Executive Director (health and education related association)

About the Organization

Our client is a prominent national membership association and the leading voice for more than 200,000 health and physical education professionals across the United States. Its community includes educators, advocates, supporters, and a network of more than 50 state affiliate organizations. Founded in 1885, the organization has helped define excellence in school-based health and physical education for more than 140 years. Its national curricular standards provide a foundation for high-quality, skills-based instruction that supports the health and well-being of PreK-12 students.

Mission: To advance professional practice and promote research related to health and physical education, physical activity, dance, and sport.

Vision: A nation where all children are prepared to lead healthy, physically active lives.

The organization operates on a fully virtual, nationally distributed basis as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with approximately 20 staff members. It reported FY2024 total revenue of approximately $4.50 million and net assets of approximately $5.17 million, drawn from contributions and grants, program services, the National Convention & Expo, publications, and membership.

The Opportunity

Our client is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to provide strategic, operational, and external leadership at a pivotal time for the organization and the broader health and physical education field. The CEO will serve as the organization's senior staff leader and public face, lead a professional staff team, oversee financial and operational performance, and build strategic partnerships across education, public health, government, philanthropy, and the private sector. The next CEO will build on a strong foundation, newly revised national standards, significant federal cooperative-agreement funding, and a Board-approved 2026-2029 Strategic Direction organized around four priorities: Advocacy, Community, Knowledge & Practice, and Sustainability.

The Chief Executive Officer reports directly to the Board of Directors and serves as an ex-officio member of the Board, maintaining ongoing communication with the President, Executive Committee, and individual Directors between Board sessions.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction in alignment with the organization's mission and Board-approved strategic direction, partnering with the Executive Committee and Board to set long-range goals, strategies, plans, and policies.
• Serve as chief spokesperson and external representative to members, partner organizations, government agencies, media, and the public, positioning the organization as a leading, unifying national voice for health and physical education.
• Advocate on behalf of the organization's professional positions before governmental agencies and other constituencies, and develop relationships with government and international agencies, professional associations, and aligned partners.
• Oversee financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and long-term organizational sustainability, and prepare forward-looking financial plans for the Board.
• Diversify and grow revenue through partnerships, sponsorships, grants, publications, professional development, membership, and other mission-aligned products and services.
• Serve as chief operating and administrative officer, with responsibility for hiring, supervision, direction, evaluation, and development of a fully virtual staff team.
• Strengthen member value, services, professional development, engagement, and retention, and support the work of the National Convention, committees, task forces, councils, and state affiliates.
• Build trust across members, volunteers, educators, staff, state affiliates, and external partners through consistent listening, transparency, and follow-through.
• Maintain a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging across programs, services, and leadership practices.
• Ensure compliance with applicable legal, regulatory, financial, and governance requirements.

Candidate Profile

Our client seeks an accomplished nonprofit or association executive who combines strategic vision with operational discipline and a genuine commitment to the mission. The strongest candidates will be sophisticated relationship-builders: credible with volunteer leaders and members, comfortable representing the organization externally, financially astute, collaborative in style, and able to lead a distributed staff in a fully virtual environment.

• An exceptional listener who makes people feel heard and respected.
• High integrity, transparency, and sound judgment; communicates openly and builds trust.
• Collaborative and servant-oriented rather than authoritative; empowers staff and volunteer leaders.
• Diplomatic and politically astute, with the courage to make difficult decisions without becoming combative or ego-driven.
• Visible, energetic, and credible as the public face of the organization.
• Genuine passion for the mission and respect for the profession, membership, volunteers, and partnerships that constitute the organization's core strength.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; a master's degree or higher in a relevant field is strongly preferred.
• A minimum of ten years of executive-level work experience in a senior management position; prior Executive Director or Chief Executive Officer experience is preferred.
• At least ten years of experience working in an education association or education environment; experience with a health-related mission is preferred.
• Proven leadership experience in a nonprofit, association, or other mission-driven organization, including work with volunteer boards and complex governance structures.
• Demonstrated financial and program management expertise, including responsibility for multimillion-dollar budgets and long-term financial planning.
• Experience growing membership, enhancing programs and services, and developing non-dues revenue through fundraising, partnerships, grants, or sponsorships.
• Experience implementing successful marketing, fundraising, partnership, or business-development initiatives.
• Knowledge of public education and/or health and physical education is preferred, including an understanding of how national standards fit into the P-12 education landscape.
• Outstanding oral and written communication, public speaking, advocacy, and media relations skills.

First-Year Priorities

• Build strong relationships with staff, Board members, state affiliates, volunteer leaders, members, and strategic partners.
• Listen and learn before making major changes, then develop a clear strategic roadmap with measurable outcomes tied to the 2026-2029 Strategic Direction.
• Identify and begin advancing new revenue opportunities while safeguarding financial stability.

Location

This role is fully virtual, with no central headquarters office. The CEO may be based anywhere in the United States and should expect regular travel for Board meetings, the National Convention & Expo, state affiliate engagement, government relations, partner meetings, and other stakeholder events.