Executive Director

Description

About the Wellness Equity Institute

The Wellness Equity Institute (WEI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to reimagining the delivery of population, public, and community health services.

Operating at the intersection of clinical delivery, public health systems strengthening, and community-based implementation, WEI focuses on historically marginalized and underserved communities, including:

• People experiencing homelessness
• Indigenous communities
• Immigrant communities
• Rural communities
• BIPOC communities
• LGBTQIA+ communities
• Justice-impacted communities

Through specialized Technical Assistance, community health assessments, systems coordination, and innovative care models, including integrated community health centers that combine physical clinics with mobile street-medicine outreach, WEI works to dismantle systemic barriers and make health equity a standard of care.

WEI works in close alignment with the Wellness Equity Alliance (WEA) to build scalable, sustainable networks of care that meet people exactly where they are.

Position Summary

The Executive Director provides visionary and strategic leadership for the Wellness Equity Institute, guiding the organization's mission, governance, financial sustainability, and programmatic growth.

As WEI's chief executive, the Executive Director works in close partnership with the Board of Directors to establish strategic direction, strengthen organizational accountability, and ensure continued alignment with WEI's mission and values.

This is a part-time, 0.2 FTE leadership opportunity designed for a seasoned executive who can drive high-impact strategic outcomes within a flexible, condensed time commitment.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Provide visionary leadership to advance WEI's mission of reshaping public and population health infrastructure.
• Partner closely with the Board of Directors to strengthen governance, establish organizational benchmarks, and report transparently on progress toward strategic goals.
• Lead strategic planning processes that support organizational growth and long-term sustainability.
• Drive cross-sector collaborations connecting public health initiatives with healthcare networks, managed care plans, and municipal and public agencies.

Operational Oversight & Program Integration

• Provide high-level oversight of the design and scaling of pilot programs, Technical Assistance frameworks, and Community Health Assessments.
• Guide the integration of innovative care-delivery models, including brick-and-mortar clinics paired with mobile street-medicine outreach networks.
• Ensure organizational adherence to clinical rigor, regulatory compliance, data security, and program evaluation standards.
• Foster an organizational culture grounded in trauma-informed practices, cultural responsiveness, and collective care.
• Delegate day-to-day operational management to senior staff while maintaining strategic accountability.

Financial Management & Fundraising

• Serve as a principal steward of WEI's financial health, overseeing annual budgets and maintaining fiscal accountability to the Board of Directors.
• Lead fund development strategy, including cultivating corporate partnerships, securing major philanthropic gifts, and expanding local, state, and federal grant opportunities.
• Develop and guide sustainable operational and revenue models that support WEI's long-term impact.
• Provide strategic oversight and input on major funding proposals and grant applications.

Advocacy, Communications & Community Relations

• Serve as a primary external spokesperson for WEI, amplifying community voices and building public trust.
• Advocate for inclusive public health policies and support educational initiatives addressing social determinants of health.
• Leverage data and population health analytics generated by research teams to help influence systemic change in healthcare delivery.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including policymakers, funders, healthcare partners, and community leaders.

Team Leadership & Organizational Culture

• Provide strategic guidance and support to senior staff responsible for day-to-day operations, programs, and clinical services.
• Champion a low-ego, high-empathy leadership approach that supports multidisciplinary teams of clinicians, peer navigators, researchers, and administrative professionals.
• Ensure organizational decisions reflect equity-centered values and community-driven priorities.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

Education

• Master's degree in Public Health (MPH), Health Administration (MHA), Public Administration (MPA), Business Administration (MBA), or a related field.
• A clinical doctoral degree such as an MD, DO, NP, or PhD is highly preferred.

Experience

• 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience within a nonprofit organization, public health agency, community health center/FQHC, or healthcare enterprise.
• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, or managing health programs serving unsheltered populations, historically marginalized communities, or rural populations.
• Experience managing multimillion-dollar operational budgets.
• Demonstrated success securing diversified funding through philanthropy, fee-for-service models, public grants, or similar funding sources.
• Experience coordinating complex systems, breaking down organizational or structural silos, and mobilizing diverse stakeholder coalitions.

Preferred Skills & Capabilities

• Exceptional public speaking, storytelling, and relationship-building abilities across diverse audiences, including community members, corporate boards, funders, and policymakers.
• Familiarity with geographic information systems (GIS), population health tools, or data science applications in public health delivery.
• Experience working with multi-ethnic, diverse, and underserved communities.
• Demonstrated passion for innovative approaches to improving healthcare delivery and addressing systemic barriers.
• Ability to operate effectively in a part-time, high-trust, outcomes-focused executive leadership role.

Work Arrangement

This position is remote in Southern California, with occasional travel for Board meetings, site visits, funder engagements, partnership events, or other key organizational activities.

The role is structured at approximately 0.2 FTE, or one day per week, with an emphasis on strategic leadership, organizational outcomes, and executive-level accountability.