Chief Information Officer

Kern Medical has exclusively retained Kirby Partners to support its search for a Chief Information Officer.

Kern Medical is a highly specialized tertiary referral center, academic teaching institution, and safety net hospital in Bakersfield, California, with one of the busiest trauma centers in Southern California, offering the only advanced trauma care between Fresno and Los Angeles. Kern Medical is the area’s only teaching hospital and is affiliated with UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine.

Kern Medical offers a range of primary, specialty, and multi-specialty services including high-risk pregnancy care, inpatient psychiatric services integrated with county mental health programs, and a growing network of outpatient clinics providing personalized patient-centered wellness care.

As a top-flight regional health care system, Kern Medical is a leading voice for health, healing and wellness in the Central Valley.

Position Overview

Under the direction of Kern Medical’s Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Information Officer is an executive-level leader responsible for planning, directing, and overseeing the organization’s information technology strategy, systems, resources, and operations. The CIO leads the Information Systems Department and establishes organization-wide standards, policies, and priorities for clinical, financial, operational, and administrative information systems.

Essential functions

• Develops and leads the information technology strategy and roadmap in support of Kern Medical’s mission, operations, and strategic priorities.
• Oversees the selection, implementation, maintenance, security, and evaluation of clinical, financial, operational, and administrative information systems.
• Establishes technology, information security, data protection, and information resource policies and standards.
• Ensures compliance with applicable privacy, security, healthcare, and regulatory requirements.
• Partners with executive, medical, and operational leaders to identify technology needs, improve processes, support clinical practice, and advance organizational performance.
• Advises leadership, physicians, and staff on technology priorities, risks, developments, and opportunities.
• Develops and manages operating and capital budgets and oversees technology investments, procurement, and cost controls.
• Leads the Information Systems team, including staffing, development, performance management, and work planning.
• Oversees technology training and adoption.
• Represents Kern Medical on technology-related committees and prepares executive-level analyses and reports.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Computer Science, Management Information Systems, or a closely related field.

Experience

• Five years of progressively responsible information technology leadership experience in government or business, with qualifying experience obtained within the last eight years.

Knowledge and abilities

• Healthcare and hospital operations and the clinical, financial, and business systems that support them.
• Information technology strategy, architecture, infrastructure, data centers, security, and systems management.
• Healthcare privacy, security, and regulatory requirements, including HIPAA and applicable accreditation standards.
• Budgeting, procurement, personnel management, strategic planning, and project management.
• Ability to manage change and communicate technical and administrative information clearly to varied audiences.

Location

• Relocation to Bakersfield, CA, is required.

About Bakersfield, California

Bakersfield sits along the Kern River in California’s southern San Joaquin Valley, about two hours from Los Angeles. The Sierra Nevada Mountains are to the east and the Coast Ranges to the west, placing the city within reach of a wide range of outdoor destinations.

As one of California’s largest cities, Bakersfield serves as a regional center for agriculture, energy, healthcare and education. The area is also known for its Basque and Mexican cuisine, local music history and strong agricultural traditions.

Bakersfield offers housing costs that are generally lower than those in California’s major coastal markets, along with shorter commutes and less congestion. The city has established neighborhoods, higher education options including CSU Bakersfield, a significant healthcare presence and a commercial airport close to downtown. Its central California location also provides convenient road access to Los Angeles, the Central Coast and other parts of the state, while the surrounding agricultural region supports a strong local food scene and access to fresh produce.

Bakersfield’s sunny climate supports outdoor recreation throughout much of the year. The Kern River offers rafting and fishing, while Wind Wolves Preserve provides hiking and mountain biking trails. The nearby Tehachapi Mountains offer additional options, and destinations including Carrizo Plain National Monument, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and California’s Central Coast are within roughly two hours.

Procedure for Candidacy

Final candidates should expect two interviews with Kirby Partners recruiters (including a video conference interview). You may be asked to complete our “Executive Profile” and submit references to be considered for presentation to the search committee.