Chief Medical Officer, Detention Operations

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Chief Medical Officer, Detention Operations based in the United States.This executive physician leadership role provides enterprise-wide clinical oversight for healthcare programs supporting federal detention facilities.You will serve as the senior medical authority responsible for clinical governance, patient safety, quality, compliance, and medical program performance.The role combines strategic leadership with operational engagement across geographically dispersed healthcare programs.You will work closely with government stakeholders, facility leaders, physicians, multidisciplinary teams, and accreditation organizations.You will help establish clinical standards, strengthen healthcare quality, manage medical risks, and promote evidence-based, patient-centered care.The position also provides an opportunity to influence workforce readiness, healthcare performance, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement at scale.With travel of up to 50%, this role is designed for an experienced physician executive comfortable leading complex healthcare operations in highly regulated environments.AccountabilitiesProvide executive physician leadership and clinical oversight across government healthcare programs and detention medical operations. Serve as the principal medical advisor on clinical quality, patient safety, healthcare operations, regulatory compliance, and strategic medical initiatives. Establish, implement, and maintain enterprise-wide clinical policies, procedures, treatment protocols, and standards of care. Ensure healthcare services comply with National Detention Standards (NDS), Performance-Based National Detention Standards (PBNDS), HIPAA requirements, federal and state regulations, accreditation standards, contractual obligations, and applicable evidence-based medical practices. Oversee clinical quality management, peer review, utilization management, infection prevention, patient safety, risk management, and performance improvement programs. Review mortality cases, sentinel events, serious incident reports, clinical audits, healthcare outcomes, and corrective action plans to identify risks and improvement opportunities. Develop and implement strategies to strengthen clinical quality, regulatory compliance, healthcare efficiency, patient safety, and patient outcomes. Conduct executive-level site visits, operational reviews, compliance assessments, and healthcare program evaluations across assigned operations. Partner with medical and operational leadership to address clinical, staffing, quality, compliance, and service delivery challenges. Serve as the senior medical representative in interactions with government headquarters, Contracting Officers, Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs), accreditation organizations, and other government stakeholders. Support government audits, inspections, accreditation surveys, contract performance evaluations, and other formal healthcare reviews. Monitor medical staffing models and workforce readiness to maintain operational continuity and contractual compliance. Provide strategic oversight of physician recruitment, credentialing, privileging, retention, succession planning, and provider performance management. Establish and monitor key performance indicators, healthcare dashboards, quality metrics, and operational performance measures. Prepare executive reports, clinical analyses, medical summaries, performance reviews, and strategic recommendations for leadership and stakeholders. Support healthcare contract mobilizations, transitions, proposal efforts, business development initiatives, and opportunities for program growth. Promote a culture of professionalism, accountability, evidence-based practice, continuous improvement, and patient-centered care. Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound medical judgment when addressing sensitive clinical, operational, and government matters. RequirementsDoctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree from an accredited medical school in the United States or its territories, or an equivalent foreign medical education recognized under applicable U.S. requirements. Graduates of foreign medical schools must maintain permanent certification through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). Current board certification in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Preventive Medicine/Preventive Health, Emergency Medicine, or another relevant clinical specialty; certification in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, or Preventive Medicine is preferred. At least 10 years of post-residency clinical practice experience, including a minimum of 6 years providing direct patient care as a physician. At least 7 years of progressive physician leadership experience overseeing healthcare operations, medical staff, clinical programs, quality management, or multi-site healthcare delivery systems, including at least 3 years providing clinical supervision and leadership to physicians and other clinical professionals. Current, full, and unrestricted medical licensure in at least one U.S. state or territory, with the ability to obtain and maintain additional licenses where required for assigned clinical responsibilities. Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association, or the ability to obtain it before beginning clinical duties. Current DEA registration or the ability to obtain and maintain the registrations required for assigned responsibilities and practice locations. Demonstrated experience in detention healthcare, correctional healthcare, federal healthcare programs, public health systems, or another comparable complex healthcare environment. Extensive knowledge of detention and correctional healthcare operations, federal healthcare programs, NDS, PBNDS, and applicable regulatory requirements. Strong understanding of healthcare quality assurance, performance improvement, peer review, infection prevention, patient safety, and risk management. Proven executive leadership and physician management capabilities, with experience evaluating clinical performance, staffing effectiveness, compliance, and healthcare operations across multiple locations. Strong analytical, critical-thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate healthcare data into strategic recommendations. Excellent written, verbal, presentation, interpersonal, and stakeholder communication skills. Ability to engage effectively with executive leaders, government officials, physicians, healthcare professionals, accreditation organizations, and operational teams. Strong organizational, project management, and leadership skills with the ability to manage complex priorities across geographically dispersed programs. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook, and Teams. Ability to obtain and maintain required government clearances, facility credentials, and contractual qualifications. Ability to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or legal authorization to work in the United States and consent to fingerprinting, background investigations, and required suitability or security screenings. Preferred qualifications include previous experience as a Chief Medical Officer, Corporate Medical Director, National Medical Director, Regional Medical Director, or equivalent physician executive. An MPH, MHA, MBA, or related advanced degree is preferred. Experience with ACA, NCCHC, Joint Commission, or other healthcare accreditation standards is preferred. Experience managing healthcare services across multiple detention facilities, federal healthcare contracts, or complex government programs is highly relevant. Experience supporting healthcare mobilizations, contract transitions, and business growth initiatives is advantageous. BenefitsFull-time, salaried, exempt executive leadership position. Remote work flexibility within the United States. Competitive compensation, with pay determined by factors including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Comprehensive healthcare and employee benefits. Opportunity to provide enterprise-wide medical leadership across complex, multi-site healthcare programs. Exposure to federal healthcare programs, government stakeholders, accreditation organizations, and multidisciplinary clinical teams. Opportunities to influence clinical quality, patient safety, operational performance, regulatory compliance, and healthcare strategy at scale. Professional growth through executive leadership, strategic program development, and complex healthcare initiatives. Travel of up to 50% to support site visits, operational reviews, government engagements, and healthcare program initiatives. Equal opportunity workplace committed to a diverse and inclusive professional environment. Workplace accommodations available for qualified individuals with disabilities or special needs. Operational visits may involve exposure to extreme temperatures, fumes, airborne particles, chemicals, and elevated noise levels. The role requires the ability to remain stationary for extended periods, move throughout office and operational environments, and occasionally stand, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, or lift and move items weighing up to 25 pounds. How Jobgether WorksWe use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team.We appreciate your interest and wish you the best! Why Apply Through Jobgether?Data Privacy Notice: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer. This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR). You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time.We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.