Clinical Lead Jobs in California
Clinical Lead jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in health systems, behavioral health, outpatient care, and clinical research across a range of seniority levels from senior clinician stepping into leadership through director-track roles. The largest hiring markets are Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where employers such as Kaiser Permanente, UCSF Health, and Cedars-Sinai maintain deep clinical lead pipelines. The most in-demand specialties are behavioral health program leadership, oncology coordination, and ambulatory care management. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 70+ Clinical Lead jobs









- Coronado Hospital
- Day
- Regular
Overview
At Sharp, being a nurse means transforming the health care experience for your patients, for your colleagues and for yourself. In a collaborative environment with state-of-the-art facilities and advanced clinical practices, we encourage you to follow your passions wherever they take you.
As a recognized leader in nursing excellence with Magnet® recognitions for high-quality, patient-centered care, we invite you to join us in providing health care the way it should be. We offer a wide variety of nursing positions — from RNs and clinical nurse leads to case managers and clinical nurse specialists.
Success Profile
Wondering what qualities it takes to be a successful nursing professional at Sharp? View some of the traits we’re looking for below.
- Innovative
- Collaborative
- Resourceful
- Advocate
- Person-centered
- Critical Thinker
Job Details
Hours:
Shift Start Time:
7 AMShift End Time:
7:30 PMAWS Hours Requirement:
12/36 - 12 Hour ShiftAdditional Shift Information:
Weekend Requirements:
Every OtherOn-Call Required:
NoHourly Pay Range (Minimum - Midpoint - Maximum):
$74.630 - $96.310 - $107.860The stated pay scale reflects the range that Sharp reasonably expects to pay for this position. The actual pay rate and pay grade for this position will be dependent on a variety of factors, including an applicant’s years of experience, unique skills and abilities, education, alignment with similar internal candidates, marketplace factors, other requirements for the position, and employer business practices.
What You Will Do
To provide leadership and coordination of shift operations in a defined clinical area.
Required Qualifications
- 2 Years recent, pertinent, clinical experience.
- California Registered Nurse (RN) - CA Board of Registered Nursing -REQUIRED
- AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Professional (AHA BLS Healthcare) - American Heart Association -REQUIRED
- ACLS Certification (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) - American Heart Association -REQUIRED
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) - American Heart Association -REQUIRED
- NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) - Various-Employee provides certificate -REQUIRED
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing
- Leadership experience.
Essential Functions
- Achieve patient outcomes
Demonstrates clinical competence in area of practice
Participates in quality improvement unit activities based on unit focus/priorities.
Performs one or more of the following:
Assists with identifying clinical learning needs of staff and assures learning achieved.
Implements systems to inform/monitor staff compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards.
Implements action plan to improve clinical care of patients.
Develops new area of expertise relevant to clinical area. - Achieves operational outcomes
Collaborates with other disciplines/departments to resolve daily operational issues when supervising unit.
Performs one or more of the following:
Facilitates staff in prioritizing and problem solving daily operational issues.
Collaborates with Physicians to address operational issues.
Demonstrates resolution of operational issue with targeted outcomes as negotiated with manager or director.
Collaborates with other disciplines/departments to resolve identifies issues with demonstrated improvement in operational flow. - Human resource management
All 90 day and annual performance reviews are completed within 30 days of due date.
Assures employee files are current and complete including annual PPD, CPR, RN licensure, safety test, etc.
Performs one or more of the following:
Orients/mentors staff into new roles resulting in achieved competencies within identified timelines.
Develops staff's leadership skills, facilitating learning and growth.
Assists staff to resolve identified learning/performance issues.
Develops new area of expertise relevant to human resource management. - Oversee productivity
Achieves productivity score between 98-100%
Monitors flexing, on-call, skill mix, use of overtime, per diem and registry.
Performs one or more of the following:
Identifies and/or participates in implementation of cost reducing or revenue enhancing ideas.
Contributes to utilization of supplies in a cost-effective manner that supports delivery of care within budgeted supply expense per unit of service.
Contributes to meeting budgeted salary expense per unit of service.
Develops new area of expertise relevant to resource management. - Safety
Facilitates Workman's Compensation reporting and documentation per requirements.
Demonstrates ability to handle situations not covered by written or verbal instructions that maintain staff/patient safety.
Conveys importance and rational of policies & procedures and standards of care to staff and customers.
Performs one or more of the following:
Demonstrates resolution of safety issue as negotiated with manager or director.
Trends staff safety learning needs and assures learning achieved.
Develops new area of expertise relevant to delivery of safe patient care.
Sharp HealthCare is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability or any other protected class
Our Mission and Values
At Sharp, our mission is to improve the health of those we serve with a commitment to excellence in all that we do. We aim to offer quality care and services that set community standards, exceed patients’ expectations and are provided in a caring, convenient, cost-effective and accessible manner.
We have a vision to transform the health care experience through a culture of caring, quality, safety, service, innovation and excellence. Our goal is to be the best place to work, the best place to practice medicine and the best place to receive care.
Our team members are the driving force behind our mission and vision. At Sharp, we’re focused on providing an environment that will meet the needs of both our patients and our employees. Our team members are encouraged to connect with their passions and recommit to the purpose of their work each day.
Benefits
Medical, vision
dental and moreOur flexible benefits include a choice of two HMO medical plans (both of which include vision), two PPO dental choices, flexible spending accounts, accident insurance, long-term disability insurance and life insurance.
Generous vacation
holiday and sick leaveWe offer one of the most generous plans among health care systems in San Diego, and new Sharp employees start with 25 days of paid time off in just the first year.
Wellness
programsWe focus on your overall well-being by giving you tools to improve both yourself and your life — mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally and environmentally. Our focus is on balanced health and wellness to help you reach your health goals and enjoy life along the way.
Employee assistance
programAt Sharp, we understand that personal problems occasionally arise and you may need to seek outside professional advice. We’re here to help. Our employee assistance program helps employees develop and maintain a lifestyle that supports good health and productivity.
Retirement
plansWe’re proud to offer two retirement plans to match your needs. The Sharp$aver 401(a) plan matches your after-tax contributions and the 403(b) plan offers a long-term savings plan for pre-tax and Roth contributions with available loan and withdrawal provisions.
Educational opportunities
and tuition reimbursementWe support and encourage the growth and development of our employees through educational courses for credit in institutions of higher learning, continuing education programs (conferences, workshops, seminars) and specialty certification examinations.
Discount programs,
perks and other benefitsOur employees are eligible to participate in several group voluntary benefit plans — including group legal, college savings, critical illness insurance, group auto and home insurance and pet insurance.
See All 70 Clinical Lead Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Clinical Lead JobsClinical Lead Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Clinical Lead Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- American Heart Association11

