The Director of Jail Health Services (JHS) is a senior physician executive responsible for leading and overseeing healthcare administration, operations, and delivery across four San Francisco County jail facilities. This role ensures that JHS fulfills its mission of delivering high-quality, patient-centered care to individuals in custody, while advancing public health principles within the criminal justice system.

As a key member of the Department’s executive team, the Director sets strategic direction, oversees all JHS service lines, including medical, nursing, behavioral health, pharmacy, dental, and clinical support - and ensures compliance with local, state, and federal regulations governing correctional healthcare. The position optimizes systems and workflows, and fosters integration with other units, sections, and divisions of the San Francisco Health Network (SFHN) to create a seamless continuum of care.

The Director collaborates extensively with City and County leadership, the Sheriff’s Department, and other stakeholders to address complex operational, fiscal, and policy challenges with significant implications for health equity and patient outcomes. Decisions made in this role have significant impact on patient safety, organizational integrity, and public confidence in correctional healthcare.

The Director of Jail Health Services (0943 Manager VIII) performs the following essential job functions:

Healthcare Administration and Compliance

• Serves as the designated health services administrator responsible for coordinating all levels of healthcare delivery in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, while ensuring adherence to community standards of patient care and safety.
• Reviews and coordinates SF Sheriff’s Office (SFSO) healthcare policies and procedures; interprets policies, procedures, and regulations, and assesses the impact of pending and approved healthcare or corrections legislation on incarcerated individuals.
• Manages and directs the JHS communicable disease program, coordinating with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), San Francisco DPH Communicable Diseases branch, and San Francisco Department of Human Resources (DHR) to protect incarcerated populations, employees, and the broader San Francisco community.
• Leads policy planning and implementation to ensure effective JHS operations.

Administrative and Fiscal Management

• Plans, organizes, and directs the central administrative support services for JHS, including contract management, budget development, procurement, personnel administration, program planning and evaluation, and management information systems.
• Develops, supervises, and administers the JHS budget of $55 million, and collaborates with the finance unit to manage the division’s fiscal program, including preparation of the annual budget with justifications for personnel, capital outlay, and operating expenses.

Interagency, Committee, and Community Engagement and Collaboration

• Serves as an integrated partner with all San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH) divisions, including SFHN, Behavioral Health Services (BHS), and Population Health (PHD), working with clinical and administrative leadership and staff to meet the healthcare needs of incarcerated individuals in SF County Jail.
• Represents JHS in matters related to detention and healthcare across City departments, including the Department of Emergency Management (DEM), Department of Homeless and Supportive Health (HSH), Health Services Administration, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
• Serves as DPH liaison with the City Attorney’s Office, Courts, Public Defender, Adult Probation, and San Francisco Police Department on criminal justice issues.
• Participates in state and national committees on correctional health care and serves on SFHN and Ambulatory Care committees.

The Director of Jail Health Services (0943 Manager VIII) may perform other duties as assigned/required.

License and Certification:

• Possession of a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Degree from an accredited college or university; AND possession and maintenance of a current/valid license to practice medicine issued by the Medical Board of California; OR
• Possession of a Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) Degree from an accredited college or university; AND possession and maintenance of a current/valid license to practice medicine issued by the Osteopathic Medical Board of California;

AND

• Possession of a Board Certification or Board Eligibility in Family Medicine or Internal Medicine

AND

• Possession and maintenance of a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) license

Experience: Five (5) years of verifiable professional healthcare management experience in a correctional facility.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

One-year full-time employment is equivalent to 2,000 hours (2,000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week).

Condition of Employment: Security Clearance
Security clearance as issued by the Sheriff’s Department is required as a condition of employment for all positions at the Jail Health Services. Eligibles who have successfully participated in the examination process, received passing scores, and have been selected for hire will be required to obtain the security clearance prior to appointment. A photocopy of the security clearance must be provided to the supervisor on or before date of hire. Failure to demonstrate/show proof of security clearance may result in a dismissal and/or termination of employment.

Verification of Education and Experience:
Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Review SF Careers Employment Applications for considerations taken when reviewing applications.

About San Francisco Dept. of Public Health - Jail Health

Department of Public Health The Mission of the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) is to protect and promote the health of all San Franciscans. We strive to achieve our mission through the work of two main Divisions – the San Francisco Health Network and Population Health. The San Francisco Health Network is our only complete system of care and has locations throughout the City and County of San Francisco (City), including Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (ZSFG), Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center (LHH), and over fifteen (15) primary care health centers. With a broad community focus, the ultimate goal of the Population Health Division is to ensure that San Franciscans have optimal health and wellness at every stage of life, and, to achieve this, the Division is comprised of various branches dedicated to core public health services for the City, such as health protection and promotion, disease and injury prevention, disaster preparedness and response, and environmental health services. With an annual operating budget of $2.2 billion, as the largest City Department, the SFDPH employs over 8,000 people, and we contract for more... than $400 million in community-based services. Central administrative functions, including finance, human resources, information technology, and policy and planning, support and promote integration between SFDPH’s two Divisions. For more information, visit www.sfdph.org.

Show more

Show less

Connections working at San Francisco Dept. of Public Health - Jail Health