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Health Service Board selects Berkeley Search to lead executive director recruitment, names board president point of contact
Summary
The San Francisco Health Service Board voted unanimously to hire Berkeley Search as the executive recruiter for the San Francisco Health Service System executive director search and to designate the board president as the point of contact authorized to finalize the job description and recruitment materials. The recruiter estimates a 9–12 week search timeline.
The San Francisco Health Service Board on Oct. 21 voted unanimously to retain Berkeley Search as the executive recruiter for the search for the next executive director of the San Francisco Health Service System and to designate the board president as the board’s official point of contact with the recruiter and the Department of Human Resources (DHR).
Paul Green of the Department of Human Resources recommended the selection after DHR issued a mini–request for proposals to its prequalified pool and received one response. Green said Berkeley Search has worked on prior city executive recruitments and “meets all of the qualifications and they also have experience working specifically with HSS on an executive recruitment previously.” He told the board the firm’s proposed timeline calls for roughly 9 to 12 weeks from launch to offer, though he described that as an estimate.
The board’s action covers two authorizations: granting the Health Service Board president authority to approve the final job description, brochure and interview materials with DHR and approving Berkeley Search to conduct the full recruitment for the Executive Director job classification (0963). The motion was moved and seconded on the record; the roll-call vote recorded seven "Aye" votes from President Howe, Vice President Zavansky, Commissioner Kremin, Supervisor Dorsey, Commissioner Howard, Commissioner Sass and Commissioner Wilson. The chair announced the votes were unanimous.
Board members pressed DHR on procurement details during discussion. Members asked why only one firm responded to the mini-RFP and whether DHR could provide the names of the firms that did not respond; Paul Green said the mini-RFP was sent to the department’s prequalified list and that he did not have the list of non-respondents with him. Several members requested that the recruitment materials emphasize skills specific to health benefits and insurance given the HSS role’s unique responsibilities. One member asked for input from the current executive director (identified in the record as Director Yant and referred to elsewhere in discussion as "Abby") to ensure the job description captured the position’s specialized duties.
During public comment, Fred Sanchez, president of Protect Our Benefits, urged the board to consider a local, San Francisco-based search firm and asked that community groups be included in a search committee or allowed to participate in interviews. Sanchez also raised concerns about rising insurance costs and their impact on active employees and retirees.
After public comment closed, the board proceeded to the roll-call vote and approved both parts of the motion. The board directed staff to circulate the job description in Word to members for edits; the designated point of contact will collect edits and work with DHR and the selected recruiter to finalize public materials. The chair said the board can revisit appointing an acting director if the recruitment timeline extends beyond Director Yant’s planned tenure.
The board adjourned at 4:29 p.m.
