VP/CNO - Chief Nursing Officer UCSF Health Network

The VP/CNO reports directly to the SVP/President, UCSF Health Network, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the System Chief Nurse Executive, UCSF Health. As a dyad partner to the Chief Medical Officer, UCSF Health Network, the CNO provides nursing leadership of clinical operations across the Network, aligning nursing priorities with Network goals and collaborating with health system leaders to address complex clinical and operational challenges. This position carries significant accountability for nursing performance across the Network’s community hospitals and ambulatory sites, understanding that nursing excellence and team engagement create the foundation for exceptional patient outcomes and sustainable Network growth.

The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), Health Network, is a senior nursing leadership role responsible for driving clinical nursing excellence across the UCSF Health Network, including community hospitals and ambulatory divisions. Reporting to the President of the UCSF Health Network, with a matrix relationship to the UCSF Chief Nurse Executive, the CNO provides programmatic, operational, and strategic nursing leadership to drive growth, improve patient outcomes, and integrate nursing practice across the Network.

Key Responsibilities

% of time

Essential Function (Yes/No)

Key Responsibilities

(To be completed by Supervisor)

10

Yes

Serves as a principal member of the UCSF Health Network senior leadership team with direct accountability for advising executive leadership on all matters pertaining to Network nursing and patient care services; actively contributes to system-wide strategic decisions and organizational priorities. Develops, maintains standards and is accountable for professional nursing practice and operations across all Network nursing services, including community hospitals and ambulatory sites.              

10

Yes

Develop and execute annual True North Goals with defined metrics and targets for quality/safety outcomes, patient experience scores, team member engagement (including nurse recruitment and retention rates), and financial performance; create and implement multi-year strategic workforce plans for patient care delivery that include specific recruitment pipelines, retention strategies, competency development programs, and leadership succession plans with identified successors for all critical roles; report progress monthly or as requested to senior leadership.

10

Yes

Deliver annual operating budget on time and achieve financial targets within approved variance thresholds; direct all financial planning, compliance programs, and operational functions with demonstrated impact on productivity, cost optimization, and resource allocation.

5

Yes

Implement evidence-based practice models of care delivery with specific orientation timelines, development milestones, and mentoring programs; track and report improvements in nursing competencies, inter-professional collaboration metrics, and shared governance participation.

10

Yes

Own and enforce professional nursing practice standards and operations across all Network nursing services; ensure full alignment with UCSF Health’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities through measurable performance indicators. Establish consistent nursing standards, protocols, and evidence-based practices across all Network hospitals, ambulatory sites, and affiliates.

10

Yes

Build and sustain a culture of safety, quality, continuous improvement, psychological safety, and trust that achieves and maintains Magnet® designation; lead re-designation process in collaboration with the CNE and other Health System CNOs.

10

Yes

Oversee the development and implementation of short and long-range plans, programs, and policies to improve the overall operation of Network nursing programs and patient care services across all sites. Assures high quality and coordinated services responsive to the needs of the patients and families, medical staff, patient care staff, other departments, and outside agencies. 

5

Yes

Establish and maintain producti