Chief Health Equity Officer

Posted Date

4/18/2023

Department(s): Executive Office

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

FLSA status: Exempt

Salary Grade: W - $313,000 - $515,900

About CalOptima Health

CalOptima Health is the single largest health plan in Orange County, serving 880,000 members, or one in four residents. Our motto — "Better. Together.” — is at the heart of our mission to serve members with excellence, dignity and respect. We are a public agency made up of compassionate leaders and professionals working together to strengthen our community’s health. If you’re looking for an opportunity to work for an organization dedicated to improving local health care and serving the needs of the most vulnerable, we encourage you to join CalOptima Health.

About The Position

The Chief Health Equity Officer (CHEO) will lead the development and implementation of health equity as a core competency through collaboration with leaders across CalOptima Health and serve as the voice and content expert on health equity for CalOptima Health’s members, affiliates and partners, providing strategic direction around clinical interventions, benefit design, engagement strategies and participate in testing and evaluation initiatives. The CHEO will be responsible for establishing CalOptima Health’s health equity and population health framework, as well as short- and long-range goals, procedures and practices that are in alignment with and support the organization’s mission and vision, while developing policies and practices to eliminate and prevent health inequities and address structural and social determinants of health issues impacting the organization’s members.

The CHEO will engage as a thought leader externally on CalOptima Health’s behalf and inform and lead the development of both internal and external health equity-related programs and the creation of member-facing materials which promote health equity as a component of improving overall health outcomes. The incumbent will present to internal and external key stakeholders, the leadership team(s), the Board of Directors and the Advisory Committees. The CHEO will collaborate and coordinate with department leaders and staff on various initiatives and lead by example and influence, exhibiting the highest professional and ethical behaviors. Additionally, the CHEO will interact with external entities such as health networks, legal counsel, state and federal regulatory agencies.

The CHEO will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer and will serve as a member of CalOptima Health’s executive team and contribute to strategic planning for the organization.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Ensures all policies and procedures are designed to promote health equity where possible, including but not limited to marketing strategy, medical and other health services policies, member and provider outreach, community advisory committees, quality improvement activities including delivery system reforms, grievance and appeals, and utilization management.
• Ensures all training materials are up to date with current standards of practices and ensures training records are maintained.
• Provides leadership, coordination and project management to help CalOptima Health define, implement, and evaluate strategies to reduce and eliminate disparities in clinical care and quality outcomes recognizing diverse cultural, language, economic, education and health status of members served.
• Provides regular updates to all employees and leadership and at board meetings on diversity, equity and inclusion activities and the progress made across the organization.
• Works to create health equity-focused resources and innovations to promote integration of health equity within member facing products.
• Develops approach to improving cultural and linguistic competency for our member-facing associates, providers and subcontractors with a goal of reducing implicit bias and better engaging diverse members.
• Directs and assists the team in carrying out department responsibilities and collaborates with the leadership team and staff to support short- and long-term goals/priorities for the department.
• Promotes a supportive and culturally responsive environment that fosters equity and inclusion of our members.
• Develops targeted interventions designed to eliminate health inequities.
• Assists and advises on National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) accreditation regarding health “equity” standards.
• Develops agency-wide metrics for health inequities and establishes goals for reducing and eliminating them.
• Works with internal Communications department to ensure communications are culturally appropriate, effectively tailored to audiences and addressing language access to drive the design and delivery of inclusive messaging to members and key stakeholders.
• Engages and collaborates with staff, subcontractors, providers and entities including but not limited to local community-based organizations, local health department, behavioral health and social services, child welfare systems and members in health equity efforts and initiatives.
• Serves as the health equity expert for the organization and guides the strategy to bring a health equity lens to all clinical programs, communications and education across all lines of business.
• Consults and facilitates the development, implementation, evaluation and monitoring of strategies and interventions designed to identify and address root causes of health inequities, which includes but is not limited to systemic racism, social drivers of health and infrastructure barriers.
• Leads task forces, committees and other community components of CalOptima Health’s equity plan.
• Consults and facilitates the development and implementation of policies and procedures aimed at improving health equity and reducing health disparities. Works with internal and external stakeholders to advise on both private and public policy and regulatory changes to advance and achieve health equity and improve member health outcomes at the state and local levels.
• Develops or utilizes relevant quantifiable metrics that can track and evaluate the results of the targeted interventions.
• Cultivates and promotes a mission-driven culture of high-quality performance, with a member focus on customer service, consistency, dignity, trustworthiness and accountability.
• Accesses, evaluates and reports on confidential data which may include members’ protected health information and personally identifying information.
• Completes other projects and duties as assigned.
• Develops and maintains a training program and ensures all employees, contracted staff, subcontractors, providers and provider staff receive mandatory sensitivity, diversity, cultural competency and health equity and inclusion training annually.

Experience & Education Requirements

• Health care industry experience.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the position such as those listed above is also qualifying.
• 8 years of progressively responsible professional experience implementing health improvement strategies to address social determinants of health.
• Master’s degree in Social Services, Sociology, Public Health, Nursing or related field.
• Strong background working with minoritized, under-resourced, and underserved populations and mental health/health equity issues related to diverse communities that experience disparities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Managed care experience.
• Public agency experience.
• Medicare and Medi-Cal experience.
• Doctoral degree in related field.

Physical Demands And Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands: While performing duties of job, employee may be required to move about the organization and to travel to offsite locations. Employee must be able to sit for extended periods of time, as well as work at the computer for long periods. Employee is required to use hands and fingers, especially for typing on the computer and using the mouse. Must also be able to reach with hands and arms and must occasionally lift office supply boxes or laptop case while traveling, up to 25 pounds. Employee must be able to communicate, particularly for regular phone use, in meetings, face-to-face interaction and while presenting. Occasional travel to off-site locations is required.
• Work Environment: Typical office environment with minimal to moderate noise levels and controlled office temperatures.

About Our Benefits & Wellness Options

At CalOptima Health, we know that a healthy and happy workforce is a thriving workforce, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including participation in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), low-cost medical/vision/dental insurance options, and paid time off. To support quality work-life balance, we allow flexible scheduling during core business hours, telework options for some positions, work schedules that allow every other Friday off (9/80 schedule), and a wellness program featuring diverse activities. Additionally, CalOptima Health contributes 4% of pensionable earnings to a 401(a) retirement program with no required employee contribution. Employees also have access to 457(b) retirement plans with pre/post-tax contribution options.

CalOptima Health is an equal employment opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions on the basis of merit. CalOptima Health wants to have qualified employees in every job position. CalOptima Health prohibits unlawful discrimination against any employee, or applicant for employment, based on race, religion/religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, sex stereotype, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transitioning status, age, sexual orientation, immigration status, military status as a disabled veteran, or veteran of the Vietnam era, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. CalOptima Health also prohibits unlawful discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has, or is perceived as having, any of those characteristics.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site as a result of your disability.

Tracking Code

4269-117