VP/CNO - Adult Services Chief Nursing Officer

Office of the President

Full Time

87559BR

Job Summary

The Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer (VP/CNO) for Adult Services at UCSF Health shapes the future of nursing practice across one of the nation's premier academic health systems. This leadership role spans the Parnassus, Mission Bay, and Mount Zion campuses, positioning the CNO at the center of healthcare innovation and clinical excellence. The VP/CNO leads nursing and patient care services across the continuum of adult academic medical center acute care services, driving transformational change in care delivery while ensuring the highest level of patient safety and quality of care.

The VP/CNO embodies a patient-first philosophy, understanding that exceptional care begins with an empowered, supported, and highly skilled nursing workforce. The executive fosters an inclusive culture where nurses at all levels innovate, lead, and thrive in an environment of continuous learning and professional growth. Strong collaborative partnerships with physician leaders and multidisciplinary teams are essential, bringing an inclusive and collaborative approach that ensures nursing's voice shapes organizational strategy. The VP/CNO serves as both a strategic partner in the C-suite and a visible champion for nursing excellence, representing the profession with credibility and executive presence across all care settings.

At this pivotal moment for UCSF Health, the VP/CNO will partner on the activation of the new iconic UCSF Health Helen Diller Hospital – a 15-story state-of-the-art facility that will be home to some of the most complex and cutting-edge care in the world. This transformational opportunity requires executive-level strategic direction across all nursing and patient care services, ensuring alignment with UCSF Health's mission, vision, and strategic priorities while maintaining the highest standards of clinical excellence. The VP/CNO champions a culture of safety, quality, patient satisfaction, and positive team engagement aligned with Magnet principles and national best practices, and demonstrates strong financial acumen in budget development, resource allocation, productivity management, and cost optimization. UCSF Health is committed to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity, excellence, and equity (PRIDE) – values that guide how we deliver care, develop our workforce, and build a broadly diverse, welcoming, and supportive community.

The VP/CNO reports directly to the Senior Vice President and President Adult Services, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the System Chief Nurse Executive, UCSF Health.

The estimated salary range for this position is $400,000-475,000 (Annual Rate). The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy. Placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF.

To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

Department Description

Recognized for its excellence, U.S. News & World Report ranks UCSF among the nation’s top 10 hospitals. UCSF Health is committed to delivering the highest quality care by continuously measuring performance against top medical centers nationwide and upholding its rigorous standards of clinical excellence, patient safety, and innovation.

UCSF Health is made up of four distinct business units: Adult Services, Pediatric Services, Ambulatory Services, and the UCSF Affiliated Network. Each unit operates under its own President and executive leadership team, reporting to the President and CEO of UCSF Health.

The Adult Services unit oversees strategy, finances, quality, safety, work culture, and operations across adult clinical services at UCSF’s Parnassus, Mission Bay, Mount Zion and Langley Porter campuses, as well as key adult service lines.

UCSF Health’s Nursing is a renowned organization with deep roots in research and innovation, leadership development, and nursing excellence. Numerous hospitals within UCSF Health are Magnet designated, with UCSF Medical Center being the first hospital in San Francisco to achieve this accolade. It is one of only 46 hospitals in California to achieve Magnet.

UCSF Health has more than 5,000 nurses across the system with many having dual roles as faculty, students, researchers, and educators. The Center for Nursing Excellence & Innovation’s vision is to drive “excellence in professional nursing practice, research, leadership, education, quality, patient outcomes, and innovation”. The organization is highly committed to supporting the advancement of nursing care and giving opportunities to nurses to grow and be at the forefront of innovation.

Required Qualifications

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Master's degree in a healthcare-related field; Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) or PhD strongly preferred.
• Advanced degree in nursing and health care administration, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• CA RN License required.
• Minimum eight to ten years of increasingly responsible experience in hospital management and strategic planning, in an academic medical center.
• Comprehensive and thorough understanding of all elements of health care delivery, including strategy, business planning, operations and financial conditions.
• Change management skills to continually transition adult nursing services from current state to future state. Expertise in evaluating Health System and organizational issues, initiating actions to make change, planning change with stakeholder buy-in and executing the plan while being flexible to the changing landscape.
• Collaborative leadership skills to function in a highly complex and matrixed organizational environment, demonstrates expert skill in building collaborative relationships, developing strategies, and engaging in constructive problem-solving.
• Relationship building skills to develop outstanding relationships at all levels of the organization in an environment that is managed through influence and relationships.
• Expertise in all aspects of assigned functions, as well as development and management of operational and capital budgets.
• Sets high standards of behavior, performance, quality, credibility, and integrity; exhibits judgment and business acumen necessary to raise performance to levels that would not otherwise be achieved.
• Knowledge of management information systems and its relevance to nursing practice, quality and safety.
• Knowledge of strategic planning and its relevance to nursing operations and future direction.
• Demonstrated understanding of the roles of teaching, research and patient care in the academic medical center and active participation in improvements relevant to each mission.
• Ability to comply with all nursing practice and Health System policies and procedures for infection control, safety, administrative and clinical practice. Ability to comply with activities mandated by The Joint Commission/Title 22, CLIA, etc.
• Prior experience in a unionized setting/environment.
• Served in a Magnet® organization or understands the principles of shared governance and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Direct experience with Lean management and/or an understanding of the Principles of Lean Continuous Improvement.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) or PhD preferred.

License/Certification

CA RN License required.

About UCSF

At UCSF Health, our mission of innovative patient care, advanced technology and pioneering research is redefining what’s possible for the patients we serve – a promise we share with the professionals who make up our team.

Consistently ranked among the top 10 hospitals nationwide by U.S. News & World Report – UCSF Health is committed to providing the most rewarding work experience while delivering the best care available anywhere. In an environment that allows for continuous learning and opportunities for professional growth, UCSF Health offers the ideal atmosphere in which to best use your skills and talents.

Pride Values

UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence – also known as our PRIDE values.

In addition to our PRIDE values, UCSF is committed to equity – both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care. Additional information about UCSF is available at diversity.ucsf.edu

Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Organization

Health

Job Code and Payroll Title

006504 NURSE SVC MGR 4

Job Category

Executive, Nursing - Management/Administration, Professional and Managerial

Bargaining Unit

99 - Policy-Covered (No Bargaining Unit)

Employee Class

Career

Percentage

100%

Location

San Francisco, CA

Campus

Parnassus Heights (SF)

Work Style

Fully On-Site

Shift

Days

Shift Length

8 Hours