Chief Impact Officer

Chief Impact Officer

The Chief Impact Officer is a senior executive leader responsible for advancing NCOA's mission to create the conditions for all people to age well—today and into the future. Reporting to the President & CEO and serving as a member of the executive leadership team, the CIO leads enterprise-wide impact strategy, ensuring that research, programs, policy, campaigns, government affairs, research, evaluation, and partnerships are aligned to on our mission and social impact goal.

The CIO serves as NCOA's chief architect of social impact, translating mission into strategy, strategy into action, and action into evidence of results.

Positions at this level set organizational vision, strategy, and culture, and are accountable for outcomes across the entire organization. They report to the CEO and oversee multiple divisions, functions, or enterprise-wide initiatives. Executives exercise the highest level of independent judgment and decision-making, represent the organization externally with key stakeholders, and ensure alignment of resources with strategic goals. Incumbents generally have fifteen or more years of progressive leadership experience and advanced knowledge in their discipline, along with demonstrated success in leading complex organizations.

Competencies And Expectations

• Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; analyzes market and competition; identifies external threats and opportunities; adapts strategy to changing conditions.
• Visionary Leadership - Displays passion and optimism; inspires respect and trust; mobilizes others to fulfill the vision; provides vision and inspiration to peers and subordinates.
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Interpersonal Skills - Demonstrates emotional intelligence in interactions and collaboration with others; listens actively and respectfully without interrupting; remains open to feedback and new perspectives; manages conflict constructively; builds trust through empathy, discretion, and respectful engagement – even under pressure.
• Business Acumen - Understands business implications of decisions and profitability; demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; aligns work with strategic goals.
• Ethics - Treats people with respect; works with integrity; upholds organizational values; avoids actual or perceived conflicts of interest.
• Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process; makes timely decisions.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; plans for additional resources; sets goals and objectives; organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; develops realistic action plans.
• Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for their own actions; follows through on commitments.
• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• External Relations - Develops and maintains relationships with external stakeholders; represents NCOA's interests well with coalitions; represents NCOA's point of view in public speaking engagements.
• Change Management - Develops workable implementation plans; communicates changes effectively; builds commitment and overcomes resistance; prepares and supports those affected by change; monitors transition and evaluates results.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead NCOA's organization-wide social impact framework, metrics, and learning agenda
• Align programs, research, policy, campaigns, government affairs, and partnerships around clear outcomes
• Ensure equity, evidence, and data-driven decision-making are embedded across initiatives
• Communicate NCOA's impact clearly and credibly to funders, policymakers, partners, and the public
• Foster collaboration across departments to maximize mission effectiveness and scale
• Drive innovation by designing, testing, and scaling evidence-based solutions that respond to evolving needs and future aging trends

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and oversee NCOA's long-term impact strategy in alignment with organizational goals
• Partner with the CEO and executive team to integrate impact priorities into strategic planning and resource allocation
• Guide enterprise-level decisions using data, research, and evaluation findings
• Represent impact priorities with external stakeholders
• Position NCOA as a national leader in advancing conditions for aging well

Innovation And Partnership Development

• Identify and advance innovative approaches to creating the conditions
• Cultivate strategic partnerships across government, philanthropy, healthcare, technology, academia, and the aging network to advance impact and in coordination with the Chief Development Officer
• Leverage cross-sector collaborations to scale proven solutions and pilot new models
• Support funding strategies by aligning impact goals with funder priorities and evidence requirements
• Promote responsible innovation that centers older adults' lived experiences

Research, Policy, And Impact

• Advance innovative approaches that improve outcomes and strengthen aging-related systems
• Oversee research, evaluation, and learning to ensure continuous improvement and accountability
• Integrate evidence and data into policy advocacy to drive equitable, systemic change
• Translate complex findings into actionable insights for diverse audiences
• Cultivate strategic, cross-sector partnerships to scale proven solutions

Leadership And Culture

• Build and lead high-performing, multidisciplinary teams with a shared commitment to impact and equity
• Foster a culture of learning, collaboration, accountability, and innovation
• Champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across all impact-related work
• Mentor and develop senior leaders and emerging talent
• Model values-driven leadership aligned with NCOA's mission and organizational principles

Professional Experience/Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; master's degree highly desirable.

10+ years of experience in a strategy and/or program management position related to systems change and/or older adults.

Required Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in social impact, public health, aging, policy, research, or a related field
• Demonstrated success leading complex, mission-driven strategies at a national or systems level
• Strong understanding of research, evaluation, and data-informed decision-making
• Experience building and managing cross-sector partnerships
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate impact into compelling narratives

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Deep commitment to improving the lives of older adults, with an equity-centered lens
• Strategic thinker who can balance vision with execution
• Proven success leading complex, mission-driven strategies at a national or systems level
• Collaborative leader who excels in matrixed organizations
• Innovative and adaptive, with comfort navigating complexity and change
• Credible thought partner to executive leadership, funders, and policymakers

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Frequently required to sit or use a standing desk.
• Occasionally required to walk.
• Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.
• Frequently required to talk or listen.
• Occasionally required to bend, lift, or climb stairs.
• Occasionally required to lift light weights (less than 25 pounds).

Work Environment

• The noise level in the work environment usually is moderate.