(CNIO) Chief Nursing Informatics Officer - 142121

Ranked as the No. 1 hospital in San Diego and tied for No. 1 in California, UC San Diego Health stands at the pinnacle of clinical distinction and nursing innovation. As one of only 10 hospitals in the state to earn the elite Magnet with Distinction designation, alongside continuous Magnet recognition since 2011, the organization champions a culture of empowerment, exceptional patient-centered care, and superior quality outcomes.

At the intersection of medicine and technology, Information Services (IS) and the Joan & Irwin Jacobs Center for Health Innovation (JCHI) drive pioneering advancements. Achieving CHIME's highest Level 10 Digital Health Most Wired status, UC San Diego Health blends human intelligence with cutting-edge artificial intelligence, advanced computing, and human-centered design to fundamentally transform care delivery across the continuum.

As a senior leader within Information Services and a close partner to senior nursing leadership, the Chief Nursing Information Officer (CNIO) oversees a multidisciplinary team of informaticists, clinical trainers, and change enablement leaders. The CNIO aligns people, processes, and technology to leverage data, information, knowledge, and wisdom. This highly visible leader applies strategic, visionary, and operational oversight to champion nursing informatics that optimizes workflows, enhances patient safety, drives innovation, and ensures seamless care coordination across all enterprise service lines.

Position Summary:

• Develop and execute a strategic vision for nursing informatics aligned with organizational priorities, health system goals, and evolving care and efficiency models.
• Serve as a strategic partner and peer executive to leaders such as the CCO (Chief Clinical Officer) and CMIO (Chief Medical Information Officer) by advocating for nursing leadership in IT governance, educating executives on complex informatics concepts, and translating public policy into practical strategies.
• Lead AI and Automation initiatives as they pertain to nursing, such as ambient documentation and other wellness, efficiency, and quality use cases. Serve as an AI leader for the organization that evaluating AI products, the responsible use of AI, and will serve on the IS AI and Automation Committee.
• Oversee the strategic design, delivery, and optimization of electronic health records, clinical decision support systems, and health technologies to ensure efficient, patient-centered care while leading interprofessional feasibility assessments for complex system enhancements across multiple departments and markets.
• Collaborate with operational and technology executives and engage frontline clinicians through structured feedback and co-design mechanisms to close training gaps, foster digital competency and innovation, and ensure the long-term usability and adoption of health systems.
• Oversee adherence to regulatory, legal, and ethical standards in nursing informatics, data governance, and business continuity/downtime planning.
• Conduct routine communication and negotiation with vendors to tailor content to organizational needs and support clinical optimization.
• Lead, along with other IS leaders, a culture of innovation, efficiency, and wellbeing within and beyond Information Services.

Core Initiatives:

• Lead the enterprise-wide expansion and optimization of virtual nursing for initiatives such as proactive patient safety monitoring, fall prevention, and behavioral observation.
• Act as the nursing lead in architecting, planning, and deploying next-generation smart hospital technologies, infrastructure, and automated care environments.
• Partner with operational and technical leaders to optimize patient throughput, capacity management, and care coordination through real-time data integration within the enterprise Mission Control center.
• Implement targeted workflow solutions designed to reduce nursing burden, minimize administrative friction, and foster workforce resilience and wellbeing.
• Direct the utilization of clinical informatics, advanced analytics, and nursing-sensitive indicators to drive measurable enhancements in clinical quality, safety, and evidence-based practice.
• Support nursing research and workforce development by empowering clinicians with tools for evidence-based insights and strategically expanding professional growth and leadership pathways for informatics professionals

• Current, or eligibility to obtain, California RN license, with ongoing employment contingent on valid CA RN licensure.

• Certification in Nursing Informatics or Nursing Administration, or a willingness to pursue and obtain Nursing Informatics certification in the first year of employment.

• Twelve years of relevant experience or a Bachelor's degree in a related area plus 8 years of experience

• Clinical Experience: 5-10 years of strong foundational experience in direct patient care across diverse healthcare settings.

• Informatics Experience: 5-10 years of hands-on experience with electronic health records (EHRs), health IT implementation, and workflow optimization.

• Leadership Experience: 5+ years of executive or management experience leading interdisciplinary teams, managing complex projects, and collaborating with C-suite stakeholders.

• Technical & Domain Knowledge: Demonstrated expertise in clinical informatics leadership, digital transformation, and emerging digital health technologies.

• Perseverance in the setting of complex problems and the implementation of solutions with long timelines.

• Understanding of regional and national health care trends and the implications for nursing informatics.

• Excellent skill and experience in negotiation and conflict resolution. Ability to listen and respond effectively to sensitive inquiries or complaints.

• Competencies: Superior leadership, communication, stakeholder engagement, and change management skills with a proven ability to influence organizational culture and policy at regional or national levels.

• Experience leading the implementation of advanced nursing technologies, such as ambient AI tools, virtual nursing, smart rooms, and other AI/Automation products.

• Board certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in Informatics.

• Certified in Change Management by ProSci.

• Master's degree in a related area or Doctorate degree (DNP, PhD) in nursing, informatics, healthcare administration, or a related field highly preferred.

• Experience overseeing education and training teams, curriculum design, and a portfolio of novel education and training modalities.

• Seasoned in change enablement efforts to guide individuals through change.

• Personally achieved (or was instrumental in an organization receiving) awards and accolades in the healthcare informatics realm.

• Experience as a seasoned informatics leader at an academic medical center.

• Published researcher advancing the field of nursing, technology, or healthcare.

• Held strategic leadership roles (Director and above) for at least 5 years.

• Certified in a prominent health system EMR, such as Epic or Oracle.

• Fellow of a relevant healthcare society (eg, FHIMSS, FAAN, or FACMI.

• Seasoned speaker and presenter at national conferences and meetings.

• Executed projects of grand scale and impact, led enterprise-wide efforts.

• Experience working with Innovation entities to design and develop novel solutions.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.