Executive Operations and Governance Director - California Endowment - Los Angeles, California, United States

The California Endowment is seeking a Executive Operations and Governance Director reporting to the CEO and will be based in our Los Angeles Office. 

We expect to accept applications until August 14, 2026. However, because we review candidates as they apply, the role may be filled before this date. To ensure your application is considered in the first wave of interviews, please submit your materials as soon as possible.

The California Endowment (The Endowment) is a private, statewide health foundation established in 1996 whose mission is to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians. We envision a California that leads the nation as a powerful and conscientious voice for wellness, inclusion, and shared prosperity.

Headquartered in downtown Los Angeles, the Endowment has regional offices in Sacramento, Oakland, Fresno and San Diego, with staff working throughout the state. We challenge the conventional wisdom that medical settings and individual choices are solely responsible for people’s health. We believe that health happens in neighborhoods, schools, and with prevention.

Position Summary:  

The Execute Operations and Governance Director serves as a core member of the Leadership Team and a key partner to the President & CEO. This is a true “thinker–doer” role best suited to someone who can engage as a strategic partner while also ensuring that work moves forward with structure, clarity, discipline, and follow-through. 

The Director operates as an extension of the President & CEO, helping to translate priorities into actionable plans, preparing them for high-impact engagements, and ensuring alignment and execution across the organization. At the same time, the Director advances cross-functional initiatives that require enterprise coordination, bringing structure, momentum, and accountability to complex work.

With an enterprise-wide lens, the Director connects strategy, leadership, governance, and execution.

Key Responsibilities:

President & CEO Partnership and Leverage

• Partners closely with the President & CEO on ensuring internal enterprise-wide work is organized, coordinated and advanced. 


• 
  In partnership with Leadership Team, ensures the President & CEO is well-prepared for internal and external engagements, including: 
  
  
  • Briefing materials, talking points, and synthesis of key issues 
  
  
  • Framing of decisions, trade-offs, and stakeholder dynamics 
  
  


• Attends key meetings and engagements with the President & CEO, synthesizing discussions, identifying critical insights, and ensuring timely follow-through on commitments and decisions. 


• At the direction of the President and CEO, represents the President & CEO in internal and external settings.


• Supports the CEO and CSO in grantmaking efforts as directed .

External Engagements, Communications & Stakeholder Interface

• 
  Serves as key liaison and coordinates with Communications, Government Affairs & Policy, the Executive Assistant to the President & CEO, and others to support the President & CEO’s external presence and relationships, including: 
  
  
  • Speaking engagements, partnerships, and field leadership 
  
  
  • Engagement with community leaders, grantees, and stakeholders 
  
  


• Tracks and ensures follow-through on meeting/event commitments and action items, communicates any key insights to appropriate team members. 

Board Engagement and Governance

• Partners with the President & CEO to prepare for board meetings, committee meetings, retreats, and governance discussions. 


• Supports the development of board-facing materials and discussions that surface key decisions and trade-offs. 


• Ensures the President & CEO is positioned to engage the board with clarity and strategic focus. 


• Tracks and ensures follow-through on board actions and commitments.


• Oversees the board liaison and their work to ensure successful board meetings and supporting materials.

Strategic Translation and Decision Support

• Leads the development of strategic and aligned organizational work plans and budgets in coordination with senior staff and the Finance Department.


• Translates CEO and Leadership Team priorities into actionable and measurable workplans with clear ownership and accountability.


• Synthesizes complex inputs into structured, decision-ready insights. 


• Clarifies trade-offs, dependencies, sequencing, resources considerations, and implications of key decisions. 


• In Partnership with senior staff, tracks enterprise priorities and proactively surfaces emerging risks, gaps, and opportunities.

Enterprise Execution and Project Leadership

• 
  Leads high-priority, cross-functional initiatives and projects from concept through implementation. 
  
  
  • Defines clear scopes, timelines, ownership, and success metrics 
  
  
  • Drives disciplined follow-through across teams, ensuring commitments are met
  
  
  • Identifies and addresses interdependencies, bottlenecks, and execution risks
  
  
  • Ensures accountability and timely implementation of enterprise work 
  
  


• Promotes a culture of accountability, bringing consistency and rigor to how work gets done across the organization.

