Chief Financial Officer, Health Services

Job Description:

Under the direction of the Director of Health Services, this executive-level role helps guide the planning, organization, and oversight of the department’s budget of $545.9M and fiscal operations.

As a key member of the department’s senior leadership team, the Chief Financial Officer manages major departmental initiatives, leads budget development and fiscal oversight, and helps secure and administer grant funding to enhance community health programs. Acting on behalf of the Director when needed, this role serves as a primary liaison with state, federal, and local partners and represents the department in public forums and community engagements. 

Title: Chief Financial Officer, Health Services

Location: Santa Rosa, CA

Onsite/Hybrid/Remote: Onsite

Organization Type: Government, Local Health Department

Time zone: PST

Salary Range/Compensation: $213,908.93 - $259,992.54 Annually

Client: Sonoma County

Company Overview:

Sonoma County, located just 30 miles north of San Francisco in the heart of California’s Wine Country, encompasses over 1,600 square miles of diverse landscapes, including picturesque coastlines, redwood forests, and more than one million acres of agricultural and open space, with major attractions such as the Russian River, Bodega Bay, Sonoma Plaza, and Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve highlighting the county's appeal. Home to nearly 500,000 residents, a third of whom live in the county seat of Santa Rosa, Sonoma County is known for its world-class wine industry and a diverse economy that includes agriculture, technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and tourism.

The Sonoma County Department of Health Services is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the community's health and well-being. With over 700 staff members and numerous community partners, the department offers a broad range of programs and services to promote and sustain health for individuals, families, and communities, supported by an adopted budget of approximately $545.9 million for FY 2025- 26, with departmental operating expenditures totaling $346.9 million. The department’s mission is to promote, protect, and ensure access to services supporting health, recovery, and well-being for all residents, guided by core values of equity, collaboration, and excellence.

Skills:

The ideal candidate possesses the following key traits and aptitudes:

• Proven Public Finance Leader with experience managing dynamic and complex financial systems for health or human services organizations at the county or state level.

• Strategic planner skilled in developing and implementing departmental goals, policies, and initiatives with a long-term vision.

• Subject Matter Expertise in government finance and health or human services, including knowledge of federal claiming, Medi-Cal billing, and behavioral health system billing.

• Adaptive Change Maker adept at identifying challenges and creating meaningful change for their team, stakeholders, and community within changing environments.

• Effective communicator with the ability to represent the department before governing bodies, agencies, and the community.

• Collaborative manager and mentor who fosters teamwork, coordination, and a positive work environment and culture to motivate teams.

• Politically astute advisor able to interpret and align departmental actions with Board and County priorities.

• Data-informed decision-maker skilled in program evaluation, research methods, and performance measurement.

• Public relations advocate capable of building community trust and articulating department initiatives effectively.

• Ethical and accountable leader committed to transparency, responsible use of public resources, and equitable service delivery.

Attractive Factors:

The Chief Financial Officer will be joining the department at a pivotal and exciting time. They will have the support of the department and executive leadership teams and the opportunity to create positive change, make a significant impact on the department’s financial operations, and be a part of the department’s mission to protect and promote the health and well-being of Sonoma County’s community.

Important Note: 

This position is open until filled. The first review of candidates will be done by January 19, 2026.

To apply for this exciting and special career opportunity, please click on the following link www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org to submit an online job application, answer the supplemental questions, and include a resume and cover letter that should include years and months of employment, pertinent accomplishments, and why you are interested in the position.

This recruitment currently has a continuous filing period, but it may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

For additional information, please contact:

Julia Morse | VP, Healthcare & Public Sector

jmorse@berkeleysearch.com

-or-

Nihad Sarsour | Director, Client Development

nsarsour@berkeleysearch.com

Experience and Education:

Experience required for this position typically includes at least four years of increasingly responsible management experience in a large organization including program planning and evaluation, budget management, personnel management and performance evaluation, policy development and provision of community services. Experience managing a health services organization or large division of such an organization is highly desirable.

Education required for this position typically includes graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in health care administration, public administration, hospital administration, business administration, or a closely related field. Possession of a master’s degree is desirable.

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