Compassion & Choices Chief Program Officer RECRUITMENT PROFILE January 15, 2015 WBB+McCormack 1775 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 110-202 Palm Springs, CA 92264 Phone 323.549.9200 Fax 323.549.9222 www.wbbmccormack.com
THE CLIENT Compassion & Choices (C&C) improves care and expands choice at the end of life. It is the leading nonprofit organization committed to helping everyone have the best death possible. It offers free consultation, planning resources, referrals and guidance, and across the nation it works to protect and expand options at the end of life through advocacy, policy change and litigation. Governed by an 18-person Board of Directors, Compassion & Choices has approximately 100 employees, including field staff. It has three primary offices in Washington, DC, Portland, Oregon and Denver, Colorado, as well as state representatives in New York, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, and Hawaii. It has two affiliates in Washington State and New York and 30 local groups. Its fiscal 2014-15 budget is over $14 million, and it has been growing at over 20% per year. Compassion & Choices works with individuals and allied organizations throughout America to: Make aid in dying an open, accessible, and legitimate option recognized throughout the medical field and permitted in more states. Increase patient control and reduce unwanted interventions at the end of life. Pass additional laws ensuring full information and access to all end-of-life care options. Normalize accurate, unbiased language throughout the end-of-life choice discussion (including aid in dying instead of assisted suicide ). Support the expansion of the end-of-life choice movement and exert a leadership role in it. Compassion & Choices offers resources to empower individuals to make informed end-of-life choices, including Advance Directive, Physician/Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, Do Not Resuscitate Orders, Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare and The Good to Go Toolkit, a checklist to help determine an individual s priorities and wishes for end-of-life care. Compassion & Choices also provides information on the full range of end of life choices including Aid in Dying for terminally ill patents. The organization consults with individuals and their loved ones with information and emotional support about end of life options, including Aid in Dying, but does not provide clinical services or means. In 20 years, it has never been subpoenaed nor had an investigation. Compassion & Choices impact litigation strategy is widely acknowledged to have brought much needed attention to end-of-life care, and to have established important principles in this arena, including a federal constitutional right to aggressive pain management. Compassion & Choices advocacy leadership has passed ground breaking state patient consultation acts and aid-indying laws through legislatures and citizen-initiatives. Compassion & Choices Magazine has 48,000 subscribers, and most of the organization s support comes from individual donors. Generous support comes from a small number of
significant donors who have made multi-year, multi-million dollar gifts. There is a much larger pool of donors below the $50,000 level who sustain the organization and its work. Some support comes from family foundations with like-minded boards. THE POSITION The Chief Program Officer (CPO) is a newly reconfigured senior management role, responsible for positioning Compassion & Choices as a leading national organization in the aid-in-dying and progressive movements. Working closely with the President, along with four other executives comprising the senior management team, the Chief Program Officer develops the vision, sets the strategic priorities and aids in the design and management of all Compassion & Choices programming. S/he builds relationships with external audiences and stakeholders and develops leadership, processes and procedures to strengthen the impact of Compassion & Choices staff, specifically in the areas of National & Federal Programs, Political & Field, Policy & Research, Legal Affairs, and the End-of-Life (EOL) Resource Center, which provides direct consumer services. The CPO is responsible for more than 50-person staff and a $5.25 million departmental budget with responsibility for policy, advocacy, clinical programs, legal services and litigation. S/he directly supervises the following key reports: Director of Legal Services Director of Political Affairs & Advocacy Director of Policy and Programs CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Specifically, the Chief Program Officer is responsible for the following: Strategy Strategic Organizational Development: Develops and implements strategies for the National & Federal Programs, Political & Field, Legal Affairs and EOL Resource Center departments and programs that achieve the Strategic Plan. Creating and implementing strategy, models, systems and tools to effectively engage local communities and supporters to achieve the strategic plan. Developing innovative cross-platform strategies to expand the effectiveness, reach and support of Compassion & Choices to achieve current and future strategic plans. o Creating a plan to interface and dovetail capital, financial, and human resources for all related programs. o Developing and managing through program and department directors crossplatform strategies and campaigns.
