Overview

The Opportunity

NICHQ is an independent, 501(c)3, mission-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to driving dramatic and sustainable improvements in the complex issues facing maternal and child health. The Board of Directors is looking for a proven leader who brings credibility, business acumen and demonstrated expertise in maternal and child health.

The new President and CEO will report to the Board of Directors and work with it to ensure NICHQ's continued ability to meet its mission by attracting and retaining talent, strengthening its financial position and pursuing and producing work with significant impact. The candidate will have proven success leading a fast-paced, multifaceted organization with complex administrative, financial, operational and service demands in a competitive marketplace. A credible healthcare leader and a collaborative team builder who is able to both inspire and delegate, the candidate will be skilled at identifying opportunities, bringing together people and resources, and leveraging them to maximize NICHQ's impact and position as a leader in the field. The candidate will maintain the high quality of NICHQ's products and processes and be a strong proponent of improvement science, appreciating the core this provides for the organization’s past successes.

NICHQ has a strong legacy of improving the health of children and families by working with public health partners, healthcare delivery organizations, foundations, government agencies and community organizations to achieve breakthrough improvements for children and families. Given the organization’s positive reputation and ability to attract funding from both public and private sources, its excellent team of dedicated staff, and relationships with outside experts and Board members, the new President and CEO will have a strong foundation upon which to build.

Organizational Overview

NICHQ has a team of 55 multicultural and dedicated project and administrative staff, the majority of whom are based in the Boston area, which is also home to NICHQ’s office in downtown Boston, MA. NICHQ’s broad range of services include the application of quality improvement and implementation science, cross‐sector collaboration, system design, project management, applied research and evaluation, patient and family engagement, and measuring improvements and health policy in areas that matter most for the health of children and families.

NICHQ has a budget of $12 million, of which 80% comes from government grants and 20% from private sources and foundations. Like all organizations that are dependent on “soft” money, it operates in an environment of unpredictability. Unlike many non-profit organizations of its size, it has an operating reserve of $5 million. In the current environment, the new CEO has opportunities, as well as challenges, to move the organization forward in the field of children’s health.

NICHQ Today

The retirement of the President and CEO has made timely identification of a new long­term leader very important. Strategic and thoughtful leadership and strong organizational oversight – from both the Board and the new President and CEO with strong support from the Board – is needed for NICHQ to move forward successfully and remain an important voice in children's health.

The Transition to a New President and CEO: After being appointed, the new leader will have the opportunity – and responsibility – to work with the Board to use this transition period to further define NICHQ’s future direction. There is an expectation that the new President and CEO will quickly develop a compelling vision for NICHQ’s future with the support of the Board and will be able to inspire NICHQ’s staff and key stakeholders to execute on that plan. To move forward, the candidate will need to clearly define roles and responsibilities, build a vigorous leadership team, and ensure a high level of accountability. The primary concern is for a smooth and successful transition that builds upon the many strengths of NICHQ, while setting a clear course for its future.

After being appointed, the new leader will have the opportunity – and responsibility – to work with the Board to consider the environment and refine NICHQ’s future direction. It is likely that the new President and CEO will need to develop a compelling vision for NICHQ’s future quickly. The Board is fully engaged and will provide support. Moreover, NICHQ has deeply dedicated staff and a host of stakeholders that will be instrumental in assessing and recalibrating the organization’s strategies. The successful candidate will also need to ensure that they have a built a vigorous leadership team with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. A smooth and successful transition will build upon NICHQs many strengths, while setting a clear course for its future.

The Environment: The healthcare world is unpredictable, and this is a time of unprecedented change. The new President and CEO will need to clearly define NICHQ's niche and be able to communicate the organization's value to funders and other stakeholders as the environment continues to evolve.

Diversification of Funding: While NICHQ is financially stable today, it is dependent on a pipeline of projects funded by government sources. Diversification of revenue is a key objective for the Board, as is building and maintaining a larger reserve. In order to build upon past successes, NICHQ will need a strategic, thoughtful and methodical approach to develop new business, leverage past funders and partners, and create new revenue streams.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President and CEO will provide leadership and vision and work with the Board to set strategic direction and shape internal policy. The candidate will be accountable for NICHQ’s overall performance, operational effectiveness and management and will pursue and develop new business and revenue streams to facilitate organizational growth and ensure future viability and financial sustainability.

The new President and CEO will be collaborative, communicate openly, and cultivate trusting relationships with staff, Board members, and a myriad of key stakeholder groups, including: public officials at all levels of government; funders; business and medical communities; and the organizations and people NICHQ serves. The candidate will invest in NICHQ's future by being forward thinking and agile, responding to the marketplace with innovation and smart business practices.

Specific Responsibilities

Key to the new President and CEO's success will be his/her ability to:

Lead the organization and work in concert with the Board, staff and others to develop a vision and strategic direction.

• Develop a clear vision and strategic plan, long-and short-term goals, and a plan for implementation; successfully operationalize those plans.
• Translate plans into funding and action to continue to ensure excellence.
• Balance the organization’s passion for the mission with its need to effectively operate as a business with a balanced budget.
• Set the tone for organizational culture that reflects NICHQ’s core values.

Work effectively in partnership with the Board of Directors.

• Keep the Board informed on a timely basis about the organization’s financial and operational performance, regulatory compliance, and environmental factors that impact NICHQ’s work and opportunities, to enable the Board to make sound decisions that best support NICHQ and its mission.
• Promote ongoing development of a strong Board; keep Board members and committees engaged and focused and leverage their talents.
• Promote and maintain transparency.

