Executive Director - Completed Life Initiative

Completed Life Initiative 

If you think you are the right match for the following opportunity, apply after reading the complete description.

Executive Director 

BACKGROUND 

"The concept of a completed life asks what our lifelong dreams are; what our intentions are; what we most want to accomplish, experience, and do."– Faith Sommerfield, Founder 

Faith Sommerfield, the late founder of the Completed Life Initiative, was deeply moved by the mission of helping terminally ill patients complete their lives in peace. When she felt that her life had been completed, Faith died at the time of her choosing, surrounded by loved ones, by accessing Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) in Switzerland. Recognizing the privilege of being able to complete her life on her own terms, she resolved to help others do the same by removing obstacles to end-of-life care in the United States. To pursue that mission, Sommerfield founded the Completed Life Initiative in 2019. 

Only 30% of adults in the U.S. have thought about and communicated their end of life wishes to loved ones and providers. The Completed Life Initiative (CLI) works to increase that number by empowering the public to understand their legal and clinical options and make informed end-of-life choices that honor their values, meet their needs, and reflect their personal wishes. CLI also works to increase access to MAID across the country. 

CLI serves as a vital resource hub, dedicated to educating and combatting misinformation about end-of-life choices. From informational sessions on end-of-life options to articles and virtual conferences tackling the latest innovations in end-of-life care, CLI has supported individuals as they explore what it means to live a "completed life." Tapping into a vibrant network of experts – from physicians, to lawyers, to bioethicists – CLI publishes monthly newsletters, hosts the annual Faith Sommerfield Memorial Lecture in conjunction with Columbia University, and has developed an archive of articles and webinars on their website that delves into the intricacies of end-of-life care and MAID in the United States. CLI also supports individual state organizations as they implement their local MAID systems. 

In addition to serving as a national voice advocating for medical-aid-in-dying, CLI is putting boots on the ground in Vermont to help achieve that goal. Opening in late 2026 and located in the forested hills of southern Vermont, the Sanctuary offers quiet, peaceful, no-cost lodging to individuals and their loved ones seeking to access MAID. The Sanctuary welcomes both Vermonters and out-of-state visitors who seek a serene, home-like setting in which to spend their last moments. At the Sanctuary, guests and their families can step outside the pressures of illness and uncertainty to undertake deeply personal choices with clarity, compassion, and support. 

Ms. Sommerfield completed her life in 2022. Today, CLI is supported in large part through the generosity of the Faith Sommerfield Family Foundation. 

For more information about CLI, visit their website at

POSITION 

Since its founding, CLI has been managed and led by a dedicated group of advisors and Board members, and a small, dedicated staff. As the organization takes the next step in its ongoing development, the Board now seeks to recruit its first full-time professional Executive Director (ED). 

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director serves as the chief professional officer of the organization and is tasked with ensuring that the Completed Life Initiative continues its mission of acting as a national voice in improving access to MAID across the country, as well as a resource to individuals and families who seek to learn about end-of-life options. 

The CLI board has recently approved a formal strategic plan, and the new ED will be charged with implementing the plan and building the team and infrastructure to do so. The strategic plan's objectives include increasing education and ease of navigating end-of-life choices; understanding, advocating and facilitating access to end-of-life choices for people diagnosed with dementia; continuing to influence increased access to MAID across the U.S.; enhancing the services offered by and access to the Sanctuary; and building CLI's infrastructure to support these goals. 

Located in Vermont, the Sanctuary represents a core component of CLI's work. The Executive Director will ensure that the Sanctuary serves as a valuable resource and respite for individuals and families seeking MAID. The 24-acre Sanctuary will also offer CLI the opportunity to create additional on-site programs and serve as a national model that can be replicated in other states where MAID is an end-of-life option. 

This role presents an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader who is passionate about CLI's mission. The Executive Director must be an excellent program builder, people manager and operational leader, skilled at building partnerships and networks across the country. 

While CLI is currently supported by the Faith Sommerfield Family Foundation, the organization must as a next step develop new funding sources to diversify its revenue stream and become self-sustaining. The Executive Director will thus be tasked with developing and implementing a successful and diversified fundraising program that includes support from foundations, individuals, special events, and media-based direct appeals. 

The Executive Director will serve as a key spokesperson to interact with partners across the country in increasing MAID access to individuals and families in need. CLI's work is inherently sensitive and collaborative in nature, hence the Executive Director must be diplomatic yet self-assured in working with external partners in navigating myriad religious, ethical, and medical conversations. 

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE 

• Demonstrates a caring and empathetic attitude towards people. 

• At least 10 years progressive senior-level management and organizational leadership experience. 

• Exceptional leadership, supervisory, and team-building skills within a nonprofit environment. 

• Experience within a healthcare, human service or voluntary health organization in which programs in clinical care, advocacy and education are central to the mission. 

• Experience leading Boards, coalitions and others, both internal and external to the organization. 

• Proven successful experience in fundraising planning, implementation, and financial resource development. 

• A track record and desire to be personally involved in the cultivation and solicitation of major individual and institutional donors. 

• Excellent written, interpersonal, and verbal communication and presentation skills. 

• Outstanding organizational skills, with the ability to complete projects on a timely basis and to manage multiple priorities. 

• Ability to present as a persuasive, informed, and inspiring leader and spokesperson. 

• Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to business planning. 

• Excellence in effectively recruiting, coaching and managing staff, developing high-performance teams, and setting and achieving strategic objectives. 

• Success in developing and leading an organization through the effective execution of a strategic plan. 

• A proven record of strong interpersonal and management experiences.

• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership techniques, human behavior and performance, and coordination of people and resources. 

• Financial management experience (budget development and management). 

• Bachelor's degree required. Graduate degree preferred. 

The Completed Life Initiative is an equal opportunity employer. It is committed to ensuring equal opportunity to all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, or expression. xhyhwjd

Location: While this position is remote, it is expected that the Executive Director will be based in the Northeast and within reasonable proximity to The Sanctuary, located in Vermont. 

Salary range: Approximately $200k + benefits

For more information, to refer a candidate, or to apply in confidence, please contact: 

David Hinsley Cheng, Managing Partner 

Jennifer Thorne, Search Consultant 

DHC Search 

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