- Revolution Medicines5

- Sutter Health4

- Adventist Health2

- Ethos Veterinary Health2

Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
- Education
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in clinical lead jobs across California.
- Active California clinical license appropriate to discipline, such as RN, LCSW, or MFT
- Minimum three to five years of direct clinical practice in a relevant specialty area
- Demonstrated experience supervising, mentoring, or coordinating a clinical team
- Bachelor's degree in nursing, social work, psychology, or a related clinical field
- Experience with electronic health record systems such as Epic or Cerner
- Strong familiarity with California Department of Public Health regulatory compliance standards
Clinical Lead Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a clinical lead in California?
The path starts with holding an active California clinical license in your discipline, issued by the relevant state board, such as the California Board of Registered Nursing for nurses or the California Board of Behavioral Sciences for social workers and therapists. Most employers expect several years of hands-on clinical practice before moving into a lead role. A bachelor's degree is standard, and leadership experience within a care team, charge role, or supervisory capacity strengthens candidacy significantly.
Which companies hire clinical leads in California?
Employers hiring clinical leads in California right now include American Heart Association, Revolution Medicines, and Sutter Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. California's density of large integrated health systems, regional medical centers, and specialty behavioral health organizations means consistent demand across both public and private employer types.
Which California cities have the most clinical lead jobs?
Los Angeles, Redwood City, and San Francisco have the most clinical lead openings in California. Los Angeles and San Diego concentrate demand around large hospital systems and research institutions, while San Francisco draws heavily from academic medical centers and growing behavioral health networks in the Bay Area.
Are there remote clinical lead jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Clinical lead roles are predominantly on-site because the work involves direct team supervision, patient interaction, and real-time care coordination. About 33% of clinical lead openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and those that do exist tend to focus on care management, utilization review, or clinical program administration rather than hands-on patient care.
How can I get hired as a clinical lead in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a charge nurse, senior clinician, or team lead role within a large California health system first, then transitioning into a formal clinical lead title. Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and county-run facilities across California regularly hire for structured new-grad and post-licensure programs that build toward leadership tracks. Candidates without supervisory history can strengthen their profile by completing a California clinical license early, pursuing a certification in their specialty, and seeking out committee or preceptor roles within their current organization.
Where can I find and apply to clinical lead jobs in California?
You can find and apply to clinical lead jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across health systems, behavioral health organizations, and specialty care employers. Find roles that fit your experience and specialty, then apply directly.
See All 70 Clinical Lead Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Clinical Lead Jobs