Serve as the face of NICHQ and its ambassador.

• Speak eloquently, persuasively and credibly about NICHQ and its mission in a range of settings, both internally and externally.
• Be a credible voice, representing NICHQ at the local, regional and national levels.
• Participate, advocate and lead - as appropriate - discussions around maternal and child health.
• Enhance the organization’s visibility and the recognition of its expertise and role in the fields of children’s health.

Reach out and build external alliances and relationships.

• Build mutual trust and strong working relationships with key organizations and other interested parties, including healthcare partners, government agencies, businesses, community organizations, and healthcare advocacy groups who can advance the mission of the organization.
• Serve as a convener: cultivate partnerships with the families, communities, organizations and other constituencies on whose behalf NICHQ works.
• Be proactive, contribute to innovative thinking and provide leadership.

Strengthen and continuously improve NICHQ’s organizational capacities and capabilities, overseeing its operations to:

• Lead and develop a talented and dedicated leadership team who are collaborative and are empowered to make decisions.
• Be prepared to adapt to changes in the healthcare landscape to ensure the organization’s continued relevance and ability to contribute positively.
• Encourage high professional standards.
• Create a culture of program and product innovation and excellence.
• Improve internal policy and procedures and cultivate a culture of openness and fairness that supports staff and encourages teamwork.
• Work to retain and recruit a diverse team of talented, culturally humble, public health, project, evaluation and administrative staff who reflect the diversity of those NICHQ serves.

Ensure the administrative and financial integrity and health of the organization.

• Establish long‐term financial sustainability, integrity and compliance with funders:

o Create a business development strategy to leverage current work, assess and develop new revenue streams, and fundraising strategies.
o Develop implementation plans and execute on them; ensure follow through and constant evaluation.
o Ensure that the business model and lines of business are responsive to the needs of the marketplace, while meeting the organization’s goals and the needs of the populations it serves.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements of funders and others by building the proper controls and providing timely, accurate and complete reporting of financial, administrative and operational information.
• Oversee the assessment of systems, organizational structure and roles:

o Determine infrastructure, process and communication needs.
o Leverage technology in ways that enhance the organization’s performance.

• Use data to evaluate and improve operations and effectiveness, and to document impact and value for current and potential partners, grantors and other funding sources.

Qualifications

Skills and Experience

• Strategic and credible leader with vision, perseverance and a track record of transforming ideas into reality
• Effective communicator with the ability to expand the institute’s visibility, influence and impact; passionate, compelling and persuasive; comfortable speaking in community and national forums
• Effective manager with a demonstrated ability to inspire, delegate, and lead diverse, high- performing, collaborative teams
• Track record of leading and navigating change and growth to build vital, sustainable organizations
• An exceptional relationship builder, skilled at developing and nurturing effective partnerships and working collaboratively with other individuals and organizations
• Demonstrated success in business development, including grant procurement and revenue generation and diversification
• Competence in financial management and budget oversight
• Highly skilled and effective at working with and for a nonprofit Board of Directors
• Proven success in navigating a complicated political, economic, public health, and healthcare landscape, including a sophisticated understanding of strategic drivers, trends and outside forces
• An advocate who is able to find common ground and balance the needs and agendas of competing stakeholders, as well as the Board and staff
• Proactive and skilled at recognizing and creating opportunities and leveraging resources
• Demonstrated success in building and sustaining relationships with professional partners as well as public and private funders
• Respectful of the past with the ability to make positive, sustainable change for the future
• Able to move in a diversity of environments including government, nonprofit, medical, public health, community and business
• Comfortable working in complex regulatory environments
• Advanced degree (MD, MPH, PhD, MBA, etc.) in a related field preferred

Personal Attributes

• Recognized for integrity; thoughtful, honest and fair
• Inclusive, collaborative, ethical, and resilient
• Transparent, compassionate, and empathetic
• Energetic, positive, flexible, and committed to excellence
• Exceptional networking skills
• Keen financial, organizational and business acumen
• Strong belief in the importance of quality improvement and implementation science in improving children's health and a commitment to promoting NICHQ’s mission

Application Guidelines

Interested candidates can submit materials via the link at the top right of this page.

This search is being conducted in partnership with TSNE. All submissions receive an acknowledgment and are confidential within the search committee and TSNE. Electronic submissions sent through the above link are preferred.

Candidates should include a resume or profile summary that displays their skills and experiences, as well as a cover letter describing their interest and how their qualifications and experience match the needs and mission of NICHQ. Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply early; the position will remain open, and applications accepted until the right candidate is identified. The NICHQ Search Committee will review applications and candidates who are selected to move forward in the hiring process will be notified. Questions may be directed to TSNE Search Consultant, Dr. John Lloyd.

The President and CEO position is US-based and remote, and operates based on eastern time zone work hours. The role is a full-time exempt position. NICHQ offers a comprehensive benefits package, and salary is commensurate with experience, in the approximate range of $253,000 - $357,000.

NICHQ is an Equal Opportunity Employer

NICHQ is commited to increasing the represetation of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in our workforce and to value and embrace their skills, perspectives and experiences for the benefit of our mission. NICHQ is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender or gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability.

NICHQ strongly encourages applications from candidates who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, or from any other minoritized group.