Chief Data and Insights Officer

Morgan Consulting Resources, Inc. has been retained to conduct the search for the Chief Data and Insights Officer for Covered California. This newly created role presents an exciting opportunity to join a dedicated and highly regarded organization, where you can actively support the organization’s journey towards excellence and innovation. Covered California operates multiple offices across different geographic regions (Oakland, Los Angeles, Sacramento) within the state. Although this position provides flexibility, it necessitates regular attendance at collaborative sessions and key meetings in Sacramento, California. 

About the Organization:

Covered California is an independent state agency with a mission to increase the number of insured Californians, improve health care quality, lower costs, and reduce health disparities through an innovative, competitive marketplace that empowers consumers to choose the health plan and providers that give them the best value. Covered California is a free service where eligible individuals and families can purchase quality, brand-name health insurance with financial assistance under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). Covered California also serves as the state’s small business health insurance marketplace under the ACA, known as Covered California for Small Business (CCSB).

California fully embraced the ACA and became the first state in the nation to enact legislation in 2010 to establish its own marketplace. Covered California is a dynamic organization of over 1,400 employees that has helped more than five million people obtain health coverage and continues to serve as a proving ground to inform state and national policy, and as a model for effective state-level marketplace practices. Covered California is governed by a five-member board appointed by Governor Newsom and the State Legislature. The annual budget is funded through an assessment fee on health plan premiums. Covered California’s Fiscal Year 2024-25 operating budget is $474.4 million.

Today, Covered California is the largest state-level ACA marketplace in the country. Covered California completed their 12^th open enrollment period at the end of January 2025. As Covered California marks the beginning of its second decade, the organization has taken the time to reflect upon the incredible foundation it has built, where it will go next, and how it can continue to be a driving force in health care for Californians.

For details regarding Covered California, please visit: https://www.coveredca.com.

About the Position:

Under the general direction of the Chief Deputy Executive Director, Operations, the Chief Data and Insights Officer (CDIO) will build a data and insights organization and lead the development and execution of data strategies that deliver secure and streamlined access to data, ensure data quality, and administer data governance, train staff to make data-driven decisions, create data management and integration standards and policies, and evolve the overall data strategy to support Covered California’s goals of increasing insured Californians, improving healthcare quality, lowering costs, and reducing health disparities.

The CDIO will drive the enterprise’s data, analytics, and business intelligence strategy forward. This role is pivotal in fostering a data-driven culture and empowering the enterprise to make informed decisions, optimize operations, and innovate across the organization. The CDIO will play a critical role in advancing the enterprise’s three-year strategic plan and fulfilling its mission to improve the health of all Californians by ensuring access to affordable, high-quality care. 

Key Responsibilities:

25% (E)

Data Strategy Development – Develop, update, and implement a comprehensive data strategy that fully harnesses the power of data across the organization while aligning with Covered California’s mission and strategic goals. This includes optimizing data into meaningful information to drive decision-making, enhancing organizational excellence in compliance with regulatory requirements and best practices in data access, quality, and analytics, and enabling the successful adoption of responsible generative AI solutions within the enterprise.

25% (E)

Insights Generation – Transform data into actionable insights to inform policy analysis and development, operational improvements, and strategic initiatives. Drive advanced analytics initiatives to identify trends, opportunities, and challenges in the healthcare marketplace. Support new and existing data-driven insights across the organization.

20% (E)

Collaboration and Leadership – Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to ensure data integrity, security, and accessibility. Lead cross-functional teams to integrate data insights into business processes and decision-making frameworks that ensure alignment and integration of data initiatives with business goals. Design, deliver, and evangelize a data literacy program to promote effective data ownership and data-driven decision-making across the enterprise. Manage and develop a high-performance team of data and analytics professionals. Travel throughout California as necessary to satellite offices and for off-site meetings, trainings, and conferences.

15% (E)

Innovation and Technology – Foster a culture of innovation by collaborating with the Chief Information Officer and Information Technology Division to deploy and support innovative data technologies. Drive the adoption of new tools that improve information security, privacy, data collection, analysis, reporting, and visualization capabilities. Oversee the management and optimization of data lakes, warehouses, and other data stores, ensuring robust data quality and governance across all platforms. Support the successful adoption of responsible AI solutions by ensuring access to high-quality data, identifying appropriate use cases, and promoting a data-driven culture that leverages generative AI to drive innovation and deliver business value.

10% (E)

Policy Development and Stakeholder Engagement – Engage with stakeholders across the enterprise, state partner, and the broader healthcare ecosystem to align on data needs and priorities. Effectively communicate complex data concepts to non-technical audiences, including executive leadership and policymakers. Develop and implement policies that align with Covered California’s data strategy and support organizational goals.