Management Providing visible leadership and motivation to the board of directors, staff and volunteers in order to achieve the strategic plan objectives. Organizational Manager: Actively engages as a senior manager providing leadership and management to the National & Federal Programs, Political & Field, Policy & Research, Legal Affairs and EOL Resource Center individual programs and department directors in achievement of the strategic plan. Actively participating in the Organizational Management Team and maintaining leadership and coordination for the teams. Acting as liaison with CFO to develop related budgets and monitor financial, capital, and human resources particularly for program areas and cross-platform strategies Managing all related programs and department directors in program functions and, when appropriate, public support functions. Enhancing professional growth of self and teams by keeping abreast of latest trends, best practices and a deep understanding of the issues and events impacting the work. Outreach & External Affairs Building relationships that advance the work with national organization partners and collaborators. Representing the organization at appropriate funding, legislative, public education and media forums Ambassador: Serves as a representative. External relationship builder in key strategic communities. This position requires substantial travel nationally (may include overnight and weekend stays). PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS The successful candidate will bring the following: 15 + years experience in the nonprofit sector, preferred experience in healthcare, health/aging policy and/or integrated advocacy Experience leading organizations with budgets of $10 million or more A history of substantially building the capacity, effectiveness and leadership of advocacy organizations and social change movements; state advocacy experience is important Experience working directly with national nonprofit boards of directors A track record of managing director-level staff (preferably in the related areas) Familiarity with nonprofit sustainability/growth models and key functional areas of successful organizations
Documented success in building strong organizational partnerships with national leaders and organizations Familiarity with end-of-life care/choice issues and/or experience working in the progressive movement Knowledge of personal productivity software (such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint), internet software, CRM software such as Luminate, Convio, Raiser s Edge or Sales Force A graduate degree is required, such as Jurist Doctorate, Non-profit Management, MBA, Public Health, Health Care Administration, MD/JD, RN/MPH, MD/MPA. PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS The ideal candidate will be: Able to Manage difficult or emotional customers situations; respond promptly to customer needs; solicit customer feedback to improve service; respond to requests for service and assistance; meet commitments. Dedicated to seeking ways to improve and promote quality. Understanding of the business implications of decisions; oriented toward profitability; knowledgeable about market and competition; able to align work with strategic goals. Adaptable to changes in the work environment; managing competing demands; changing approach or methods to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events. A provider of guidance and mentoring to department managers, staff, board members and volunteers; Inspiring and motivating others to perform well; accepting feedback from others; giving appropriate recognition to others; taking calculated risks to accomplish goals. Articulate and passionate about the mission. Above all, the successful candidate must believe in the value and vital importance of the organization s work and must be comfortable with the interpretation of the legality of its programs. COMPENSATION Our client is offering a highly competitive salary commensurate with experience as well as a comprehensive benefits package. Basic relocation expenses are possible for an exceptional candidate. This position is based in Washington, DC. OPPORTUNITY Compassion and Choices is dedicated to empowering individuals to secure comprehensive and compassionate options at the end of life. The leader in this emerging social movement, the organization is growing at the rate of over 20% annually, part of a national evolution underway
to alleviate unnecessary end-of-life suffering. It expects to become a $25 million organization by 2023. The successful candidate will enjoy increases in responsibility and compensation based upon the growth of the organization and will have the satisfaction of contributing to a cause of profound humanitarian merit. CONTACT Please submit a brief cover letter and résumé as attachments via e-mail to: Michelle Kristel, Search Consultant, or Joe McCormack, Partner WBB+McCormack Fax 323.549.9222 Email search@wbbmccormack.com Online www.wbbmccormack.com All inquiries or referrals will be held in strict confidence. Please note that education, dates of employment, compensation and other information provided will be verified prior to an offer of employment. Candidates may be required to submit writing samples or undergo skills assessment as part of the application process. Compassion and Choices is an equal opportunity employer.