Executive Director

I ndividuals with diverse identities and/or who are members of other marginalized c ommunities encouraged to apply.

OneAlliance

A leading global human rights organization based in the heart of Chicago, Heartland Alliance works to advance human rights and champion human dignity by providing essential services and promoting solutions to achieve a more just global society. This work is done through a shared mission, providing a continuum of programs that addresses the root causes of poverty, generates social change, and inspires people to build better lives for themselves and their communities.

Over the past several years, Heartland has committed to working in a more integrated, participant-centered way in order to unleash the full power—expertise, experience, and energy—of the Alliance. This means designing cross-Alliance solutions to society’s most pressing problems, defining and acting on its commitment to being an anti-racist organization inside and outside of the organization, and reimagining itself as OneAlliance.

Heartland Alliance Health - Where healthcare finds a home

Healthcare is more than just a doctor’s visit. Whether it’s a safe place to live or nutritious food, access to a dedicated medical team and medications or personalized counseling, Heartland Alliance Health provides comprehensive services to meet each person’s needs.

The people Heartland Alliance Health are committed to serving are those who have the most challenges and the fewest resources, people who are homeless or struggling with multiple illnesses. Heartland Alliance Health partners with them on their journey to physical and mental health by wrapping our services around them based on their needs and plans and delivers effective, responsive, primary, oral, and behavioral healthcare in our health centers. Heartland Alliance Health also goes outside health center doors, bringing healthcare to those who need it most – on the streets, in shelters, in our grocery centers and in our own housing facilities.

Summary: Serving as a key member of the Alliance Leadership Team, the Executive Director leads the premier healthcare organization for the unhoused in the Chicagoland area and builds on this foundation to expand the delivery of healthcare services to the most underserved people in the City. Reporting to the HAH Board of Directors with limited day-to-day operations supervision by the Heartland Alliance (HA) Chief Program Officer (CPO), the Executive Director oversees, guides and directs Heartland Alliance Health with a laser focus on strategic planning and prioritization, strategic plan execution, operational and programmatic excellence, and talent management and development. The role provides thought-leadership while leveraging industry knowledge and best practices to promote the mission and vision of the Heartland Alliance Health organization and Heartland Alliance as OneAlliance . This critical role supports culture development and management efforts.

Essential Functions:

Strategic Planning/Prioritization & Plan Execution

• In collaboration with the HAH BOD, establishes the mission and vision of HAH, prepares long- and short-range strategic plans, monitors the quality of participant programs, monitors risk and compliance, and prepares and monitors annual operating and capital budgets.
• Develops, plans, provides, manages, monitors, and evaluates a complex multi-unit professional services company that meets participant, community, and organizational needs.
• Monitors federal, state, and local policy developments and creates and implements advocacy strategies. Develops policy recommendations and executes related communications strategies.
• Remains current on development in services areas through independent study and attendance at seminars, conferences, conventions, etc.

Operational & Programmatic Execution/Excellence

• Ensures quality and compliance systems and processes meet organizational goals and requirements set forth by funders, accreditation standards, and regulatory bodies.
• Adheres to professional standards as outlined by governmental bodies, appropriate professional associations, and private funding sources. Assists in the development of plans/policies related to professional standards. Develops and implements company guidelines for professional standards. Provides periodic evaluative reviews and/or in-house and external staff training to ensure that staff understand and continue to adhere to such standards.
• Attends meetings of the Heartland Alliance and HAH Boards of Directors to interpret programs and policies as requested.
• Provides routine evaluative and monitoring reports, corrective action recommendations, and quality improvement programs to the BOD and CPO.
• Ensures the negotiation and management of managed care contracts and contracts with governmental units and other private agencies. Ensures grant funding proposals and fundraising efforts successfully fulfill organizational funding requirements.
• Oversees the development of program services budgets, approves expenditures according to Organization policy, and monitors the overall company financial performance and budget.
• Represents program operations internally and externally, directly or through delegation. Initiates and maintains interagency agreements; establishes frequent relations with high-level administrative and professional personnel in the health service field, public and private. Interprets organizational services to the community through direct involvement with public and private groups. Makes presentations at conferences and educational meetings, and leads professional seminars or meetings.
• Acts with, and at times for, the BOD and CPO in making policy or operating decisions on programmatic organization-wide concerns.

Talent Management & Development

• Implements the organization’s personnel policies to encourage professional growth to meet program operation goals.
• In conjunction with Human Resources, oversees leadership level talent acquisition, talent management, compensation management and evaluation as well as supports staff in conjunction with Directors and with any necessary approval from the CPO.
• Supervises assigned staff ensuring clarity on work prioritization and impact of work on HAH’s short and long-term objectives.
• Other duties as assigned and/or required.

Education and Experience:

• M aster’s degree in public health, healthcare administration, nurse administration, social work, business, or related human services or related discipline required.
• Minimum (15) fifteen years’ experience focused on strategic planning, program planning and development, health service administration and fiscal management, policy development and implementation and staff supervision, required.
• Exposure to and knowledge of federal funding and government contracts strongly preferred. Experience working in non-profit health sector preferred and post-economic crisis preferred.

Required Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Agility – Set a vision and create strategies in the midst of a complex, uncertain, and changing environment. Think big picture to make long-term decisions. Think innovatively to improve processes and services. Inspire innovative thinking and help the organization adapt to change and face adversity. Efficiently synthesize data and input. Focus on selecting effective and strategic outcomes given limited resources and the ability to offer alternative and viable options.
• Managerial Courage – Challenge group-think and create an environment that welcomes diverse perspectives. Identify, diffuse, and rectify unethical, unsafe, racist, or uncomfortable situations. Engage in courageous communication and critical thinking to balance differing views across teams and the organization. Manage challenging situations and conflicts in a professional manner even if it requires an unpopular stance. Establish and hold boundaries diplomatically and demonstrating emotional intelligence.
• Communication – Deliver honest, clear, persuasive and timely information. Collect (i.e., actively listen) and synthesize information. Communicate in an inclusive and respectful way. Communicate appropriately and effectively in written and verbal form to various stakeholders (e.g., participants, staff, partners, funders). Represent Heartland Alliance externally with the power to inspire and influence others.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (K/S/A)

• Demonstrated commitment to Heartland Alliance’s mission, vision and Philosophy of Care.
• Ability to support Heartland Alliance’s Anti-Racist organizational commitment.
• Demonstrated track record of working with organizations that serve marginalized communities and the ability to demonstrate keeping the needs of these communities at the core of all work being performed.
• Demonstrated ability in budgeting and resource planning; knowledge of non-profit finance and fundamental accounting principles (GAAP).
• Ability to negotiate and build consensus respectfully with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to consistently identify opportunities for improvement and make recommendations based on observations.
• A high degree of collaboration and emotional intelligence, self-motivation, and analytical ability.
• Excellent communication skills (oral communication, listening, interpersonal, written communication). Strong networker, convener, relationship builder and communicator with experience collaborating with diverse work teams and stakeholders.
• Strategic thought partnership and consultancy skills.

Benefits:

401(k)

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Disability insurance

Employee assistance program

Flexible spending account

Health savings account

Life insurance

Paid time off