Executive Director Massachusetts Health Council Needham, MA Position Specification September, 2015
The Opportunity The Massachusetts Health Council (MHC) seeks an Executive Director (ED) to lead this highly visible, 95 year old organization through a period of transition and growth. This is an opportunity to be a statewide public face on behalf of wellness, prevention, and other public health issues. The new ED of the MHC will have access to organizational leaders across all sectors of health care, and can provide creative and visionary leadership to further advance the important public health mission of MHC. The Organization The Massachusetts Health Council is a non-profit, non-partisan statewide organization committed to public health advocacy and education. See www.mahealthcouncil.org. Their 150+ members are organizations committed to improving and protecting the health of the residents of the Commonwealth, and include: Government and Volunteer Agencies Consumer and Advocacy Groups Professional Associations Private Corporations Health Care Providers Insurance and Managed Care Companies Pharmaceutical Companies The Mass Health Council provides a forum whereby health care leaders often from opposite sides of health policy issues come together to make a difference in improving health and containing health care costs. As the largest and oldest health council in the United States, the MHC works to create healthier individuals and communities by concentrating on the pressing health care issues of access to care, quality, cost, and prevention. The Mass Health Council: Fulfills an active and successful role in shaping health policy Informs and educates members, and the general public Fosters communication and cooperation within the health care community Sponsors forums for debate of public health issues Reviews and takes positions on proposals that safeguard health and promote wellness Creates community based initiatives such as health fairs, senior center medication awareness events, and a barber/beauty shop health information dissemination project Authors and publishes a nationally recognized report, Common Health for the Commonwealth: MA Trends in the Preventable Determinants of Health Provides a clearinghouse for ideas that generate opportunities and enthusiasm for feasible solutions to the common goals of improved health for the state s population The MHC is an organization playing a very active and successful role in shaping the development of policy on numerous health issues over the past decades. 2
The Position Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director of the MHC will lead the organization after the announced departure of well-respected ED Susan Servais, who held the role for 27 years and who has driven the increasingly more important role MHC has played in advocating for public health issues. Most significantly, the new ED must lead the Board through a strategic planning process to define MHC s direction over the next several years. This is likely to result in branding/rebranding of MHC around several important public health issues. The ED will then, of course, be responsible for moving MHC in the direction determined by the new strategic plan. The new ED must rapidly gain respect and trust from board leadership and from membership, and early on must focus on building productive relationships with MHC s many and diverse constituents, including legislators. It is hoped that the new ED will strike affiliative relationships with other public health organizations, and with members, which will strengthen the MHC brand and enhance the effective advocacy for public health issues. Specific responsibilities include: Create coalitions, alliances, and relationships with non-profit and for-profit organizations o Strongly advocate on issues such as access to health care, health care quality, reducing health care cost, wellness and prevention o Serve as a catalyst, visionary, political activist on behalf of the MA Health Council always with an eye for the best interests of public health and MHC members Conference, Meeting, and Fundraising Planner o Conference and meeting planning and organizing (selecting venue, reviewing contracts, etc.) o Oversee major fund-raiser Annual Award Dinner o Seek advertisers and sponsors for various events o Acquire, arrange, and coordinate speakers o Create program booklet including working with graphic designers Committees and Board Meetings o Orientation of new Board members o Arrangements for Board and Staff meetings o Create agendas with Executive Committee; o Select appropriate guest speakers for Board and committee meetings Government Compliance o Annual report to Secretary of State Charitable Organization Division o Annual report to Commonwealth of MA Attorney Generals Office Publications o Annual Report for Board of Directors Gather information and data Production and distribution o Health Status Indicator Report Interview, hire, and supervise Principal Investigator Edit the final copy of report before print Design, arrange publishing, and distribution of report o Other reports as deemed necessary such as our Opioid Report 3
The Candidate Electronic newsletter and information dissemination o Web Site Collecting information and photos for web updates o E-mail information updates and special communications to members Produces In the News for our members Hiring and Supervising o Hire and supervise office manager, development director, and project manager o Annual reviews of staff o Hire and supervise outsourced accountants, bookkeepers, public relations firms, and marketing firms o Supervise Interns Computer/Data Manager o Microsoft Works (including Word, Spreadsheet, and Database); Excel, QuickBooks o Web Site updates Fiscal Responsibility o Meet financial needs of the organization; including the accurate and timely reporting of information o Work with accountants on annual audits o Work with Workers Comp on WC audit o Control of deposits and withdrawals to all accounts o Create and distribute monthly Treasurer's Report o Timely FICA deposits o Timely payment of taxes, other government demands, and contributions o Budget development o Work with bookkeeper on account reconciliations Purchasing and accounts payable o Purchase all supplies and equipment o Negotiate office lease o Execute leases and service contracts on equipment o Coordinate all insurance policies; property and D&O o Keep records of purchases o Payment of accounts payable in a timely manner o Keep records of accounts paid o Lobbying (very limited under the 501(c)3 designation) o Write letters to legislators and other government officials as needed o Mail or E-mail information to members on legislative issues o Write testimony and testify before legislative and other government agency hearings The ED of MHC must be credible in a wide variety of settings, and must have a good sense of the current and future issues facing healthcare organizations. It is of critical importance that the ED be a diplomatic, politically neutral bridge-builder and consensus builder, able to serve a constituency of widely diverse 4
perspectives and agenda. S/he must have some understanding of the Massachusetts political/legislative landscape, and will be appropriately passionate in an advocacy/fund raising role. The right candidate must have the versatility to rapidly transition back and forth between addressing big-picture, strategic issues and working in the hands-on, day-to-day context of running a small business. The right ED will be highly attuned to leading an organization strategically, and understand the dynamics of marketing/pr/communications. Experience working with/reporting to a sophisticated Board of Directors is important. Very significantly, the next ED of MHC must have superb people skills and enjoy a highly visible role featuring personal engagement with industry leaders from all health care sectors around the state. The right person is an effective public speaker. He or she must be able to represent MHC in a professional and energetic way, be able to lead forums, conferences, and other gatherings, and be comfortable speaking and presenting on a range of subjects. Personally, s/he must be confident and strong, yet respectful, tactful, and unpretentious. The right ED functions well with people of all levels and types. The right candidate is characterized by initiative, enthusiasm, energy, and a passion for advancing public health issues. S/he must be comfortable in a fund raising capacity, as it and event planning are an important part of the ED role. Ideally, the ED will have a business-building outlook, being able to envision and implement ways to improve and/or grow the MHC. Critical Success Factors The new ED will be seen as successful in the first year if they have: Been accepted by and developed a trusting working relationship with the Board of Directors, driven by frequent, transparent communication. Led the Board through development of a new strategic plan Personally connected with virtually all member organizations and developed relationships with their leaders/representatives Taken steps to advance the value of MHC membership to members, and ideally grown membership Built relationships with legislative leaders Found creative ways to collaborate with other advocacy or member organizations Effectively run the organization and ideally grown it Demonstrate true ownership of MHC Succeeded in fundraising to meet or exceed the budget expectations Compensation A compensation package will be constructed commensurate with the background and experience of the selected candidate. Most significant is the opportunity to assume a vital leadership role of a visible advocacy organization through growth and transition. For More Information Referral of prospective candidates and/or networking sources is welcome. Interested parties please send resume and cover letter to MHCED2134@ZurickDavis.com. For additional questions please contact 5
Ellen Mahoney (ellen.mahoney@zurickdavis.com) or Jeff Zegas (jeffzegas@zurickdavis.com) at 781.938.1975. All contact with our office will remain confidential. The Massachusetts Health Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer 6