Chief Executive Officer

A Message from the Board Chair

Local health plans were built on a simple idea: Medi-Cal works best when it is rooted in, and accountable to, the communities it serves. For nearly 30 years, LHPC has carried that idea forward, helping ensure that local health plans have a strong voice in shaping policy and improving the health and well-being of the millions of Californians who rely on Medi-Cal. Our plans, our communities, and the members we serve are stronger because of that commitment.

As we tackle the unique challenges facing Medi-Cal access and delivery in California today, we are seeking a leader who shares that commitment and sense of purpose. This is a critical moment for our state and for the future of community-based health care. Opportunities to improve health outcomes are growing, expectations are evolving, and the need for strong, collaborative leadership has never been greater.

We are looking for someone who cares deeply about the people local health plans serve and recognizes the essential role community-based plans play in expanding access to care, advancing health equity, and improving the health of the communities they call home. We need a leader who will stand up for our communities, build strong relationships with policymakers and stakeholders, and bring together diverse perspectives to strengthen Medi-Cal for the future. This positive impact on the Medi-Cal program will require a leader that can build and direct coalitions, develop collaborations with aligned partners, and advance key policy agendas.

The next CEO of LHPC must be both a strategic advocate and a trusted partner. We need a leader with the courage to advocate boldly, the credibility to earn trust in every room, and the skill to unite 17 plans behind a single, powerful voice. Most importantly, we seek someone who is inspired by the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Californians and help ensure that local health plans continue to be a driving force for innovation, access, and community health.

We invite you to help lead the next chapter of LHPC.

Sincerely,

Yolanda R. Richardson Incoming Chair, LHPC Board of Directors CEO, San Francisco Health Plan

The Opportunity

Medi-Cal is one of California’s most important public commitments, and local health plans are at its heart. Rooted in the communities they serve, local plans connect millions of Californians to care, build provider networks where they are needed most and invest in the health of their neighbors. As health care evolves in California and across the country, those communities need steady, trusted leadership and a strong, unified voice operating on their behalf.

Local Health Plans of California (LHPC) seeks a visionary, relationship-driven Chief Executive Officer to lead the association through one of the most consequential periods in Medi-Cal’s history. The next CEO will represent California’s 17 local health plans, which together serve 70% of Medi-Cal managed care members. This leader will champion the people and communities local plans serve, strengthen relationships with policymakers and partners, and help shape a Medi-Cal program that works for all Californians.

The next CEO will build on a solid foundation. LHPC has a respected policy team, an engaged board of member plan leaders and a record of results, including:

• CalAIM . Helping shape and implement CalAIM to provide services that address social drivers of health.
• Proposition 35 . Working to pass Proposition 35, which makes the Managed Care Organization tax permanent and requires revenues to fund Medi-Cal services.
• Safety net partnerships . Building stronger partnerships with safety net providers to strengthen the entire system.

The board seeks a leader who will carry that work forward with energy and vision: someone visible, collaborative, and grounded in both Medi-Cal and California’s policy landscape, and unafraid to take a clear position on behalf of local plans and their members.

California will welcome new state leadership in 2027, creating a natural opportunity for the next CEO to build relationships and partnerships on behalf of local plans and the communities they serve. The CEO must bring together plans that differ in size, geography, and local circumstances, and translate their shared mission into a clear, consistent, and persuasive agenda. Telling the story and needs of every member plan, and the communities behind them, clearly, credibly, and persuasively will be central to LHPC’s success.

Position Summary

The Chief Executive Officer works with the LHPC Board of Directors and the Board Chair to develop, articulate, share and advocate for state and federal legislative, regulatory and policy positions for local health plans. The CEO works with the board to create LHPC’s vision and mission and leads the development of the association’s overall strategy and objectives in support of that vision, mission, and priorities.

The CEO leads the organization, including oversight of LHPC’s day-to-day operations: managing executives, staff, and consultants; financial performance; and setting and monitoring progress toward strategic and operational goals. The CEO serves as LHPC’s chief advocate, strategist, convener, and public spokesperson.

The CEO reports to the LHPC Board of Directors and works in close partnership with the Board Chair. Direct reports to the CEO include:

• LHPC Institute Executive Director
• Director of Government Affairs, CalAIM & MLTSS
• Director of Government Affairs, Quality & Behavioral Health
• Director of Operations

The successful CEO will:

• Lead advocacy and policy
• Convene and serve members
• Build partnerships and represent LHPC
• Govern with the board
• Lead the organization

For more information, please visit https://www.lhpc.org/post/lhpc-chief-executive-officer-search

Procedure for Candidacy

LHPC invites applications, nominations, and confidential inquiries. Candidates should submit a résumé and cover letter to 2026CEOSearch@lhpc.org. Direct applicants only. We respectfully request no agency, recruiter, or search firm solicitations related to this position. Review of applications will begin in November, with a target start date in December 2026 or January 2027.

Pay: $320,000.00 - $455,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Sacramento, CA (Sacramento County)