Associate Medical Director

POSITION: Associate Medical Director
DEPARTMENT: Medical
REPORTS TO: Chief Medical Officer (CMO)
LOCATION: 2950 International Blvd., Oakland, CA 94601
WORK HOURS: Full Time, 40 Hours per Week, 100% FTE
STATUS: Non-Union, Exempt

 

POSITION SUMMARY
The Associate Medical Director (AMD) is a physician leader and clinician who provides administrative oversight and direct patient care across NAHC's medical department. Reporting to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), the AMD plays a central role in shaping clinical services, operations, and quality outcomes.

A key focus of this role is supporting Friendship House, NAHC's residential recovery program in San Francisco, and the individuals in their care. The AMD will partner closely with Friendship House staff to deliver culturally grounded, trauma-informed medical services to residents in recovery, develop and refine clinical workflows for substance use disorder (SUD) care across the organization, and help build integrated care models that bridge primary care and addiction medicine.

The AMD has two primary objectives under the CMO's supervision:
• Assist in the oversight of medical and clinical personnel and operations, ensuring quality of care meets HEDIS, Pay4Performance, Health Plan, and all other regulatory and funder standards.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate clinical quality improvement projects — with a dedicated focus on SUD care pathways and outcomes.

The Native American Health Center is an accredited institution and adheres to the standards of excellence set forth by the Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) and the Commission of Dental Accreditation (CODA).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Medical Service and Operations
1. Manage clinical functions and patient care operations within the Medical Department in accordance with NAHC policies, federal and local regulations, and Medicaid/Medicare requirements.
2. Lead the development, review, and training of Medical Department policies, procedures, and operational workflows — including SUD-specific care protocols and Friendship House integration workflows.
3. Participate in internal and external clinic audits (AAAHC, AAH) and assist in developing corrective action plans as needed.

Clinical Oversight of Advanced Practice Providers & Complex Case Management
4. Provide direct clinical supervision and oversight of Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and other advanced practice providers, ensuring adherence to evidence-based standards of care and NAHC clinical protocols.
5. Serve as the primary physician resource for managing complex, high-acuity, or medically complicated patients, providing timely consultation and management.
6. Lead regular case review meetings with NPs and care teams to discuss complex cases, share clinical insights, and ensure coordinated, high-quality patient management.
7. Review and co-manage complex cases involving multiple comorbidities, including patients with co-occurring substance use and behavioral health conditions, particularly those served through Friendship House.
8. Develop and maintain standardized protocols and escalation pathways to guide NPs in identifying and managing complex clinical presentations appropriately.
9. Support the ongoing clinical development of NPs through mentorship, case-based learning, and targeted training on complex disease management, SUD, and integrated care.

Substance Use Disorder Care & Friendship House Support
10. Serve as a clinical resource and medical lead for Friendship House residents in San Francisco who are in recovery, providing consultation, oversight, and direct care as appropriate.
11. Develop, implement, and continuously improve clinical workflows for substance use disorder treatment across NAHC, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT/MOUD), screening protocols, care coordination, and transitions of care.
12. Collaborate with Friendship House program staff, behavioral health, and care teams to ensure residents receive integrated, whole-person medical care.
13. Identify gaps in SUD care delivery and lead initiatives to address them through evidence-based practice, staff training, and workflow redesign.
14. Support documentation and reporting requirements specific to SUD programs and funding streams.

Clinic Performance & Quality Improvement
15. Monitor and support provider productivity within the Medical Department in collaboration with the Medical Director and CMO.
16. Define, track, and report on annual performance and quality of care goals for the Medical Department.
17. Lead quarterly Care Team Meetings to address performance, quality goals, and collaborative care support.

Staff Management
18. Establish clear, measurable performance expectations for Medical Department staff and provide coaching, supervision, and evaluation.
19. Assist in planning and delivering staff trainings, including SUD-focused clinical education.
20. Participate in annual staff reviews and recommend disciplinary actions as appropriate.
21. Interview and recommend candidates for Medical Department positions in consultation with the CMO and Site Leadership.
22. Foster a motivational, cohesive, and mutually supportive environment across care teams.

Risk Management & Regulatory Compliance
23. Implement and periodically review a comprehensive quality control, QI, and risk management program including peer review and medical chart review.
24. Ensure adherence to all funding, government, licensing, and regulatory requirements for patient care, including those specific to SUD treatment and residential care settings.

