Chief Administrative Officer

Job Details

Job Location:

Administrative Offices Sixth Street - Berkeley, CA 94710

Position Type:
Full Time

Salary Range: $ - $

Job Category:
Executive

Life Long Medical Care is one of the Bay Area’s most established and mission-driven community health organizations, serving more than 50,000 patients across 15 sites in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Founded over 50 years ago as a human rights organization, Life Long has grown into a comprehensive Federally Qualified Health Center delivering primary care, behavioral health, dental, and integrated services to the communities that need it most.

Life Long Medical Care is seeking a Chief Administrative Officer to serve as a true operational partner to the CEO and a central force in the organization’s next chapter. This is a broad, high-impact executive role for a leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy and execution — someone who can drive cross-functional performance, build and evolve care delivery models, and help Life Long realize its full potential as a safety net anchor institution.

The CAO will be a member of the Executive Leadership Team, reporting directly to the CEO, with direct oversight of Finance, Clinical Operations, HR, Legal, and Capital Projects.

Drive Cross-Functional Execution

Lead the performance of Life Long’s most critical organizational initiatives, including the Mission & Margin Plan and Strategic Excellence Work streams. Serve as the integrating force across functions—ensuring accountability, removing barriers, and keeping the organization moving toward its goals.

Evolve the Care Team Model

Partner with clinical and operational leadership to strengthen and evolve how care teams are structured, supported, and deployed across Life Long’s 15 sites. Translate care strategy into operational reality—building models that improve provider experience, team effectiveness, and patient outcomes.

Strengthen the Patient and Provider Experience

Lead efforts to improve the efficacy and impact of Life Long’s patient-provider-clinical model. Use data, operational insight, and cross-functional collaboration to reduce friction, improve access, and deliver care that consistently meets the expectations of the communities Life Long serves.

Lead a High-Performing Functional Portfolio

Provide executive oversight across Finance, Operations, HR, Legal, and Capital Projects. Build and develop the functional leaders within this portfolio—setting high standards, driving accountability, and creating the organizational conditions for sustained performance.

Serve as a Strategic Partner to the CEO

Acting as a full member of the Executive Leadership Team, perform as a trusted deputy—sharing ownership of organizational priorities, representing the CEO internally and externally as appropriate, and contributing meaningfully to the direction of the organization by driving performance and transformation.

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in community health, with significant time in an executive leadership role
• Track record of success in a safety net, FQHC, or community health environment strongly preferred
• Deep familiarity with Medi‑Cal, Medicaid and safety‑net financing
• Demonstrated experience in leading complex, multi‑site teams and divisions with measurable results in multi‑site FQHCs
• Experience driving cross‑functional initiatives in a mission‑driven, resource‑constrained environment
• Prior responsibility for financial oversight and operational performance at an organizational level

• Integrator mindset—to connect people, functions, and priorities into a coherent whole
• Data‑driven and execution‑oriented; translates strategy into action and holds teams accountable
• Strong judgment under ambiguity; calm and steady in complex, fast‑moving environments
• Relationship builder who earns trust quickly across clinical, operational, and administrative teams
• Transparent communicator with high integrity; not political
• Mission‑grounded: commitment to community health for a reason, and it shows in leadership approach
• Collaborative and decisive: consensus‑driven when possible, but can make clear calls when needed

• Bachelor’s degree required;
  Master’s degree in Public Health, Health Administration, Business, or related field strongly preferred
• LEAN or operational excellence certification a plus

Life Long offers a rare combination: the mission and community roots of a safety net health center, and the scale, ambition, and leadership team of an organization ready to perform at a higher level. This is a role for a leader who wants to do meaningful work, build something durable, and help an iconic East Bay institution realize its next chapter.