Executive Director

Vaco by Highspring; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring seeks an Executive Director in Columbus to provide strategic and operational leadership for a nonprofit organization. The ED will report to the Board, oversee strategy, programs, fundraising, financial stewardship, staff leadership, advocacy, and external partnerships.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree and 10+ years of nonprofit leadership experience, with preference for healthcare, disability services, or mission-driven organizations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years nonprofit leadership experience; executive leadership roles preferred.
• Experience with fundraising and development including donor cultivation.
• Experience reporting to a Board of Directors and governance responsibilities.
• Financial oversight and budgeting experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall strategic and operational leadership, establishing organizational priorities and ensuring effective execution of the mission and long-term vision.
• Partner with the Board of Directors on governance, strategic planning, organizational performance, and key initiatives.
• Lead, develop, and hold staff accountable while fostering a collaborative, mission-focused culture.
• Oversee programs and services to address the needs of individuals, families, and community stakeholders.
• Lead fundraising and resource development across donors, major gifts, foundations, grants, sponsorships, and events.
• Build and maintain relationships with donors, healthcare organizations, community partners, government representatives, and other stakeholders.
• Serve as a visible spokesperson and advocate communicating mission, impact, and priorities to diverse audiences.
• Provide oversight of budgeting, financial reporting, cash management, internal controls, audits, and financial performance.
• Develop strategies to strengthen sustainability, expand reach, and enhance programs and services.
• Guide advocacy and public policy initiatives related to healthcare access, disability services, and caregiver support.
• Monitor performance using data to inform decisions.
• Ensure compliance with nonprofit regulations and governance standards.
• Represent the organization at events and donor engagements.
• Maintain an active presence across the service area and travel as needed.

Skills

Nonprofit leadership

Fundraising

Board governance

Strategic planning

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

A well-established, nonprofit organization in Columbus is seeking an Executive Director to provide strategic and operational leadership. Reporting to the Board of Directors, this executive will oversee organizational strategy, programs, fundraising, financial stewardship, staff leadership, advocacy, and external partnerships.

Responsibilities:

• Provide overall strategic and operational leadership, establishing organizational priorities and ensuring effective execution of the mission and long-term vision.
• Partner closely with the Board of Directors on governance, strategic planning, organizational performance, and key initiatives.
• Lead, develop, and hold staff accountable while fostering a collaborative, mission-focused organizational culture.
• Oversee programs and services to ensure they effectively address the needs of individuals, families, and community stakeholders.
• Lead fundraising and resource development efforts across individual giving, major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundations, grants, sponsorships, and events.
• Build and maintain relationships with donors, healthcare organizations, community partners, government representatives, and other key stakeholders.
• Serve as a visible spokesperson and advocate for the organization, effectively communicating its mission, impact, and priorities to diverse audiences.
• Provide oversight of annual budgeting, financial reporting, cash management, internal controls, audits, and overall financial performance in partnership with internal and external accounting resources.
• Develop strategies to strengthen organizational sustainability, expand reach, and identify opportunities to enhance programs and services.
• Guide advocacy and public policy initiatives related to healthcare access, disability services, research, caregiver support, and other mission-aligned priorities.
• Monitor organizational performance and use financial, programmatic, and operational data to inform decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with applicable nonprofit regulations, policies, funding requirements, and governance standards.
• Represent the organization at community events, industry meetings, donor engagements, and other external activities.
• Maintain an active presence across the organization's service area and travel periodically to support programs, partnerships, and community engagement.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive nonprofit leadership experience, with prior experience serving as an Executive Director, President, CEO, or comparable senior organizational leader strongly preferred.
• Previous experience within a healthcare, human services, patient advocacy, disability services, or related mission-driven organization strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience partnering with and reporting to a Board of Directors, including governance and strategic planning responsibilities.
• Proven success with fundraising and development, including experience cultivating donors, community partnerships, grants, sponsorships, or other revenue sources.
• Solid financial acumen with experience overseeing budgets, financial reporting, audits, internal controls, and organizational financial performance.
• Ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on involvement in the operational needs of a smaller organization.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with the executive presence to represent an organization with donors, community partners, healthcare stakeholders, and other external audiences.
• Mission-oriented, collaborative leadership style with the ability to build trust across employees, Board members, donors, and community stakeholders.

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada only: to the extent the position for employment is not with Highspring or not otherwise noted as vacant above, candidate should be informed that this role is to replace a presently employed person at Vaco by Highspring's client.