Leadership Team Effectiveness and Operating Rhythm

• Develops Leadership Team meeting agendas to ensure focus, clarity, and outcomes. 


• Develops tools and resources to keep the Leadership Team organized and ensure progress on enterprise-wide work.


• Establishes systems for decision tracking, accountability, and follow-up. 


• Reinforces enterprise-wide thinking vs. siloed execution. 


• Supports leaders in aligning their work to shared priorities and sequencing.

Cross-Functional Integration and Alignment

• Serves as a central connector across departments and senior staff. 


• Aligns initiatives to reduce duplication and fragmentation. 


• Facilitates coordination and shared ownership of outcomes. 


• Ensures consistent communication and shared understanding of priorities and progress. 

Systems, Process and Performance Management

• Introduces and reinforces lightweight systems and tools that support execution and visibility. 


• Tracks progress on enterprise priorities and establishes visibility into status and risks. 


• Builds organizational capacity for project management and follow-through.


• Drives continuous improvement efforts that strengthen the organization’s ability to execute on its mission and strategic goals.

Desired Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Trusted partner 


• Relentless follow-through, ensuring work moves from idea to completion 


• Strong strategic judgment and ability to connect details to enterprise priorities 


• Influence without authority across senior leaders and teams 


• Exceptional synthesis and communication skills 


• Ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously


• Exercises discretion and sound judgment in high-stakes contexts

  Orientation and Style

• Operates comfortably as both a behind-the-scenes driver and as a visible representative as needed


• Brings low ego, high accountability; focused on outcomes over ownership 


• Navigates ambiguity while creating structure, clarity, and forward motion 


• High emotional intelligence; builds trust across diverse internal stakeholders 

  Key Experiences

• Trust-Based Philanthropy (TBP): Deep understanding of and commitment to The Endowment’s values, ensuring that all engagements with staff, partners, and grantees are rooted in trust, transparency, and shared power. Champions TBP as a guiding principle in organizational processes and decision-making.


• Board Relations and Governance: Strong understanding of board governance, nonprofit leadership, and effective governance structures.


• Strategic Communications and Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to effectively communicate complex projects, priorities, and insights across multiple stakeholders, ensuring alignment and clarity in decision-making.


• Project and Process Management: Expertise in planning, organizing, and executing cross-functional projects using industry-standard project management tools, ensuring accountability, efficiency, and continuous improvement.


• Performance Metrics and Data-Driven Decision-Making: Ability to define and track KPIs, develop dashboards, and leverage technology to monitor enterprise-wide initiatives 


• Coaching & Capacity Building: Skilled in mentoring and training team members in process optimization, project execution, and the effective use of data-driven insights to improve operations.

Minimum Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of experience in strategy, operations, consulting, or program leadership 


• Experience working closely with senior executives and boards 


• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives in complex environments 


• Experience supporting external engagements, partnerships, or communications 


• Background in philanthropy, public health, or policy environments preferred

Salary Range: 

Target Hiring Range: $172,584 - $215,730

Full Salary Range: $172,584 - $258,876 

 

  Compensation offers are determined based on the candidate’s relevant experience, market data, and internal equity. Most offers fall within the target hiring range, with the full salary range reserved to support growth and progression over time in the role.

TCE Benefits and Perks

• Shared medical and dental premiums for employees and eligible dependents


• 100% employer-paid benefits: vision, life and AD&D, STD, LTD and employee assistance program


• Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts


• Reimbursement towards gym fees and/or wellness program and mental health care


• 9-80 schedule with synchronized off days


• Hybrid work schedule available for most positions


• 11 paid holidays + paid winter holiday closure


• Generous paid time off (PTO)


• 401k plan with generous employer match and contributions


• Matching gifts program


• Paid parking or public transportation subsidy


• Professional development and training opportunities


• Tuition Reimbursement Program


• Monthly BYOD stipend 

The California Endowment’s goal is to hire qualified staff reflecting the rich diversity of all Californians. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to advancing health and racial equity in California. We are committed to creating a work environment in which all individuals are valued and respected. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds. We define diversity in broad terms to include race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, geography, socio-economic status, veteran status, and prior criminal history, in accordance with local, state and/or federal laws. 

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