Chief Executive Officer

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Position description

Heart to Heart International (HHI) is seeking a visionary, mission‑driven Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead one of the nation’s most respected organizations advancing equitable access to healthcare in the U.S. and around the world. For more than three decades, HHI has been ensuring quality care reaches medically under‑resourced communities and disaster‑affected areas. Its work is grounded in the humanitarian principles of Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, and Independence, and guided by a vision in which every person has the opportunity for a healthy life and every community has the capacity to make that access a reality.

Since its founding in 1992, HHI has expanded from early large‑scale medical airlifts to a global nonprofit delivering medical aid, strengthening community health, supporting laboratories, and responding rapidly to crises around the world. As HHI continues to expand its reach and deepen its impact, the CEO position represents an extraordinary opportunity to guide a high‑performing
organization through its next chapter of innovation, sustainability, and global influence.

Overview of the Role:

The CEO serves as HHI’s strategic leader and primary ambassador, advancing the mission while ensuring organizational excellence across programs, operations, finances, and global partnerships. Reporting to the Board of
Directors, the CEO guides long‑term strategy, upholds accountability and compliance, and fosters a collaborative, mission‑aligned culture across a high‑performing team.

This leader will strengthen and diversify philanthropic support – particularly expanding beyond HHI’s strong Kansas City donor base – while elevating the organization’s visibility and impact. Through disciplined leadership and strategic relationship‑building, the CEO will ensure HHI delivers high‑quality health access, disaster response, and capacity‑building initiatives that improve lives and strengthen communities worldwide.

Core Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Lead the development and implementation of strategic plans that align with the mission and ensure HHI’s long-term sustainability, impact, and organizational goals.
• Identify and respond to emerging global health and humanitarian needs.
• Guide the organization through evolving challenges and opportunities in the nonprofit and health sectors.

Organizational & Program Management

• Oversee daily operations and ensure excellence across all programmatic, financial, and administrative functions.
• Provide strategic oversight for program design, implementation, and evaluation to ensure meaningful impact for the communities HHI serves.
• Identify and manage operational, financial, legal, and reputational risks.
• Uphold all compliance, ethical, and regulatory standards.
• Foster a culture rooted in equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

Board Engagement

• Serve as a trusted partner to the Board of Directors, ensuring effective governance and strategic alignment.
• Communicate regularly with the Board on organizational performance, risks, and key initiatives.
• Support the recruitment and engagement of a diverse, mission-aligned Board of Directors.

Financial Oversight

• Lead financial planning, budgeting, and sustainable resource allocation.
• Ensure fiscal health through disciplined management and transparent reporting.

Fundraising & External Relations

• Serve as the primary fundraiser and public champion of HHI.
• Identify and cultivate new funding opportunities to diversify and strengthen HHI’s revenue streams.
• Cultivate and expand relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, and government partners.
• Strengthen HHI’s brand, visibility, and voice through compelling storytelling, media engagement, and high-impact partnerships.
• Steward and grow the Kansas City donor base while expanding HHI’s geographic reach.

Team Leadership & Culture

• Lead, develop, and retain a high-performing leadership team and staff.
• Promote professional development, collaboration, and a mission-aligned organizational culture.
• Reinforce a culture that aligns with HHI’s mission and values.

Qualifications

• Executive-level leadership experience within an organization of similar size/scope, including nonprofit, healthcare, humanitarian, or international development setting.
• Demonstrated success managing organizations with annual budgets of $10 million or more.
• Expertise in fundraising, strategic partnerships, and donor cultivation; familiarity with the Kansas City funding ecosystem and the ability to expand this donor base is a meaningful advantage.
• Strong track record of strategic thinking and executing initiatives that deliver measurable outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to create, manage, and analyze budgets and financials.
• Deep understanding of global health systems, humanitarian response, and healthcare equity – preferred.
• Outstanding presentation and communication skills; comfortable serving as lead spokesperson, relationship builder, and fundraiser.
• Excellence in organizational management with the ability to motivate, manage, and develop high-performing teams and work closely with a Board of Directors.
• Commitment to HHI’s mission, values, and global humanitarian principles.
• Bachelor’s degree required; Advanced degree in Public Health, Nonprofit Management, International Development, Business Administration, or related field preferred.

Application instructions

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