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Associate Chief Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Associate Chief of Staff Reports to: Chief of Staff Location: Redwood City, CA Classification: Exempt Overview: The Associate Chief of Staff is a high-impact, hands‑on role supporting the Chief of ...

... Associate Chief Medical Officer, Medical Director, Assistant Medical Director, or comparable physician executive. - Experience working with Medi-Cal or another state Medicaid managed care program ...

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Associate Chief information

What is an associate chief?

Associate Chiefs are senior leaders in an organization who assist the Chief Executive or Chief Officer in overseeing specific departments, programs, or functions. They often act as second-in-command and help implement strategies, manage teams, and ensure smooth operations. The role may vary by industry, but typically involves significant responsibility for leadership, decision-making, and communication between upper management and staff. Associate Chiefs may also step in for the Chief during absences or represent the organization in meetings and events.

How does an associate chief typically balance strategic leadership with day-to-day operational responsibilities?

An Associate Chief often acts as a bridge between executive leadership and department teams, overseeing both long-term initiatives and daily operations. This role requires effective prioritization, as Associate Chiefs must ensure that immediate issues are addressed without losing sight of strategic goals. They frequently collaborate with managers, staff, and external partners to implement policies, resolve challenges, and drive department performance. Successful candidates are adaptable, able to shift between high-level planning and hands-on problem-solving, and skilled at communicating across various levels of the organization.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate chief, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Chief, you need strong leadership abilities, strategic planning skills, and relevant experience in your field, often supported by an advanced degree or professional certification. Familiarity with management software, data analytics tools, and industry-specific systems is typically required. Exceptional communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution skills help you excel in overseeing teams and driving organizational goals. These competencies are crucial for ensuring effective operations, fostering collaboration, and achieving strategic success within the organization.

What is the difference between Associate Chief vs Department Head?

AspectAssociate ChiefDepartment Head
CredentialsTypically requires advanced degrees and relevant certificationsSimilar credentials, often with additional leadership experience
Work EnvironmentSupports senior leadership, involved in strategic planningManages daily operations of a department
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in healthcare, education, government sectorsWidely used across various industries including healthcare and education

The Associate Chief and Department Head roles both require relevant credentials and involve leadership within organizations. The Associate Chief usually supports senior executives and focuses on strategic initiatives, while the Department Head manages daily departmental operations. Both positions are integral to organizational structure but differ mainly in scope and level of responsibility.

What are the most commonly searched types of Chief jobs in California?

The most popular types of Chief jobs in California are:

Associate Chief Information Officer Education IT

San Francisco, CA • On-site


University of California San Francisco
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools • 10K+ employees

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 13 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

