President & CEO

Candidate profile

We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will display the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

Passion for the Mission

• Build on the organization's existing strengths and honor institutional knowledge, fostering a culture of respect and continuity.
• Understand Maine’s demographics and community needs, demonstrating enthusiasm for engaging with a variety of communities across the state.
• Bring energy to continue growing/strengthening MeHAF’s impact and maintain the organization's strong commitment to serving as a trustworthy partner in advancing health access.
• Possess a deep understanding of healthcare disparities and a strong commitment to equity, with a curiosity and knowledge for leveraging MeHAF’s existing programs to further this vital work.
• Demonstrate a track record of unquestioned integrity, ethics, and values — someone who can be trusted without reservation.

Champion for Health Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, & Accessibility

• Bring a demonstrated commitment to racial equity and trust-based philanthropy, driving transformative change in community engagement.
• Prioritize health equity and address social determinants of health through strategic initiatives and partnerships.
• Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion across underserved populations, particularly those that are generally under-resourced and marginalized within existing systems, ensuring MeHAF models best practices that engenders public trust.
• Champion an approachable and accessible organizational culture with enhanced transparency.
• Ensure internal equity and inclusivity in leadership practices, fostering collaboration and empowerment among staff and grantees alike.

Inspirational & Visionary Team Leader

• Be a decisive leader with excellent judgment and a guiding vision (north star) that aligns with the organization's values, mission, and goals.
• Adapt and evolve grantmaking strategies with an emphasis on progressive philanthropy models grounded in trust and partnership with communities, ensuring the organization remains at the forefront of innovation in the philanthropic sector.
• Collaborate strategically and thoughtfully alongside staff, Board, and CAC to financially steward the significant remaining funds from MacKenzie Scott, ensuring long-term sustainability and maximum impact.
• Demonstrate resilience, political savvy, and a forward-looking perspective, balancing energy for short-term initiatives with the endurance needed for long-term success.
• Lead, support, empower, and motivate a hybrid workforce to achieve organizational objectives effectively, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and high performance.

Effective Communicator & Ambassador

• Be a highly responsive leader for the team, willing to problem solve and understand challenges from a variety of perspectives.
• Drive innovation, advocacy, and transformative change, partnering with, resourcing, and empowering grassroots movements and pioneering solutions to complex systemic challenges.
• Maintain a non-partisan approach and foster alliances with statewide leaders, exemplifying a commitment to collaboration across diverse perspectives.
• Practice transparency and active listening, valuing diverse viewpoints and continuously evolving through self-awareness of strengths and growth areas.
• Possess compelling communication skills in writing, media, and public speaking, instilling confidence, both internally and externally, adeptly crafting messages that resonate deeply with diverse stakeholders and inspire action.

Exceptional Relationship Builder & Collaborator

• Cultivate enduring partnerships with grantee partners, emphasizing shared decision-making and mutual trust.
• Demonstrate the ability to develop systems of communication and decision-making that encourage participation, transparency, and innovation; and the ability to foster a culture of transparency, self-reflection, and mutual accountability.
• Delegate effectively and foster a collaborative atmosphere, promoting autonomy while ensuring cohesive teamwork, especially in a hybrid work environment.
• Demonstrate high emotional intelligence, compassion, and self-awareness, embodying human-centered leadership principles.
• Lead with empathy and humility, adeptly fostering genuine connections across diverse viewpoints and networks.

In addition, strong candidates may offer:

• Sophisticated leadership experience in health, public health, nonprofit management, public policy, or a related field;
• Exceptional organizational and management skills and experience leading and inspiring change in a diverse, mission-driven organization;
• Expertise in nonprofit budgeting, financial management, and strategic allocation of resources;
• Experience fostering policy change through a nonpartisan stature;
• Lived experience facing health inequities or lack of access to healthcare, informing an understanding of and passion for health access and justice.