Description:
ABOUT NACDD
The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) is a member-based Association that improves the health of the public by strengthening state-based leadership and expertise for chronic disease prevention and management. NACDD’s core membership is composed of the 59 State and Territorial Health Department Chronic Disease Directors and their staff who protect the health of the public through primary and secondary prevention efforts and work “upstream” on root causes of chronic conditions. In addition, NACDD unites 7,000 chronic disease professionals across the United States working in state, tribal, and territorial health departments; nonprofits; academia; and the private industry to promote health and reduce the burden of chronic disease. As a national, nonprofit, professional Association, we advocate, educate, and provide technical assistance to inform programming and grow chronic disease prevention knowledge, leadership, and capacity.
NACDD EMPLOYEE TOTAL REWARDS AND BENEFITS:
*Flexible work hours *Remote work environment *Paid holidays *Medical insurance *Dental insurance *Vision insurance *Flexible spending account (FSA) *Career growth opportunities *Paid time off (PTO) *Paid sick leave *Paid volunteer time *401(k) with employer match *Employee assistance program (EAP) *Long-term disability *Basic life/AD&D *Critical illness coverage *Accident coverage *Short-term disability *Wellness activities
POSITION SUMMARY
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the executive leader and primary spokesperson for the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD). Reporting directly to the Board of Directors through the Executive Committee, the CEO provides strategic and operational leadership for NACDD staff and contractors to advance the organization’s mission, strengthen performance and accountability, and guide NACDD through a significant period of financial and organizational turnaround, strategic realignment, and long-term sustainability. In doing so, the CEO will clarify organizational priorities while maintaining and enhancing NACDD’s national role in chronic disease prevention.
The CEO builds and maintains strong relationships with NACDD members, funders, partners, and stakeholders, working closely with the Board to ensure transparent, timely, and accurate communication in support of governance and decision-making.
THE ROLE REQUIRES
This role requires a leader with demonstrated experience in organizational turnaround and transformation; strong financial stewardship and business acumen; strategic decision-making and planning; comprehensive financial development, including revenue diversification beyond government funding; exceptional written and verbal communication skills; the ability to navigate complex federal and state public health landscapes; expertise in government relations and partnership development; membership relations and growth experience; advanced people and leadership capabilities; and the ability to make sound, timely decisions in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:
Board Partnership & Governance
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Serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors and Executive Committee; ensure timely, accurate, and transparent communication on organizational performance, financial health, and strategic progress;
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Partner with the Board to develop, execute, and regularly assess strategic priorities and organizational goals;
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Support effective governance practices, including committee engagement, decision support, policy compliance, and organizational risk oversight;
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Provide the Board with the information, analysis, and recommendations needed to fulfill its fiduciary and strategic responsibilities;
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Support Board development efforts, including identification, cultivation, and onboarding of prospective Board members in partnership with the Executive Committee and Governance structure;
Organizational Performance, Accountability & Execution
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Establish and maintain strong internal systems for planning, execution, performance tracking, and organizational accountability;
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Define and communicate a clear organizational strategy with measurable priorities; translate strategy into team-level goals and hold leaders accountable for outcomes;
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Lead, develop, and retain a high-performing senior leadership team; establish clear roles, expectations, and decision rights across the organization, including direct and timely action on performance challenges;
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Ensure the organization has the structure and capacity to scale effectively based on funding levels and strategic direction;
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Evaluate and strengthen internal processes, procedures, and operational systems to improve organizational effectiveness, reduce compliance risk, and support a high-performing remote workforce;
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Lead enterprise change management efforts to strengthen operational effectiveness, especially during periods of transition or funding volatility;
- Lead through uncertainty and change with clarity, consistency, and empathy, maintaining staff confidence and organizational momentum;
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Assess and modernize NACDD’s technology infrastructure and operational systems; leverage emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to reduce organizational risk and improve efficiency;
Financial Stewardship, Revenue Growth & Risk Management
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Provide strong fiscal leadership, including budgeting, budget-to-actual monitoring, and financial reporting in partnership with the finance team;
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Lead development and execution of a financial stabilization plan, with clear milestones and board-level reporting;
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Oversee multi-year financial forecasting, scenario planning, and risk mitigation to ensure long-term organizational sustainability;
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Ensure appropriate internal controls and risk management practices are in place to protect NACDD’s assets, reputation, and compliance standing;
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Develop and implement a comprehensive financial development and revenue diversification strategy that goes beyond government funding to include: annual giving; major gifts; foundation grants; corporate partnerships; endowment development; Board, staff, and member giving; events; fee-for-service offerings; and value-add member revenue;
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Align organizational structure, staffing, and investments with financial sustainability goals;
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Use data-informed decision-making to anticipate financial risks and align resources with strategic priorities;
Federal Funding, Compliance & Program Integrity
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Oversee successful implementation of federal cooperative agreements and grants, ensuring compliance with NOFO requirements, 2 CFR Part 200, deliverables, and reporting timelines;
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Maintain credibility and trust with federal partners, including CDC and other funders, ensuring continuity of relationships across political and administrative transitions;
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Ensure program quality, measurable outcomes, and alignment with NACDD’s mission and member needs;
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Monitor the evolving federal funding landscape and proactively develop contingency plans to protect organizational stability;
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Build and systematize internal processes to monitor federal and state funding trends, identify new government funding sources, anticipate shifts in the landscape, and maintain organizational readiness to respond to new opportunities as they emerge;
External Affairs, Advocacy & Partnerships
- Serve as NACDD’s primary external spokesperson and a visible, credible national leader in chronic disease prevention and public health;
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Strengthen NACDD’s brand, national influence, and value proposition with members, funders, policymakers, and the broader public health community;
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Cultivate and maintain strategic partnerships with public health organizations, federal agencies, foundations, associations, and other key stakeholders;
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Represent NACDD in national forums, coalitions, and policy discussions; advance the organization’s advocacy priorities at the federal and state level;
