Executive Director

About WVAHC

West Virginians for Affordable Health Care brings a consumer voice to public policy so that every West Virginian has quality, affordable healthcare and the opportunity to lead an informed, healthy, and productive life.

We achieve our mission by working with partners to identify and advocate for positive public policy changes, developing and coordinating innovative public education programs, protecting and preserving programs that serve our mission, and assisting individual consumers in navigating the health care system.

WVAHC is Charleston-based with an office located in the historic Elk City neighborhood.

Overall Responsibility

The Executive Director (ED) shall be responsible for the leadership and oversight of operations, program development, implementation of strategic plan, and staffing of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care.The ED is the face of the organization and shall demonstrate skillful public speaking and written communications.

Education and Experience Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required and a Master's degree preferred in a related field.

The small staff size and lean budget of WVAHC requires a leader with an entrepreneurial spirit. The successful candidate should have five years’ previous non-profit experience as an Executive Director. The Board may consider a candidate without previous ED experience if they have at least 10 years experience managing a successful program where they are responsible for sustainability and financial oversight. The ED should have a skill set commensurate with operational needs.

Summary of Skills and Knowledge Required

• Thorough knowledge of administration, grant writing/reporting, fundraising, organizational and personnel management.
• Sound understanding of healthcare, public health, and specifically issues related to affordability and access, and a willingness to learn more.
• At least a general understanding of complex federal and state healthcare policy and how policy impacts West Virginians. Understands the federal and state policy making process, or willingness to learn.
• Has a spirit and willingness for community engagement and collaboration.
• Can read, understand, interpret, and use financial statements for planning and forecasting cash flow needs.
• Can prepare an annual budget in coordination with WVAHC’s contracted financial consultant.
• Proficiency in use of Google suite of tools and administering a digital, near paperless office.
• Good interpersonal, community, and group relation skills.
• Knowledge of public and media relations and expertise in maintaining a positive public image for the organization.
• Demonstrates leadership skills and the ability to exercise sound judgement.

Key Responsibilities

Public Policy

• Builds, maintains, and cultivates relationships with government agencies, partners, lawmakers, and other stakeholders. Coordinates efforts to shape policy decisions undertaken by local, state, and national policy makers and leaders by providing expert opinion, testimony, and education about legislation and policy recommendations with implications for consumer healthcare.

Management

• Implements mission, strategy, and organizational policies and procedures as approved by the Board of Directors.

• Responsible for the recruitment, interviewing, selection, supervision and evaluation of the staff, contractors, and consultants, respective to policies/procedures.

• Responsible for the implementation of the budget and maintaining expenses within the approved budget.

• Represent WVAHC with integrity as the public face of the organization. This includes public speaking; hearings; opinions; and commentary writing .

Administrative

• WVAHC is a small organization and as such the ED assumes overall responsibility for administrative and operational functions.

• Maintains and distributes administrative reports and statistical information on all aspects of the organization. The ED shall prepare a written quarterly report to the Board of Directors that includes: financial statements; grant spend downs; and programming update.

• Administers the organizational, personnel, and fiscal and investment policies/procedures along with others adopted by the Board.

• Responsible for the compliance with all legal requirements of the organization.

• Data, document, invoice and records management: Maintaining databases, updating records, and performing data entry and filing. WVAHC is a professional and modern office. Files and documents are maintained on Google Workspace and communications are conducted digitally.

• Scheduling, Coordination and Office Operations: Ordering and managing supplies, managing inventory, ensuring equipment functions, and forwarding invoices to CPA. Arranging meetings, managing calendars, booking travel, and coordinating events. Many of these duties can be shared and delegated to a team member.

• Support for Staff: Assisting team members, facilitating projects, and providing leadership

Financial

• Responsible for overseeing fundraising activities, coordinates with staff to conduct fundraising campaigns, the Rockefeller Award Gala, the Child Health Policy Conference and other events, and develops and maintains communications with donors and funders.

• Primary grant writer and reporting responsibilities in line with the vision and strategic plan, needs, and policy outreach of the organization.

• Manages the financial resources of the organization and, in coordination with the President, Treasurer, and CPA, maintains the financial integrity of WVAHC.

• In coordination with the Treasurer and the President, develops the annual proposed budget of income and expenses for consideration by the Board at the July or October Board meeting, and presents proposed budget revisions to the Board as needed.

Organizational

• Develops strategic outlook for maintaining public support for the organization.

• Maintains communication with and aids the Board, its committees, and individual members, related to strategic planning, outreach, and policy development/advocacy/protections.

• Facilitates the development of the agenda and staff/consultant reporting for Board meetings. Assists with the cultivation and recruitment of new Board members.

Education and Outreach

• Collaboratively coordinates public education and information efforts, including day to day communications with media outlets, public speaking, and other means of information dissemination, in conjunction with appropriate staff/consultants.

• Coordinates communications and programs with and for organization, legislative representatives, collaborative network organizations, other constituencies and the general public, in conjunction with appropriate staff/consultants.

• Supervises production of newsletters, advocacy outreach materials, Op-Eds, marketing materials, social media, and other print and electronic publications.

• Coordinates the publication of an annual report to the community.

Accountability

The Executive Director shall be accountable to and receive direction from the WVAHC Board of Directors via the Board President and Executive Committee. Accountability may include a 30-, 60-, and 90-day review with the Board President upon hiring along with a six-month written interim performance review. Performance reviews after the six-month review will be on an annual basis.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary and healthcare stipend will be negotiated with the Board based on experience, education, and expertise.

Benefits include four weeks paid vacation;10 paid holidays; and the week from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day; and a generous health care stipend to purchase health care coverage on healthcare.gov .