Executive Director
At
Heart Valve Voice-U.S.
Location: Washington, D.C.
Status: Part-time contract (20-25 hours/week) position. Goal is to evolve into full-time by end of 2018, as organization grows.
About the Organization
Heart Valve Voice-U.S., a 501(c)(3) patient advocacy organization, exclusively focused on improving the diagnosis, treatment and management of heart valve disease by advocating for early detection, meaningful support, and timely access to appropriate treatment for all people affected. Heart valve disease is known as a “silent killer” that can occur without noticeable symptoms or with symptoms overlooked as a “normal part of aging.” Risk factors include advanced age, previous heart disease, a congenital heart condition, and rheumatic fever. Significant health disparities exist. Our activities include:
- Raising awareness of the symptoms and severity of heart valve disease within at-risk and underserved populations;
- Reducing the toll of heart valve disease by addressing barriers to diagnosis, treatment, and better health;
- Advocating for changes to facilitate timely detection, improved recognition and optimal treatment of heart valve disease across the U.S., particularly among underserved populations;
- Sharing credible, independent and realistic information to equip people with heart valve disease, physicians, and policymakers to reduce the burden of heart valve disease; and
- Providing a voice for U.S. heart valve patients to improve timely access to diagnosis and treatment, improving quality of life and overall outcomes.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Executive Director (ED) services as the chief executive of Heart Valve Voice-U.S. (HVV), and, in partnership with the Board of Directors, is responsible for the success of the organization. The ED is a practical visionary, passionate about the mission of HVV and the people HVV represents. The ED envisions, communicates, and implements work plans that engage board members, the HVV community, and other stakeholders to promote opportunities to address barriers to better outcomes for people living with or are at risk for developing heart valve disease. The ED maintains day-to-day operations of HVV, directs fundraising efforts, manages the organization’s budget, hires and manages outside consultants and staff, and manages organizational programs and projects.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The primary duties and responsibilities of the Executive Director include:
- Leadership – The ED inspires and leads HVV efforts to achieve the organization’s mission by educating and engaging advocates, patients, caregivers, providers, policy makers, and other stakeholders with the power to improve health outcomes for people living with heart valve disease.
- Strategy Development and Implementation – The ED provides strategic guidance to the Board on how to most effectively advance the HVV mission and achieve its goals. The ED identifies and pursues funding, program and/or partnership opportunities that benefit the emerging organization, grows its patient community, and engages new members. The ED advises the Board on overcoming challenges or potential challenges facing HVV and/or its programs.
- Outreach and Collaboration – The ED identifies and pursues strategic opportunities and collaborations. S/he cultivates new partnerships with public and private funders, patient and provider organizations, policy makers, think tanks and coalitions to enhance HVV’s visibility and impact on issues of importance to people living with heart valve disease.
- Advocacy – The ED recruits, grows, empowers, and activates a community of patients and caregivers to engage as advocates to improve awareness, care seeking, access to diagnosis and treatment, and health outcomes for people living with or at risk for developing heart valve disease. S/he seeks and pursues opportunities to assure patient perspectives are represented in policy setting and other decision-making that affects people living with heart valve disease.
- Development – The ED is responsible for identifying and pursuing funding opportunities and securing the financial resources needed to support HVV and its agenda.
- Board and Governance Support – The ED with the Board President and other officers, leads, enables and supports the Board of Directors in its governance responsibilities.
- Program Oversight – Oversees HVV programmatic activities and grant oversight and compliance.
- Financial and Budget Oversight – The ED manages the HVV annual operating budget working with the HVV Treasurer to prudently manage the organization’s resources to achieve organizational priorities.
QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates should:
- Be enthusiastic, self-starters with both experience in and a passion for patient advocacy.
- Be a hands-on team player with a willingness to roll up his/her sleeves to achieve objectives and grow start-up organization.
- Be creative, flexible, and open to new ideas and approaches with excellent judgment, negotiation skills, and ability to build consensus.
- Have at least 5 years fund raising, grant writing, and/or development experience with a proven track record of success.
- Have at least 5 years of relevant leadership experience in member relations, communications, and/or policy at a national patient advocacy, voluntary health, provider, foundation, or health care industry organization.
- Have experience with project management and supervising consultants and staff. Non-profit experience preferred.
- Have an advanced degree in communications, public policy, public health, or another related field – or equivalent experience.
- Have experience with and solid understanding of the policy-making processes at the state and/or federal level.
- Have experience in growing an emerging organization to include building a membership base and fundraising.
- Possess strong written and oral communications skills. Experience with communications, including social media, desired.
- Be willing to travel occasionally, including overnight.
- Experience and/or a strong understanding of heart disease, and heart valve disease in particular, is not required, but is desirable.
COMPENSATION
Compensation will be commensurate with experience. It is anticipated that, with successful fund-raising and development efforts, this position will transition to full-time during 2018. Starting compensation range in mid-five figures.
Heart Valve Voice-U.S. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, disability or sexual orientation.
To Apply: Please email cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample to [email protected]. No faxes or phone calls please.