233rd of 627 rated colleges and universities

People enjoy working here

Good employer

Respectful managers


Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

New


Job description


The University of California San Francisco seeks an accomplished, strategic technology executive to serve as Associate CIO for Education. Reporting jointly to the Enterprise Chief Information Officer and the Vice Chancellor for Education and Student Affairs, the Associate CIO is a trusted partner to UCSF's academic leadership, responsible for shaping the technology strategy that enables the future of health sciences education. The role combines institutional strategy with operational discipline, ensuring that core education technology services are reliable today while positioning UCSF to continuously innovate through data, analytics, artificial intelligence, and emerging digital capabilities.
The Associate CIO for Education will manage the education information technology program for the UCSF education mission, supporting the Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Dentistry, Physical Therapy, Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, Office of Education and Student Affairs, and enterprise units supporting our learners.
The Associate CIO for Education will work with stakeholders to manage enterprise education technology applications that enhance the health professions schools and graduate division in all aspects of their education mission, including:
• administrative technologies, student systems, educational data and analytics, and online learning solutions, with direct oversight of the infrastructure and security of core systems of record as defined by the UCSF IT Operating Model (ITOM) Program.
• establishing the required IT, data, analytics, AI, and emerging digital capabilities within Education IT and the broader UCSF IT organization to enable close collaboration with education operations in order to solve priority needs of the education mission.
• developing mechanisms and strategies to understand and respond to changing faculty interests in digital materials, learning technologies, information literacy, and technology-enhanced pedagogies.
• providing information, resources, and services that leverage technology to aid accessibility.
• contribute to conversations about the effective use of digital learning technologies in the application of learning theory to course design.
• serving as a valuable and trusted partner, including by providing and leveraging educational IT content expertise, in aspects of design and implementation of programmatic curricular changes and new areas of instruction.
• creating and extending connections among schools and programs to aid education and experiential learning, including the library, teaching/simulation labs, and makerspace.
• supporting programs that offer and develop online degree programs.
• ensuring that educational data and technology comply with applicable federal, state, University of California, and institutional policies, reporting, regulations, and standards, including requirements established by the U.S. Department of Education, the University of California Office of the President (UCOP), institutional accrediting agencies, and professional school accrediting and regulatory bodies.
Additionally, the Associate CIO for Education will engage with the campus education leadership and governance committees as a key voice in articulating the value UCSF IT must deliver to meet the needs of the education community.
The Associate CIO for Education will work closely with their organizational peers and associated teams across UCSF and UC, including but not limited to peer information technology leaders, the Registrar, the University Librarian, and educational technology leaders from the schools and programs, to build cross-functional teams focused on meeting the current and evolving needs of the UCSF education community. These teams offer the Associate CIO for Education the opportunity to both participate in and lead the development of advanced education information technology solutions.
The Associate CIO for Education will also participate in the IT Governance structure, including the UCSF Committee on Education Technology, and in certain University of California system-wide IT committees, such as the Educational Technology Leadership Committee.
The Associate CIO serves as the senior technology executive for the education mission, balancing strategic leadership with accountability for day-to-day delivery of mission-critical services. The role establishes trusted partnerships, modern governance, and sustainable operating models while ensuring that the student information system, curriculum management system, learning management system, educational analytics platforms, and related services remain secure, resilient, and responsive to the evolving needs of faculty, students, and administrators.
The ideal candidate is an accomplished leader with experience leading complex education technology organizations. They bring a record of modernizing enterprise platforms, leading organizational change, and helping academic leaders rethink teaching, learning, and educational operations through technology. Equally comfortable discussing institutional strategy with Deans and overseeing operational execution with technical teams, the successful candidate inspires innovation while delivering reliable, secure services at enterprise scale.
Department Overview
The UCSF IT organization provides enterprise technology, data, analytics, cybersecurity, and digital platforms that support UCSF's missions. Working alongside institutional leaders, UCSF IT helps redesign research, education, healthcare, and administrative operations through responsible use of artificial intelligence, automation, and modern digital capabilities.
Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
of time
Essential Function (Yes/No)
Key Responsibilities
(To be completed by Supervisor)
40
YESProvide executive leadership for UCSF's education technology portfolio across the Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Dentistry, Physical Therapy, and the graduate division.
Partner with the Vice Chancellor, Deans, faculty leaders, and governance committees to develop and execute a multi-year strategy that advances teaching, learning, learner success, and academic operations.
Help education leaders redesign processes, policies, and services by responsibly leveraging artificial intelligence, automation, analytics, and digital capabilities.
