Executive Director

A well-established, nonprofit organization in Columbus is seeking an Executive Director to provide strategic and operational leadership. Reporting to the Board of Directors, this executive will oversee organizational strategy, programs, fundraising, financial stewardship, staff leadership, advocacy, and external partnerships.



Responsibilities:

• Provide overall strategic and operational leadership, establishing organizational priorities and ensuring effective execution of the mission and long-term vision.
• Partner closely with the Board of Directors on governance, strategic planning, organizational performance, and key initiatives.
• Lead, develop, and hold staff accountable while fostering a collaborative, mission-focused organizational culture.
• Oversee programs and services to ensure they effectively address the needs of individuals, families, and community stakeholders.
• Lead fundraising and resource development efforts across individual giving, major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundations, grants, sponsorships, and events.
• Build and maintain relationships with donors, healthcare organizations, community partners, government representatives, and other key stakeholders.
• Serve as a visible spokesperson and advocate for the organization, effectively communicating its mission, impact, and priorities to diverse audiences.
• Provide oversight of annual budgeting, financial reporting, cash management, internal controls, audits, and overall financial performance in partnership with internal and external accounting resources.
• Develop strategies to strengthen organizational sustainability, expand reach, and identify opportunities to enhance programs and services.
• Guide advocacy and public policy initiatives related to healthcare access, disability services, research, caregiver support, and other mission-aligned priorities.
• Monitor organizational performance and use financial, programmatic, and operational data to inform decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with applicable nonprofit regulations, policies, funding requirements, and governance standards.
• Represent the organization at community events, industry meetings, donor engagements, and other external activities.
• Maintain an active presence across the organization's service area and travel periodically to support programs, partnerships, and community engagement.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10 years of progressive nonprofit leadership experience, with prior experience serving as an Executive Director, President, CEO, or comparable senior organizational leader strongly preferred.
• Previous experience within a healthcare, human services, patient advocacy, disability services, or related mission-driven organization strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience partnering with and reporting to a Board of Directors, including governance and strategic planning responsibilities.
• Proven success with fundraising and development, including experience cultivating donors, community partnerships, grants, sponsorships, or other revenue sources.
• Solid financial acumen with experience overseeing budgets, financial reporting, audits, internal controls, and organizational financial performance.
• Ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on involvement in the operational needs of a smaller organization.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with the executive presence to represent an organization with donors, community partners, healthcare stakeholders, and other external audiences.
• Mission-oriented, collaborative leadership style with the ability to build trust across employees, Board members, donors, and community stakeholders.

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual's skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan. Additional disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use of AI products.


EEO Notice


Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.


Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io .


Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal .

Representation Notice


By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada: Based on Highspring's discussions with its Client, Highspring's understanding is that this position for employment is a current vacancy (either through Highspring as a contractor or with the client directly).

Privacy Notice


Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here .
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here .
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here .
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here .
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here .

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here ( ). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice


Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

• the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations;
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.