Chief Executive Officer (California)

Scion Executive Search has been retained to conduct an immediate search for a strategic, growth-oriented, and mission-driven Chief Executive Officer on behalf of Vayu Health, an innovative healthcare organization advancing health equity through whole-person care for individuals with complex chronic conditions, behavioral health needs, and significant social determinants of health. This is an exceptional opportunity for an accomplished executive leader to guide a proven healthcare organization through its next stage of growth, operational scale, and geographic expansion. This position may be performed remotely by candidates with an established California healthcare network, though California-based candidates are strongly preferred. Regular travel throughout California will be expected.

ABOUT VAYU HEALTH

Vayu Health is a mission-driven healthcare organization redefining how care is delivered to underserved complex individuals living with multiple chronic conditions (with at least uncontrolled diabetes), behavioral health needs, and social needs. Through an innovative, community-based care model, Vayu partners with health plans, providers, and community organizations to improve outcomes for populations that have historically been among the most difficult to serve in traditional healthcare systems.

The organization has established a differentiated model with demonstrated clinical outcomes, secured value-based payer contracts, published research, and a strong financial foundation. With a proven model in place, Vayu is now entering its next phase of organizational growth.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

Vayu Health is at a pivotal crossroads. Having established a proven care model with demonstrated outcomes and burgeoning market traction, the organization is now focused on building the enterprise required to scale that impact across California and beyond.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer will lead Vayu through its next phase of organizational growth and operational maturity. This leader will guide statewide expansion across California while building the scalable infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and organizational capabilities necessary to support long-term growth and position the organization for future expansion into additional geographies and payer environments.

Working in close partnership with Founder Dr. Avni Shah, the CEO will complement Vayu's continued clinical innovation with operational excellence, ensuring the organization's mission, culture, and whole-person approach to care remain at the center of every stage of growth.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Geographic Expansion, Payer Strategy, & Strategic Partnerships

• Lead the strategic expansion of Vayu's footprint across California, deepening partnerships with Managed Care Plans (MCPs), providers, and community organizations to extend the organization's reach and impact.
• Navigate California's evolving Medi-Cal landscape, including CalAIM and other regulatory and payment reforms, serving as a trusted leader and advocate for Vayu's innovative care model.
• Lead the evolution of Vayu's existing and future payer partnerships, innovative payment methods, and contracting strategies, supporting and demonstrating the strength of the organization's whole-person and human centered care model and its ability to improve health outcomes while reducing total cost of care.
• Cultivate and strengthen strategic relationships across California's healthcare ecosystem, building executive-level partnerships with health plans, providers, funders, policymakers, and other key stakeholders that advance Vayu's mission and long-term growth.
• Develop the long-term strategy for expanding Vayu's care model beyond California, evaluating new markets and growth opportunities while ensuring the organization's operational readiness and financial sustainability.

Operational Infrastructure & Organizational Scale

• Build the Vayu Blueprint by transforming early-stage startup processes into scalable, enterprise-grade operating systems that support sustainable organizational growth.
• Design and implement the operational infrastructure, technology, and AI-enabled workflows necessary to improve efficiency, strengthen execution, and reduce administrative burden while preserving Vayu's human-centered model of care.
• Establish repeatable systems, processes, and organizational capabilities that enable Vayu to scale without compromising clinical quality, patient outcomes, or organizational culture.
• Build an operational foundation that enables Vayu's care model to scale across California today while positioning the organization for future geographic expansion and broader payer portability.

Financial Strategy & Organizational Sustainability

• Lead Vayu's long-term financial strategy, ensuring the organization's growth strengthens its financial position through disciplined P&L management, sound unit economics, and operational efficiencies that reduce the cost of care as the organization scales.
• Champion Vayu's long-term sustainability by securing the capital and strategic partnerships needed to support organizational growth, while advancing a balanced funding model that includes earned revenue, value-based payer partnerships, grants, and strategic philanthropy.
• Serve as a trusted executive partner to health plans, providers, funders, and government stakeholders, articulating the value of Vayu's innovative care model through measurable outcomes, rigorous outcomes and ROI analysis, and a deep understanding of the intersection between clinical delivery, payment models, actuarial science, and healthcare policy.

Clinical Partnership & Care Model Excellence

• Partner closely with clinical leadership to ensure Vayu's care model continues to deliver exceptional patient outcomes while operating with the efficiency and discipline required to support sustainable growth.
• Balance whole-person and human centered care with sound operational and financial stewardship as the organization scales.
• Partner closely with Founder Dr. Avni Shah to translate visionary clinical innovation into scalable operational execution, ensuring the integrity, quality, and heart of Vayu's care model remain central as the organization grows.

People, Culture, & Organizational Leadership

• Lead, inspire, and develop a rapidly growing organization, fostering organizational clarity, accountability, mission alignment, and transparent communication through periods of sustained growth and change.
• Build and mentor a high-performing leadership team capable of supporting Vayu's continued growth while reinforcing a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Cultivate a culture that prioritizes the human on both sides of the care equation, investing in employee engagement, professional agency, and leadership development while reducing administrative burden through thoughtful systems and operational excellence.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Qualifications

• Executive Leadership: 7+ years of executive leadership experience (CEO, COO, Executive Director, SVP, or equivalent) within a healthcare delivery organization, healthcare services organization, or growth-stage healthcare enterprise.
• Proven Scaling Record: Demonstrated success leading a healthcare delivery organization or tech-enabled healthcare service through a significant period of growth, transformation, or operational scaling, including experience managing multi-site operations, complex organizations with budgets of $10M+ or teams of 25+ employees.
• California Health System Expertise: Deep understanding of California's Medi-Cal ecosystem, Managed Care Plans (MCPs), reimbursement models, and evolving regulatory landscape.
• Financial & Philanthropic Acumen: Demonstrated financial leadership, including P&L oversight, unit economics, sustainable revenue strategy, payer contracting, and diversified funding models. Experience securing strategic partnerships, transformational capital, grants, and strategic philanthropy, with the ability to engage effectively with Boards, funders, grantors, and philanthropic partners.
• Infrastructure Mindset: Experience building scalable operating systems and infrastructure designed for replication, including multi-site healthcare operations, technology-enabled service models, or EMR-enabled clinical environments.
• Nonprofit Governance: Significant experience partnering with nonprofit Boards of Directors, supporting governance, and managing complex grant-funded or mission-driven organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading healthcare delivery, value-based care, or organizational expansion across multiple states.
• Experience working alongside founders or within founder-led organizations during transition periods.
• Experience leveraging AI, emerging technologies, and digital innovation to improve operational scalability, care delivery, and organizational effectiveness.
• Experience engaging with healthcare policy, government relations, or industry advocacy efforts at the state or national level.
• Experience partnering closely with clinical leaders and multidisciplinary care teams, with an appreciation for balancing clinical excellence with operational and financial performance.
• Experience applying human-centered design principles to healthcare delivery, patient experience, organizational development, or service innovation.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

This position offers a competitive base]]> <