Chief Executive Officer

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
Founded in 1991, Welvista is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that helps uninsured and underserved South Carolinians gain access to essential health services while reducing the long-term costs of health care that result from untreated conditions.


Welvista has been dedicated to offering hope and wellness to underserved South Carolinians through our Medication Assistance Pharmacy (MAP) and Smiles for a Lifetime (SMILES) program. The MAP program provides lifesaving prescription medication for eligible uninsured residents, while our SMILE program provides oral health care for students in some of our state's most rural school districts.


Together with the support of our donors, volunteers, and community and referral partners, we are committed to improving health outcomes for underserved South Carolinians and reducing long-term healthcare costs associated with untreated conditions.



ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
The Chief Executive Officer serves as the strategic and operational leader of Welvista, working in close partnership with the Board of Directors to advance the organization's mission, expand its reach, and ensure long-term sustainability.


This is a highly visible role requiring a leader who can bring together diverse stakeholders-including government officials, donors, healthcare partners, and community leaders-while cultivating a high-performing internal culture. The CEO will serve as the primary ambassador for Welvista, shaping its narrative, deepening its influence, and guiding the organization through its next phase of growth.


Reports to: Board of Directors


To view the full position profile, please visit Welvista CEO Position Profile


AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Strategic Leadership, Stabilization & Execution

• Lead Welvista through a critical leadership transition period, with an initial focus on organizational stabilization, operational continuity, and rebuilding alignment across teams and stakeholders.
• Partner with the Board to execute the existing strategic plan while thoughtfully assessing areas for refinement based on operational realities and emerging needs.
• Translate strategy into clearly defined priorities, performance metrics, and execution plans, ensuring accountability across the organization.
• Balance near-term operational stabilization with long-term opportunities for programmatic growth and expanded impact across South Carolina.
• Ensure that organizational decisions consistently align with Welvista's mission and commitment to improving access to care for underserved populations.

Organizational Leadership, Culture & Alignment

• Build cohesion, trust, and alignment across the leadership team and broader organization, addressing any existing fragmentation or siloed operations.
• Establish and reinforce a high-accountability, high-transparency culture grounded in clear expectations, strong communication, and shared ownership.
• Lead organizational assessment efforts early in tenure to evaluate structure, talent, and effectiveness, ensuring the needed talent is in the appropriate positions on the team.
• Develop and mentor a strong executive team, with a focus on succession planning and leadership development to support long-term sustainability.
• Foster a culture that reflects Welvista's compassionate, mission-driven roots while strengthening consistency in execution and accountability.

Visible, Engaged & Relationship-Driven Leadership

• Maintain a highly visible, engaged, and accessible leadership presence, particularly on-site in the Columbia office, to build trust with staff and reinforce organizational connection.
• Serve as a unifying leader who actively engages with staff, board members, partners, and community stakeholders through regular, meaningful interaction.
• Build credibility across key stakeholder groups through authenticity, responsiveness, and consistent follow-through.
• Prioritize listening, relationship-building, and trust development during the first 12-18 months, establishing strong internal and external alignment early.

Operational Leadership & Performance Excellence

• Provide disciplined oversight of all programs and operations, ensuring delivery of high-quality, mission-aligned services that meet community needs.
• Strengthen the organization's use of data, analytics, and performance reporting to inform decisions and demonstrate measurable impact.
• Establish clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and regularly report progress to the Board, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Identify and address operational inefficiencies, modernizing systems, workflows, and processes as needed to support scale and sustainability.
• Ensure cross-functional alignment across programs (e.g., pharmacy and dental services), strengthening coordination and clarity of purpose.

External Relations, Advocacy & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary external representative of Welvista, strengthening its visibility, credibility, and influence across South Carolina.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including the Board, staff, donors, DHHS, hospital systems, and community partners.
• Engage effectively with state agencies and policymakers to sustain and strengthen public funding support, particularly through South Carolina DHHS.
• Leverage strong interpersonal and relational skills to build consensus and navigate complex stakeholder environments.
• Ensure consistent, transparent communication with stakeholders to build confidence and reinforce alignment.

Financial Stewardship & Sustainable Growth

• Ensure disciplined financial management, maintaining the organization's strong fiscal position while aligning resources with strategic priorities.
• Advance long-term sustainability by strengthening financial oversight, monitoring revenue and expense trends, and ensuring responsible growth.

Financial Stewardship & Sustainable Growth

• Collaborate with development staff and the Board to support fundraising strategy and donor engagement, while maintaining primary focus on leadership and operations.
• Identify opportunities to diversify funding sources and expand partnerships to reduce reliance on any single revenue stream.

Growth, Innovation & Impact Expansion

• Lead thoughtful expansion of programs and services to increase patient access and improve health outcomes across the state.
• Evaluate new opportunities for geographic and programmatic growth, ensuring alignment with mission, financial sustainability, and organizational capacity.
• Position Welvista as a leader in innovative healthcare access solutions, particularly in pharmacy, dental, and safety-net services.
• Drive measurable improvements in patient reach, program effectiveness, and overall organizational impact.

Board Partnership, Governance & Accountability

• Maintain a strong, collaborative partnership with the Board, ensuring alignment on priorities, performance, and strategic direction.
• Provide regular, structured updates on organizational performance, KPIs, and key initiatives outside of scheduled board meetings.
• Operate with a high degree of transparency, ensuring the Board has the information needed to provide effective oversight.
• Work closely with the Board to balance innovation with disciplined execution, ensuring that changes are intentional, well-informed, and aligned with mission.

CEO PRIORITIES FOR THE FIRST 12-18 MONTHS
Success in this role will be defined in part by the CEO's ability to:

• Establish a consistent, visible presence and build trust across the organization.
• Conduct a comprehensive organizational assessment and address key structural or leadership gaps.
• Strengthen internal communication, alignment, and culture.
• Deliver early, measurable operational improvements and reinforce accountability.
• Build strong relationships with the Board, staff, donors, and external partners.

QUALIFICATIONS
Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or relevant field such as healthcare, business, or public health preferred.
• Ten (10) or more years of significant senior leadership experience, ideally within a nonprofit, healthcare, or mission-driven organization.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational growth and deliver measurable outcomes.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into action.
• Proven relationship builder with credibility across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong financial acumen and experience managing complex budgets.
• Skilled communicator with the ability to inspire, influence, and advocate effectively.
• Data-informed and results-oriented decision-maker.

Preferred Attributes

• Understanding of healthcare delivery systems, particularly for underserved populations.
• Experience working with government agencies or public funding mechanisms.
• Commitment to equity, access, and improving community health outcomes.
• Knowledge of regulations applicable to nonprofit or healthcare organizations.
• Clinical, pharmacy, or dental experience.
• Experience managing physical assets and capital projects.

COMPENSATION
The salary offered will be commensurate with experience. Annual bonus incentives are available based upon performance and at the discretion of the Board. Welvista offers comprehensive benefits to complement the salary provided to staff.