Clinical Care
25. Provide direct patient care an average of 3 days per week in Oakland or San Francisco, including at Friendship House as needed.
26. Deliver comprehensive primary care including patient history, physical examination, assessment, and ordering of appropriate diagnostics and treatment.
27. Advance efforts in EMR optimization, budget planning, policy review, and quality assurance in collaboration with the CMO, Medical Director, and Director of Clinical Services Medical Operations.

GENERAL
28. Actively participate in staff meetings, workshops, and trainings as well as coordinate activities with collaborating agencies.
29. Provide interpretation or translation, as requested.
30. Member Care: Demonstrate understanding and apply working knowledge of safety policies and ensuring safe member practices.
31. Employee Safety: Safely performs all duties; follows required protective protocols to ensure personal safety as well the safety of others.
32. Must maintain compliance with ergonomic safety standards; be mindful of posture and regularly practice ergonomic stretches.
33. Quality Improvement: Actively participate in internal quality improvement teams and work
with members proactively to drive quality improvement initiatives in accordance with the mission and strategic goals of the organization, federal and state laws and regulations, and accreditation standards, when assigned.
34. HIPAA: Keep all protected health information (PHI) confidential and abide by HIPAA policies for the release and disclosure of any PHI. Will report unauthorized use of disclosure of PHI immediately, to supervisor or HIPAA security officer.
35. Work well under pressure, meet multiple and often competing deadlines.
36. At all times demonstrate cooperative behavior with supervisors, subordinates, colleagues, clients and the community.
37. Other duties as assigned by Supervisor.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
1. Licensed M.D. or D.O. in the State of California
2. Board certified or board eligible in a primary care specialty
3. Meets NAHC credentialing requirements
4. Active NPI, BLS, DEA; ACLS/NALS/PALS/PEARS as applicable
5. 3+ years of executive-level management experience including staff supervision and administration
6. 3+ years of administrative experience in program planning, supervision, and quality oversight; community health background highly desired
7. 3+ years of demonstrated leadership in clinical quality improvement and health system development
8. Experience providing clinical oversight and supervision of Nurse Practitioners or other advanced practice providers
9. Experience developing or working within SUD treatment programs or addiction medicine settings strongly preferred
10. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work across diverse backgrounds with tact and diplomacy
11. Clear, effective written and verbal communication skills

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
1. Addiction medicine fellowship training or board certification in Addiction Medicine or Addiction Psychiatry
2. Experience supporting residential recovery programs or working with individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders
3. Understanding of American Indian/Alaska Native community health issues and those of the surrounding community
4. Proven commitment to behavioral health and SUD integration within primary care
5. Experience in Community Health or Public Health settings

NAHC is a National Health Service Corp (NHSC) approved site where primary care physicians who are eligible for loan repayment funding can fulfill their service obligation.

NAHC is an Indian Health Program site for Indian Health Services (IHS) Loan Repayment Program.

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands 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.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms and stoop, bend at waist, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to both an inside/outside environment and may be exposed to the burning of traditional medicines.

 

Benefits: Native American Health Center (NAHC) considers our employees to be our most valuable resource and offers an excellent benefit package: competitive salaries, personal time off (PTO) or sick/vacation leave program, and an employer contribution 403(b) retirement plan to full-time regular status employees. We also provide medical, vision, dental, flexible spending, group term and voluntary life insurance coverage for employees and their dependents—with a percentage of employee contribution for dependent medical premiums.

Note to Applicants: Please be advised a post job offer, pre-employment Physical, TB test and Vaccination Clearance are required as a condition of employment. Vaccination Levels: 0 – Limited - require only TB, Physical & Seasonal Flu; 1 – Full Panel with exposure of Blood Borne Pathogens – requires, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, TDAP, Varicella, Hepatitis B, TB, Physical & Season Flu; 2 – Full panel no exposure of Blood Borne Pathogens – requires Measles, Mumps, Rubella, TDAP, Varicella, TB, Physical & Seasonal Flu. Additionally, you may be asked to get a Department of Justice Fingerprinting and/or Federal, State, County criminal background check clearance as a contingency for an offer of employment. Criminal clearances are obtained to protect the welfare and safety of clients receiving services at NAHC.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: Within the scope of Indian Preference, all candidates will receive equal consideration without regard to race, color, gender, religion, national origin or other non-merit factors.
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA): Native American Health Center abides by the mandates of the ADEA (protecting individuals 40 years and older) and considers age a non-merit factor in all employment decisions and considerations. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Native American Health Center abides by the mandates of the ADA and considers disability a non-merit factor in all employment decisions and considerations. Furthermore, NAHC will make any practical, feasible, and reasonable arrangements to accommodate qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.