San Francisco, California
Galveston, Texas
Posted: 21-Apr-26
Location: San Francisco, California
Type: Full Time
Internal Number: 36233
UCSF Health is seeking an exceptional nursing executive to serve as Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for the UCSF Health Network, a growing, integrated community hospital and ambulatory network within one of the nation’s premier academic health systems. This is a rare opportunity to lead, build, and scale nursing strategy and operations across a network at a pivotal moment of transformation and growth—while advancing UCSF’s mission of clinical excellence, innovation, and public service.
The Opportunity
The Chief Nursing Officer serves as the senior nursing executive for the UCSF Health Network, reporting to the SVP/President of the UCSF Health Network, with a dotted?line relationship to the System Chief Nurse Executive. As a key member of the Network executive leadership team and dyad partner to the Chief Medical Officer, the CNO provides enterprise?level leadership for nursing practice, clinical operations, workforce strategy, and patient experience across multiple community hospitals, ambulatory sites, and affiliated partnerships.
The Network is transitioning from acquisition and stabilization to performance optimization and growth, supported by significant capital investment, service line expansion, and rising demand for high?quality community?based care. The CNO will play a central role in translating UCSF’s academic standards into community settings while building a high?performing, engaged, and future?ready nursing workforce.
Scope and Impact
- Executive oversight of UCSF Health Stanyan Hospital and UCSF Health Hyde Hospital
- Leadership of nursing across Network ambulatory and outpatient sites
- Engagement with affiliate partners and physician foundation practices
- ~$1.1B network enterprise
- ~3,000 employees
- ~1,600 direct nursing FTEs
- Highly matrixed environment requiring influence, collaboration, and systems thinking
The CNO will directly lead senior nursing executives and is expected to build a robust leadership pipeline, positioning the UCSF Health Network as a development ground for future nursing leaders.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic, clinical, and operational leadership for nursing services across the Network
- Establish and uphold professional nursing practice standards aligned with UCSF Health expectations
- Drive measurable improvements in quality, safety, patient experience, engagement, and retention
- Lead workforce planning, talent development, succession planning, and shared governance
- Achieve financial and productivity targets through effective resource stewardship
- Advance Magnet® designation and nursing excellence initiatives
- Partner effectively with physician leaders, academic colleagues, and affiliate organizations
- Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and a culture of safety, trust, and continuous improvement
About UCSF Health
UCSF is one of the world’s leading health sciences universities and an academic health system nationally recognized for excellence in patient care, research, and education. UCSF Health extends this excellence through a growing network of hospitals and ambulatory sites across Northern California, delivering high?quality, accessible care to diverse communities.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Nursing or a related healthcare field required; DNP or PhD strongly preferred
- Registered Nurse, eligible for licensure in California
- 8–10+ years of progressive nursing leadership experience, including senior?level responsibility
- Demonstrated success in complex, multi?site or matrixed health systems, preferably in community hospitals
- Strong operational, financial, and change?management expertise
- Experience in unionized environments and Magnet® organizations highly desirable
- Commitment to academic excellence, evidence?based practice, and inclusive leadership
