Chief Executive Officer

Career Opportunity

Chief Cares seeks a strategic, grounded, and mission‑driven leader to serve as its first Chief Executive Officer (CEO). In partnership with the Board, founders, and community stakeholders, the CEO will set direction for the organization’s next phase and build the operating capacity to deliver it, translating vision into clear priorities, scalable programs, strong fundraising and financial stewardship, and ensuring effective day‑to‑day execution that drives sustainable growth and measurable impact.

Born from a commitment to support communities following Hurricane Helene, Chief Cares has rapidly established a strong brand, secured significant early funding, and delivered meaningful housing impact in Western North Carolina (WNC). Now, the organization is refining its mission and delivery model, strengthening systems and governance, expanding fundraising capacity, and scaling with intention, developing a clear blueprint that can be adapted for future communities beyond WNC while preserving the urgency and values that inspired its creation.

This is a rare opportunity to shape a high-visibility organization with deep community impact in its next chapter.

About Chief Cares

Chief Cares provides a hand‑up by building and gifting attainable housing to community pillars in need. The organization currently operates in Western North Carolina as its launch region, with an active community in Avery County, and plans to expand thoughtfully to additional communities—developing a scalable model (a “blueprint”) that can be applied in other counties and, over time, other regions.

Chief Cares benefits from:

• An outstanding and highly visible brand
• Deep founder commitment and engagement
• Strong early financial support
• A passionate and capable staff team
• An innovative housing approach with early proof points

As Chief Cares looks ahead, the organization is sharpening its long‑term mission, strengthening governance and management boundaries, clarifying decision‑making, and building a scalable operating blueprint to grow fundraising and operational capacity, while staying rooted in the values and community focus that define Chief Cares.

Reporting Structure: The CEO serves as the chief executive of Chief Cares and reports to a 7-person Board of Directors. The CEO partners closely with the Board, Executive Committee, founders, staff, donors, and community stakeholders, and provides leadership across strategy, operations, fundraising, culture, and external relationships.

The CEO will initially oversee initiatives in Avery County, NC (with a current staff of 5), while supporting near-term expansion into additional communities. Critically, the CEO will design and lead an organizational blueprint – strategy, operating model, standards, and playbooks – that enables Chief Cares to replicate its impact well beyond Western North Carolina over time.

Compensation: The salary is commensurate with experience and begins in the $200K range, with bonus potential and a competitive benefits package.

Working Environment/Location: Chief Cares operates with a combination of virtual work and regular, meaningful presence in its active communities. In the near term, the CEO should expect to spend significant time in Western North Carolina while also building the relationships, partnerships, and operational readiness needed for future communities. Geographic flexibility is possible, with a preference for candidates able to maintain strong on‑the‑ground engagement and travel as the organization expands.

Want to know more? Visit https://chiefcares.org/. 

Key Responsibilities of the CEO

Strategic Leadership and Organizational Clarity

• Lead the articulation and alignment of Chief Cares’ mission, vision, values, and definition of success.
• Translate shared priorities into clear goals, metrics, and phased execution plans.
• Clarify and codify the Chief Cares housing model, identifying what is core and what is adaptable as the organization scales.
• Develop the blueprint for future communities, defining expansion criteria, community selection and partnership models, and the repeatable playbooks, tools, and standards required to scale with quality and consistency.

Governance Partnership and Board Effectiveness

• Partner with the Board to establish clear governance norms, decision rights, and boundaries between oversight and management.
• Support the Board’s evolution toward a high functioning, strategic governance role appropriate for a growing organization.
• Build trust, clarity, and effective communication across board, founders, and staff.

Fundraising and Financial Sustainability

• Lead the development of a more intentional and diversified fundraising strategy.
• Build durable, organization-wide fundraising capacity and a broad network of champions.

• Oversee financial stewardship, budgeting, and long-term sustainability planning in partnership with staff and advisors.

   

Operational Leadership and Systems Building

• Strengthen internal systems, processes, and accountability frameworks to support current operations and future growth.
• Ensure the organization can execute efficiently while maintaining flexibility and responsiveness in a dynamic environment.

• Balance strategic leadership with hands-on operational engagement, building an agile, high-performing organization as the team grows.

   

Team Leadership and Culture

• Lead, coach, and support a committed staff team, fostering clarity of roles, expectations, and authority.
• Build a culture of trust, accountability, learning, and follow‑through.

• Serve as a bridge between board and staff, ensuring alignment and healthy working relationships.

   

External Representation and Partnerships

• Serve as a compelling ambassador for Chief Cares with donors, partners, community leaders, and external stakeholders.
• Build and steward relationships across sectors to support housing development, community engagement, and long‑term impact.
• Represent the organization with credibility and care in a high‑visibility environment connected to a well‑known founder.

The Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be energized by the opportunity to help shape an organization at a pivotal moment and will bring many of the following experiences and attributes:

Experience and Skills

• Senior executive leadership experience in a nonprofit, philanthropic, social impact, or mission‑driven organization; comparable leadership experience in other sectors will be considered.
• Demonstrated success leading organizations through periods of growth, transition, or increased complexity.
• Strong fundraising orientation, with comfort engaging high‑net‑worth and high‑profile donors.
• Financial acumen and experience overseeing multi‑million‑dollar budgets.
• Experience working effectively with boards and navigating founder‑led or highly engaged governance environments.
• Comfort operating at both strategic and operational levels in a lean organization.
• Experience building and scaling a multi-site or multi-community model desired, including creating repeatable operating playbooks/standards while adapting effectively to local context.

Leadership Attributes

• High integrity, sound judgment, and uncompromising ethical standards.
• Emotional intelligence, humility, and strong relational skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in a high‑pressure, high‑visibility environment.
• Clear, confident communicator who can align diverse stakeholders around a shared direction.
• Decisive yet collaborative; able to move the organization forward while bringing people along.
• Optimistic, resilient, and adaptable.

How To Apply

To apply, click on the link for this position at https://jobs.armstrongmcguire.com/. You will see instructions for uploading your compelling cover letter, resume, and salary requirements. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of Chief Cares as well as the stated responsibilities and qualifications.

Please provide all requested information to be considered. In case of any technical problems, contact talent@armstrongmcguire.com. No phone calls, please, andno applications will be accepted by email or directly from third-party posting sites.

About Armstrong McGuire

Armstrong McGuire is a national executive search, fundraising, and strategic advising firm that believes in unlocking the potential of nonprofit leaders and the communities they serve. Founded in 2004, our diverse team of advisors work with clients and leaders to align strategy, optimize operations, build capacity, and lead nationwide searches that bring supremely talented individuals to high-impact organizations. Learn more about our services in talent acquisition, fundraising counsel, and strategic planning at https://www.armstrongmcguire.com/.