Maintain executive accountability for the reliable delivery, modernization, security, and lifecycle management of mission-critical education platforms, including the student information system, curriculum management system, learning management system, educational data platforms, and related enterprise services.
Lead a high-performing education IT organization while aligning investments with UCSF's enterprise technology strategy.
15
YES
Advises senior management on controversial situations, customer negotiations, or influencing and persuading other senior-level managers. Create strong relationships with key leaders in areas such as education deans and vice deans, departmental Chairs, departmental CAOs, the Office of Education & Student Affairs, and the deans' office leadership.
Interacts internally and externally with executive-level management, educators, student leaders, staff, and potential partners. Influences policymaking.
10
YESProvide executive oversight for the planning, implementation, operation, and continuous improvement of education technology services.
Ensure operational excellence for enterprise education systems while communicating a clear strategic roadmap to faculty, staff, students, and executive leadership.
Champion adoption of common enterprise capabilities that simplify the technology environment and improve user experience. Advocate for education in the design of enterprise systems to enable better and more rapid adoption across and amongst educational programs and stakeholders.
15
YES
Coordinates with functional departments involved in system requirements, techniques, and controls.
Works closely with the Chief Data and Analytics Officer, VP of Enterprise Systems, VP of IT Infrastructure, the Chief Information Security Officer, and other partners to ensure data is made available to educators and administrators in a secure, timely, and cost-effective manner.
Ensures reliability and security for education administrative systems and third-party services supporting the education community. This includes ensuring that cybersecurity measures are implemented and maintained across the education community, under the direction of the Chief Information Security Officer and in coordination with UCSF's overall security strategy.
Collaborate with enterprise AI, data, infrastructure, and cybersecurity leaders to establish governance, trusted platforms, and integration patterns that enable responsible AI adoption across the education mission.
Act as a key collaborator with other UC campuses, educational institutions, and health systems to support the needs of UCSF educational programs.
10
YES
Assists in the development and oversight of departmental budget as well as advocacy for appropriate investments in information technology capabilities to meet the needs of the education community. In collaboration with IT Finance, establish appropriate funding mechanisms to fairly distribute service costs.
10
YES
Oversees, through subordinate managers, the analysis of functional department needs and helps establish priorities for feasibility studies, systems design, and implementation to develop new and/or modify information processing systems.
Directs the activities of the education IT organization and establishes cross-functional teams in collaboration with education programs. Develop and foster a culture of transparency and fairness to attract and retain a strong team.
100%
(To update total %, enter the amount of time in whole numbers (without the % symbol - e.g., 15, 20) then highlight the total sum (e.g., 1%) at the bottom of the column and press F9. The total sum should add up to 100%.)
Qualifications
Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
Knowledge,Skills,andAbilities
Req/Pref
Senior management experience in a complex education environment in a university setting. A keen understanding of the missions of academic health
Req
Direct management experience of significant information technology operations and service development. Demonstrated experience in education information technology needs.
Req
Strong and broadknowledge of opportunities and challenges facingthe education components of an academic medical center.
Req
Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to build inter- organizational and intra-organizational relationships across complex organizational boundaries to supportthe IT needs
of the education community.
Req
Strong critical thinking abilities and problem-solving skills.
Req
Expert leadership/management skills,including abilities in persuasion/negotiation, mentoring.
Req
Experience participating in large change management projects and the ability to obtain buy-in and active participation from stakeholders acrossthe organization. High EQ (emotional quotient) to lead people and continuously evolve and improve the relationship, services and culture between central IT and the education community.
Req
Evidence of ability to establish priorities and to achieveresults in a multi-purpose, multi-unit, multi-site system through shared governance and a service-oriented approach
Req
Excellent verbal and written skills, including presentation to executive leaders and diverse audiences
Req
Leadership skills as evidenced by one who possesses a broad vision of the future of the organization, assertiveness, diplomacy in the presentation of ideas and initiatives, and sensitivity to the values and expectations of all constituents
Req
Evidence of a management stylethat inspires a culture of achieving excellence through teamwork, trust, collaboration, and accountability.
Req
Effective in a matrixed environment with the ability to manage and effect changein a large, diverse organization. Requires cultural competence and emotional maturity.
Req
Minimum of ten years of related experience
Req
Minimum of ten years of lead, supervisory, or management experience
Req
Strong relevant experience in education technology, data, and analytics systems.
Pref
Demonstrated success leading enterprise digital transformation, including adoption of artificial intelligence, automation, advanced analytics, or comparable technologies.ReqExperience establishing governance and policy frameworks for responsible AI adoption within higher education, healthcare, or similarly regulated environments.Pref
Education
Req/Pref
Bachelor's degreein related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
Req
Masters degree
Preferred


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