Chief Executive Officer (Winchester)

Help Heal Veterans (Heal Vets) is a national nonprofit dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of war through creativity.Since 1971, Heal Vets has provided therapeutic creative kits to veterans and active duty military to support their “healing journey.”Through these free high-quality kits, Heal Vets provides a time-tested healing tool for PTSD, traumatic brain injury, depression, physical injuries, chronic pain, and the emotional challenges of reintegration.Our work restores dignity, builds resilience, and reminds every veteran that they are seen, valued, and never forgotten.

With a national footprint, a dedicated staff, and a long history of service, Heal Vets produces and distributes hundreds of thousands of creative kits annually. The next CEO will lead the organization into its next phase of growth—expanding reach, strengthening operations, and elevating Heal Vets’ national presence as a leader in veteran rehabilitation and wellness.

Position Overview

The CEO serves as both the business leader and mission leader of Heal Vets—owning organizational strategy, revenue growth, operational performance, and financial results. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO is responsible for driving enterprise-wide excellence, expanding Heal Vets’s impact, and ensuring long-term sustainability.

The ideal candidate is a transformational executive with a demonstrated record of scaling organizations, driving revenue growth, managing complex operations, and leading high-performing teams. The position requires a hands‑on leader that is empathetic to veterans, active duty military and their families.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Growth

• Develop and execute a multi-year strategic growth plan that expands Heal Vet’’s impact, reach, and financial strength.
• Establish clear organizational priorities, performance metrics, and accountability mechanisms aligned with Board-approved objectives.
• Identify opportunities for innovation, strategic partnerships, and program expansion.
• Position Heal Vets as the national leader in therapeutic arts and creative rehabilitation services for veterans.
• Drive digital transformation and operational modernization to enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Serve as the principal advisor to the Board, providing regular updates on performance, risks, and strategic opportunities.
• Serve as Heal Vets’ chief revenue and growth leader with direct accountability for annual revenue, fundraising performance, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive revenue strategy across individual giving, major gifts, foundations, corporate partnerships, government funding, planned giving, and earned‑income opportunities.
• Build and maintain a robust donor pipeline while personally cultivating key philanthropic relationships.
• Identify innovative funding models and partnerships that strengthen both mission impact and financial resilience.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and long-range financial planning.
• Maintain disciplined financial management and ensure resources are allocated to maximize mission outcomes and return on investment.
• Establish measurable financial performance targets and report progress to the Board.
• Own enterprise-wide operational performance across manufacturing, fulfillment, logistics, program delivery, and administrative functions.
• Drive operational excellence through continuous improvement, process optimization, cost management, and performance measurement.
• Establish operational dashboards to monitor productivity, service levels, quality, efficiency, and mission outcomes.
• Ensure strong risk management, regulatory compliance, governance, and internal controls.
• Balance mission impact with sound business practices to ensure long-term sustainability.

Leadership & Culture

• Build, develop, and retain a high-performing executive leadership team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, innovation, collaboration, and mission excellence.
• Implement leadership development and succession planning to strengthen organizational resilience.
• Champion employee engagement and cultivate a workplace culture that reflects Heal Vets’ values and commitment to veterans.

External Relations & National Advocacy

• Serve as Heal Vets’ primary spokesperson, ambassador, and public representative.
• Build strategic relationships with veterans, donors, foundations, corporations, government agencies, healthcare systems, VSOs, and community partners.
• Expand Heal Vets’ visibility, influence, and thought leadership through public speaking, media engagement, advocacy, and strategic communications.
• Establish partnerships that increase awareness, funding, and veteran participation.
• Ensure programs remain evidence-informed, outcome-driven, and responsive to the evolving needs of veterans and their families.
• Develop measurable impact metrics that demonstrate value to veterans, donors, partners, and stakeholders.
• Pursue innovative approaches to service delivery, digital engagement, and veteran outreach.
• Expand access to underserved veteran populations while maintaining high standards of quality and effectiveness.
• Ensure mission outcomes guide organizational decision-making and resource allocation.

Board Relations

• Partner closely with the Board to establish strategic priorities, evaluate performance, and ensure effective governance.
• Support Board development, recruitment, engagement, and succession planning.
• Foster transparency and accountability through timely communication and data‑driven decision‑making.

Success Measures: First 24–36 Months

Growth & Revenue

• Increase annual revenue by 25–50% (range negotiable).
• Diversify funding so no single source exceeds 25% of total revenue.
• Expand major donor and corporate partner contributions.

Operational Performance

• Improve operating margin and cash reserves (targets to be finalized).
• Reduce cost per kit produced and delivered.
• Increase productivity and fulfillment capacity.

Mission Impact

• Increase the number of veterans served annually.
• Expand participation through VA, DoD, and community partnerships.
• Implement measurable outcomes reporting across all programs.

National Presence

• Establish Heal Vets’ as the leading nonprofit focused on therapeutic creative engagement for veterans.
• Increase media visibility, corporate partnerships, and national advocacy influence.

Compensation & Location

Compensation is competitive ($150-$250K) and commensurate with experience, including a comprehensive benefits package. The CEO will ideally be based at HHV’s headquarters in Winchester, California, with national travel to program sites, partners, and events (approximately 20–30%).