Description
Washington Permanente Medical Group (WPMG) is a clinician-led, self-governed and independent multi-specialty group practice, providing care to the Kaiser Permanente patients in Washington state. We work unencumbered by traditional health care obstacles and without silos; prioritizing people over profits, collaboration over ego, and driven by a singular goal: our patients' health. At WPMG, we take care of the whole person, with a team to address the fundamental, social, and emotional needs that contribute to total health. We are clinicians motivated by the desire to make a purposeful difference in the communities we serve, and in how health care is delivered.
The admin FTE allocated for this role is 0.8 FTE required 0.2 clinical FTE for total of 1.0 FTE.
Admin pay range minimum $336,069 and maximum $460,369 + 0.2 FTE Clinical will be added.
Please submit a CV and letter of Intent. Deadline for submission 9/11/26
JOB SUMMARY
Acting on behalf of the Executive Medical Director (EMD), the Vice President and Chief Quality Officer (CQO) serves as the senior physician executive responsible for quality, patient safety, population health, regulatory quality performance, and clinical excellence across the Market. The CQO translates WPMG, KP Medical Foundation, and Enterprise quality strategies into operational execution and measurable outcomes across departments, service lines, and care settings.
The CQO functions in a dyad leadership model with the Health Plan quality executive leadership team. Together, they share responsibility for achievement of quality, safety, accreditation, regulatory, and population health performance goals. The CQO provides physician leadership, clinical quality direction, and clinician engagement, while dyad partners provide operational, administrative, and regulatory implementation support. Ultimate accountability is with the KFHP/H WA board of directors of quality.
This role brings expertise in clinical quality, patient safety, population health, and process improvement to the interdisciplinary WPMG Executive Team. The CQO partners with 1) the KFHP CO Vice President of Quality and Safety to execute on meeting relevant regulatory requirements and achieving nationally benchmarked quality goals for the market, 2) the KFHP WA Chief Nurse Executive for ensuring appropriate practice standards and education, 3) the Executive Leader of Clinical Excellence at the KP Medical Foundation (KPMF) to execute on population health, cross-departmental clinical improvement initiatives, and continuing medical education, and 4) the KPMF Chief Clinical Officer to ensure complete and accurate documentation and coding. This role also represents WPMG in relevant KP National Quality forums.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Description
Foundation Quality Integration and Execution
- Serves as the physician executive responsible for implementing WPMG and KP Medical Foundation quality, safety, population health, and clinical excellence strategies within the Market.
- Translates Foundation and Enterprise quality standards into actionable operational plans and performance expectations across departments, service lines, and care delivery settings.
- Accountable for achieving WPMG and Foundation quality objectives through effective clinician engagement, operational execution, performance improvement, and change management.
- Partners with Foundation, Health Plan, operational, and clinician leaders to identify market-specific barriers and develop solutions that align local execution with Foundation priorities and expectations.
- Ensures adoption of WPMG and Foundation clinical standards, evidence-based practices, and quality improvement methodologies while maintaining accountability for market-level outcomes.
CQO Key Responsibilities
National Permanente Quality Leader Responsibilities
- The CQO works with and supports clinical leaders, clinicians and healthcare teams in developing goals, priorities, processes, enabling technology and measurement to execute on the market quality and safety strategy to ensure delivery of safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and person-centered clinical care across all settings.
- Responsible for providing Permanente oversight of the following KPWA departments/functional areas in collaboration with the relevant CO Health Plan leaders: Clinical Quality oversight Patient Safety; Workplace Safety, Employee Health, and Infection Prevention; Risk Management; Peer Review and Practitioner Performance Review and Oversight, Quality of Care Complaints, Credentialing, and Appeals; Community Health including Specialty Safety Net; Ethics; Institute for Health Research; Government programs including Medicaid, CHP+, Medicare, and Special Needs Plan; Federal and State Government Regulatory Audits and Reports; NCQA accreditation, certification, recognition and evaluation including PCMH and HEDIS data process and oversight; CMS Medicare 5-Star strategy and oversight; oversight for scope of practice, scope of services, and education.
