMO). The CCO is typically focused on overseeing nursing-related care delivery and quality improvement, while the CMO is more focused on managing physicians.

Template:

• Provides quality oversight to all clinical programs and nursing care at the facility
• Maintains clinical and administrative leadership for all nursing directors and teams
• Manages overall and program-specific continuous quality improvement (CQI) initiatives
• Monitors patient flow, care quality, and patient outcomes across all clinical programs
• Develops strategic plan for our facility in collaboration with the leadership team
• Manages budgeting in areas such as census expectations and program expenses
• Assures all nursing care complies with regulatory and organizational protocols
• Oversees operations to ensure quality treatment and a positive work environment
• Facilitates communication among clinical programs and nursing teams
• Able to fulfill clinical nursing and supervisory roles as needed
• Participates in relationship building and program marketing efforts in the community

Compensation and Schedule

Tips: This section of the chief clinical officer job description should list all the details of the expected schedule and pay for the role. You can also add other details about the sites or locations that the CCO oversees. If there is any expected travel between sites, you can indicate this here.

Template:

• Pay range: $170k-260k/year
• Schedule: Full-time
• Location: On-site at our [insert city] campus

Skills and Qualifications

Tips: Now that you’ve covered what the CCO does and what you’re offering, you’ll want to describe the more-specific chief clinical officer qualifications that you’re requiring of prospective applicants. In addition to education and certifications, consider whether you want your CCO to hold expertise in a specific clinical profession or area.

Template:

• 5+ years experience working clinically as a nurse or nurse practitioner, with current license to practice in [insert state]
• A degree from an accredited advanced practice nursing program
• At least 2 years of healthcare management/administrative experience preferred
• Prior experience working in acute care settings preferred

Call to Action

Tips: Now that your prospective applicants understand all the key details of the job, they’ll be looking for instructions on how to take the next steps. Add a concise call to action at the end of your job posting that includes a convenient link to your application portal.

Template: Are you ready to lead the strategic vision of an organization that’s committed to promoting high quality outcomes? Click here to start your application today.

Recruit Talented Nurses Onto Your Leadership Team

Now that you have a well-written chief clinical officer job description, it’s time to start narrowing down the best candidates. Need help vetting applicants? Reach out to us today and find out how we match highly qualified nursing professionals to your facility.