5% (M)

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion principles into all aspects of data management and insights generation. Ensure that data-driven initiatives address health disparities and promote equitable access to healthcare for diverse communities.

Components of Covered California’s Data Strategy include:

• Data Foundation: Building essential infrastructure, processes, and capabilities for effective data collection, management, and utilization.
• Data Analytics Capabilities: Developing robust tools and skills to extract meaningful insights from our data.
• Data Management & Governance: Ensuring data accuracy, security, and consistent usage throughout the organization.
• Centralized Data Integration Platform: Integrating our data into a unified platform for easier access and application.
• Organizational Change Management & Data Skills Development: Training our teams to effectively leverage new data tools and processes.
• Data Products: Creating valuable data solutions such as dashboards, reports, and AI models that enhance decision-making.
• Analytical Solutions: Delivering insightful recommendations through advanced analytics. 

The Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate is deeply motivated to advance Covered California’s mission of enhancing access to high-quality and affordable healthcare and will foster a data-driven culture where data insights inform every decision and action. An inspiring and results-driven leader, they currently lead a talented team of professionals with clarity and purpose. With a strong passion for developing people and a keen eye for organizational efficiency, they empower their team to excel while steering them toward impactful, strategic outcomes.

The CDIO is an accomplished and visionary leader with a proven track record of executing enterprise data strategies through a collaborative and consultative approach. With a strong history of driving innovation and developing scalable solutions for both current and emerging data sources, they are adept at advancing organizational data capabilities. The CDIO will be responsible for designing and implementing robust data governance and security frameworks while ensuring data integrity and consistency across the enterprise. Exceptional relationship building and communication skills are essential, along with a leadership style grounded in transparency, adaptability and strategic influence. With a clear focus on transformation, the CDIO will position data as one of Covered California’s most valuable strategic assets while bringing leaders, staff and stakeholders along through a shared vision and inclusive execution. 

Attributes:

• Be a strategic, adaptive, and creative thinker with excellent listening skills;
• Relationship builder and collaborator;
• A change agent with an entrepreneurial spirit;
• Solutions focused and willing to take risks;
• Assertive and confident, yet respectful;
• Responsive, innovative, and focused on contributing to the greater good;
• Promote and model a culture of inclusion and collaboration;
• Approach the role with a strong sense of humility and a team-based philosophy;
• Garner trust and respect both internally and externally:
• Communicating a vision that engages audiences with varying experience with data and innovation;
• Inspire teams and strive for continuous improvement and high performance, even in the face of difficulty and competing priorities;
• Thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic environment;
• Results-oriented with a bias towards action and strong follow-through;
• Rapidly acquire knowledge and exercise good judgment even when information is incomplete or ambiguous;
• Politically astute and tactful, attentive to the perspectives and competing interests of various internal and external stakeholders.

The CDIO exemplifies utmost integrity, respect, and fairness in all endeavors, consistently demonstrating ownership and accountability for their decisions. They are conscientious stewards of public trust, responsibly managing resources while honoring commitments and delivering on promises. With a steadfast focus on results and outcomes that maximize value for Californians, they recognize the criticality of ensuring health insurance accessibility for individuals and families. Their personal commitment to Covered California’s mission underscores their dedication to overcoming barriers and advancing our shared goals.

Experience:

• A minimum of eight years of progressive experience in data and analytics including three years of executive or senior leadership positions
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise-level data and analytics functions
• Proven ability to influence senior management and cross-functional leaders, translating complex data topics into clear business strategies
• Experience leading large-scale data transformation programs
• Expertise in change management practices, including stakeholder engagement, communication planning, and training strategies
• Demonstrated success in driving adoption of data-driven culture, including influencing behaviors and developing literacy programs
• Track record of building and mentoring high-performing teams
• Experience establishing and chairing data governance councils, steering committees, or working groups.
• Strong technical foundation in data engineering, architecture, and infrastructure, including hands-on familiarity with data warehousing technologies, Cloud platforms and Data integration tools
• Knowledge of data privacy regulations and compliance standards and experience implementing governance policies and controls
• Demonstrated ability to define and execute enterprise-wide data and analytics strategies aligned with strategic goals and innovation
• Demonstrated ability to build positive relationships, internally and externally, to accomplish the mission of Covered California
• Deep understanding of and appreciation for the ethnic, cultural, geographic, and socio-economic diversity of Californians
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership to a high-performing team and promote a collaborative work environment that welcomes and promotes diversity and inclusion
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Highly developed analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Strong organizational and management skills

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university desired 

Salary Range: $158,861 to $228,331 per year

If you or someone you know meets the qualifications for this pivotal role, I would be happy to arrange a discussion. Thank you for your consideration.

Lisa Coyne, Principal

Morgan Consulting Resources, Inc.

lisa@morganconsulting.com