- This role serves as co-chair for the KPWA Quality Oversight Committee (QOC)
- Represent the Permanente perspective as a voting member of the quarterly KP National Quality Committee (KPNQC) meetings and represent the WPMG perspective as a voting member of the quarterly National Permanente Quality Leaders Committee (NPQLC). Responsible for guiding cross-regional execution on National Quality Initiatives as assigned. Coordinates regional representation and participation in inter-regional clinical practice groups (IRCPGs). Approves regional physician assignments to Quality-related leadership roles at the Care Management Institute.
- Medical Technical Specialist for KPWA Emergency Management.
- Executive Director of Clinical Quality; Executive Director of the Institute for Health Research; Executive Director of Complex Needs, Government Programs, & Community Health; Executive Director of Population Management
Other duties as assigned.
Physical and Mental Job Requirements
Physical:
- Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written formats with clinicians, leaders, and interdisciplinary teams.
- Ability to remain stationary and/or move within clinical and administrative settings for extended periods.
- Ability to operate standard office technology (computer, phone, virtual platforms).
- Ability to review and interpret detailed documents, reports, and data.
- Occasional travel between sites or meetings as needed.
Mental:
- Ability to analyze complex clinical quality, safety, regulatory, and population health data and initiatives.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment and decision-making in high-stakes, risk-sensitive environments.
- Ability to lead, influence, and collaborate across multiple departments and senior stakeholders.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and deadlines simultaneously.
- Ability to interpret and apply regulatory, accreditation, and compliance requirements (e.g., CMS, NCQA).
- Ability to develop strategy, set priorities, and oversee large-scale quality and safety programs.
- Ability to maintain attention to detail in oversight functions such as peer review, credentialing, and audits.
- Ability to respond effectively in urgent or emergency management situations.
- Ability to maintain professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality in handling sensitive information.
EDUCATION
Required
Description
Preferred
Minimum:
MD, DO, and WPMG Shareholder
Master of Public Health (MPH)
LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS
Required
Description
Preferred
Minimum:
- Board Certified
- At least 5yrs experience with proven clinical credibility
- Internal candidates must be a shareholder in good standing.
- External must be on a path to shareholder status within three years of hire.
- An experienced leader with appropriate
industry experience, preferably in the
health care industry. An energetic,
forward-thinking and creative individual
with high ethical standards and an
appropriate professional image. A
strategic visionary with sound technical
skills, analytical ability, good judgment and strong operational focus. An extremely well organized and self-directed individual who is "politically savvy" and a team player. An articulate individual who can relate to people at all levels of an organization and possesses excellent communication skills. A good educator who is trustworthy and willing to share information and serve as a mentor. - A decisive individual who possesses a
"big picture" perspective and is well
versed in systems. - Diverse experience in managing a range of administrative areas of responsibility
· Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS)
COMPETENCIES
Developing Trust
- Demonstrates transparency in decision making and applies rules and expectations consistently.
- Empowers others by giving autonomy on day-to-day execution of strategy.
- Leads by example by delivering on own commitments and managing operations efficiently.
- Trusts others to deliver on their commitments.
Defining Vision
- Gives others a voice by engaging the team in collaboratively defining strategies rather than imposing own agenda.
- Takes a big picture approach by considering future market factors for healthcare.
- Links the benefits of strategies to patient outcomes and organizational performance.
- Provides rationale for ideas to demonstrate feasibility and practicality.
- Breaks down silos to engage other departments and learn from their experiences to support problem solving.
Leading Teams
- Sets clear expectations with the team to give direction and establish metrics for success.
- Holds others accountable to mutually agreed upon goals and performance standards.
- Knows the diverse styles of individuals on the team and leverages strengths appropriately.
- Creates open lines of communication to share information and receive feedback.
- Maintains emotional poise and understands the emotional impact of decisions and actions on the team.
Leading Change
- Seizes opportunities to implement innovative ideas.
- Takes initiative to deliver results beyond the status quo.
- Adapts to changing circumstances by maintaining flexibility and quickly changing course.
- Demonstrates openness for taking appropriate risks to achieve results.
Apply on company website
Find Connections via Linkedin