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Position NACDD to anticipate and respond to shifts in the public health landscape, funding environment, and chronic disease policy priorities;
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Evaluate and develop strategies to grow and diversify NACDD’s membership base, including exploration of new member verticals, monetized membership models, and individual membership options that expand NACDD’s reach and financial sustainability;
People, Culture & Organizational Development
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Accept ultimate accountability for all decisions and actions taken by the Association and ensure a culture of ownership and responsibility at every level of the organization;
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Foster a workplace culture grounded in NACDD’s commitment to connection and collaboration, purpose-driven work, support and trust, and continuous learning and leadership;
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Maintain clear expectations, ownership, and follow-through across the organization, while cultivating an environment of psychological safety, transparency, and high performance;
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Champion an inclusive, equitable, and high-performing work environment that prioritizes staff wellbeing, empowers individual contribution, and holds the organization accountable to its mission;
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Practice servant leadership: remain accessible, listen actively to staff at all levels, and demonstrate humility and genuine care for the people who carry out NACDD’s mission;
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Support talent strategies that strengthen recruitment, retention, performance management, and leadership development at all levels;
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Model transparent, empathetic, and principled leadership; communicate openly with staff during periods of change or uncertainty.
Requirements:
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES)
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Master’s degree required, preferably in Public Health, Public Health Administration, Business Administration, or related field;
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10+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including senior executive-level responsibility, preferably in a nonprofit, public health, government, healthcare, or mission-driven organization;
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Demonstrated business and financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, financial oversight, and organizational risk management;
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Demonstrated experience partnering effectively with a Board of Directors and leading within a governance environment;
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Demonstrated success leading organizational turnaround, stabilization, or transformation efforts;
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Demonstrated success in revenue diversification and financial development, including experience building funding streams beyond government sources through philanthropy, foundation grants, corporate partnerships, earned revenue, and fee-for-service or value-add offerings;
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Track record of building partnerships and advancing an organization’s national influence, reputation, and external relationships;
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Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change, strengthen accountability systems, and build a high-performing, mission-aligned culture, including experience leading remote or geographically dispersed teams;
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex public health work into compelling narratives and value propositions for diverse audiences;
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Demonstrated ability to make sound, timely, high-stakes decisions under conditions of ambiguity or uncertainty;
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Proven ability to operate effectively and drive results in resource-constrained environments with competing priorities;
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Alignment with NACDD’s commitment to an inclusive, equitable, and respectful workplace.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES)
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Previous experience as a CEO, Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer, or equivalent top executive with enterprise-level accountability;
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Demonstrated track record of diversifying an organization’s funding portfolio beyond government sources, including experience with financial development strategies such as fee-for-service, earned revenue, major gifts, or corporate and foundation partnerships;
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Experience leading within a national membership association, public health organization, or comparable mission-driven nonprofit or public-sector entity;
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Knowledge of chronic disease prevention and control, public health networks, emerging issues, and major challenges and opportunities in the field;
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Experience working across chronic disease prevention, health equity, and state/territorial public health systems.
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Experience managing federal cooperative agreements and/or grant-funded programs with high compliance requirements;
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Familiarity with federal public health policy, the federal legislative process, and/or advocacy at the national level;
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Experience leveraging technology, digital tools, and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to improve operational effectiveness, modernize organizational systems, and enhance programmatic impact;
CORE COMPETENCIES
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Strategic Leadership and Decision-Making
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Governance and Board Partnership
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Accountability, Integrity, and Transparent Communication
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Financial Acumen and Resource Stewardship
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Turnaround, Change Management, and Execution
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Revenue Development and External Relations
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Emotional Intelligence and People Leadership
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Remote Workforce Leadership and Engagement
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Digital Literacy and Operational Modernization
LOCATION/TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
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Remote (U.S.);
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NACDD is currently registered to employ staff in the following U.S. States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. Candidates residing in these states are strongly preferred;
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Candidates residing in other U.S. States may be considered; however, employment is contingent upon NACDD’s ability to establish and maintain appropriate state registration and compliance;
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This position requires travel of up to 30% to fulfill NACDD’s mission and organizational goals.
SALARY RANGE:
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants are encouraged to visit our website www.chronicdisease.org and review the following resources before applying:
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Link: 2026 Membership Guide
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Link: CEO Recruitment Packet
*Along with a resume or CV and cover letter detailing how their previous experience aligns with the requirements of this position, applicants must submit a writing sample of which they are the primary author.* Acceptable formats include a manuscript, policy white paper, briefing document, two-pager report, or similar professional work product. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Submit all materials via the NACDD Application Portal.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.
This position is primarily performed remotely in a home-based office environment. The role involves frequent computer use, sitting and/or standing as preferred by the employee, virtual collaboration, and participation in video and audio conferences. The employee must be able to communicate clearly, focus for extended periods, manage competing priorities, and work independently within a remote setting. Travel will be required.
NACDD is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
