Health Officer

View our recruitment brochure here.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Sonoma County is seeking a skilled and dynamic physician who is passionate about community health improvement as its next Health Officer. Recognized for its commitment to innovation and collaboration, the County of Sonoma strives to be the healthiest county in California. The Health Officer plays a key leadership role in bringing this vision to reality.

SONOMA COUNTY

Nestled in the heart of Northern California Wine Country, Sonoma County is the largest county in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, covering over 1,600 square miles. It is located in the northernmost part of the Bay Area, about 30 miles north of San Francisco, and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, Marin County and San Pablo Bay to the south, and Solano, Napa, and Lake Counties to the east.

Sonoma County is known for amazing wines and legendary vineyards, as well as organic produce and sustainable farming. The County is also home to the scenic Russian River, a popular tourist destination where residents and visitors enjoy kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and swimming.

Encompassing nine cities and five federally recognized tribes, more than a third of Sonoma County’s almost 500,000 residents live in the City of Santa Rosa, the county seat, and a quarter live in unincorporated areas. Downtown areas such as Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Sonoma, Healdsburg, and Guerneville offer a mix of historic architecture, boutique shopping, and gourmet dining, providing a small-town feel with modern amenities.

Festivals, farmers’ markets, and cultural events celebrate local talent and traditions. The County enjoys a diverse economy that includes agriculture, a world-class wine region, technology, healthcare, tourism, manufacturing, craft brewing, retail, and professional services.

While the latest census data shows that Sonoma County’s proportion of white residents remains higher than the national average, the share of residents who identify as Hispanic or Latino also ranks higher than the national average, making up more than a quarter of residents (29% in 2022). 37% of County residents identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Education levels in Sonoma County exceed the national average and the County’s public school system ranks considerably high within the state, including innovative charter schools and high-quality secondary education options at Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma State University.

In 2022, the median household income in Sonoma County was $99,266. Although home prices reflect the value of living in an area that offers abundant amenities, the prices of Sonoma County homes remain among the more affordable in the greater Bay Area.

Visit  and (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). for additional information about Sonoma County—the place to live, work, and build your career legacy.

THE HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT


The Sonoma County Department of Health Services is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the community's health and well-being. With over 700 staff members and numerous community partners, the department offers a broad range of programs and services to promote and sustain health for individuals, families, and communities. The Department is supported by an adopted budget of approximately $501.6 million for FY 2024-25, with departmental operating expenditures totaling $332.4 million.

The department’s mission is to promote, protect, and ensure access to services supporting health, recovery, and well-being for all residents, guided by core values of equity, collaboration, and excellence. The Department of Health Services is composed of four Divisions:

• Executive Management & Administration:
  Provides leadership and administrative support, including compliance, finance, health policy planning and equity, legislative policy, health data and epidemiology, human resources, IT, and privacy and security.
• Behavioral Health:
  Offers mental health and substance use disorder services for all age groups, including those with Medi-Cal and the uninsured, directly and through community partnerships.
• Homelessness Services:
  Provides policy and funding guidance, staff support…