The Opportunity | Helping Hands Clinic

Helping Hands Clinic, Inc. (HHC) has prospered for nearly 25 years as the only nonprofit free clinic in Caldwell County, NC.  Helping Hands continues to meet a critical need in the community, with approximately 15% of the county’s population being uninsured.  The Board of Directors is committed to continuing and adapting HHC as a privately funded, 501(c)(3) that improves the health of the uninsured, even as the health care marketplace changes.

The clinic serves around 1,000 uninsured adults and employs seven full-time staff and five part-time staff.  HHC’s pharmacy dispenses 17,000+ prescriptions to patients at an annual value of $4+ million.  The $650,000 annual operating budget leverages significant in-kind services to provide the equivalent of $4-$5 million in quality medical care to patients.

HHC seeks a full-time administrative leader to build on HHC’s strengths serving patients and attracting and stewarding donors, and to guide the Board of Directors and staff though anticipated changes.   Strategic leadership, prior work with governing boards, an ability to provide stability for an organization in transition, and a proven track record in private fundraising are essential.  Prior success working collaboratively with funding and community partners and an instinct for the mission will be important attributes for candidates.  A minimum of 3-5 years in a leadership capacity with a nonprofit organization is preferred.

The Position| Executive Director

The Executive Director of Helping Hands Clinic is the chief executive officer charged with ensuring the mission of the Clinic is fulfilled.  The Helping Hands Clinic Board of Directors is responsible for setting policies that govern the Clinic, and the executive director is responsible for establishing procedures that ensure those policies are followed. 

General responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Leadership and Fundraising:

The Executive Director will serve as a leader in the healthcare industry and will ensure that the needs of the uninsured and Helping Hands Clinic are well represented in Caldwell County.  Key to the Clinics’ success is the development of partnerships with the medical community in Caldwell County.  The Executive Director will expand those partnerships and steward relationships with partners that improve the services available to the uninsured.   He/she will serve as a leader in the medical community locally and statewide (as appropriate), to advance the programs of Helping Hands Clinic.

Integral to the success and growth of the clinic is the availability of funding to support programs and general operations.  The Executive Director will serve as the chief development officer for the clinic and will attract the resources necessary to ensure an annual balanced budget.  Stewardship is a core value of Helping Hands Clinic, and the Executive Director will work to build and maintain key relationships with existing donors and partners.  The Executive Director will also work to “tell the Clinic’s story” and share the impact of its work with the community through public speaking opportunities, targeted communications and outreach, and general marketing strategies. 

It is the expectation of the Board that the programs of the Clinic will evolve, expand, and adapt along with the changing needs of the uninsured in our community; therefore, the Executive Director will devote considerable time to fundraising activities.  In particular, the Executive Director will work to diversify the funding sources of the Clinic to ensure long-term sustainability.

The Executive Director will serve as ex-officio, non-voting member of the Helping Hands Clinic Board of Directors.  He/she will serve as a liaison between the Clinic and the Board and will provide the Board with all information needed to ensure sound governance of the Clinic.  The Executive Director will support all the activities of the Board of Directors as necessary.

Clinic Management, Finances and Human Resources:

The Executive Director will manage the daily operations of the clinic and lead the staff to perform their duties with professionalism, excellence, integrity, and enthusiasm.  He/she will set an overall standard of excellence in clinic operations by instilling in employees the values and vision of Helping Hands Clinic. Personnel policies will be followed that ensure the fair treatment of all employees.  All staff will be expected to perform at the highest level and will receive annual evaluations and regular feedback to ensure high-quality performance.

Industry standard best practices will be followed regarding human resources, financial management and all facets of clinic operations.  Employees will be encouraged to actively participate in the strategic direction of the clinic and the establishment of programs that meet the growing medical needs of the uninsured in Caldwell County.  An annual budget that ensures the needs of the clinic are met will be prepared in concert with staff and the Board of Directors.  The Executive Director will oversee and execute the annual budget and ensure that accounting and financial management best practices are closely followed. 

The Executive Director will work closely with the Clinical Director to support the growth of clinic and medical programs that serve the uninsured.  The Executive Director will develop procedures in compliance with all regulatory and licensing standards for all facets of the clinic.  The best use of community resources and optimal patient care will drive all decisions made at the Clinic.

Strategic Direction and Planning:

The current environment in the health care arena necessitates that the Helping Hands Executive Director be well versed on the current health care debate and position the clinic as integral to the solution.  The Executive Director will ensure that the programs of the Clinic adapt and change as the needs of the uninsured change.  Partnerships with key stakeholders in the community must be cultivated to effectively serve the uninsured.

The Executive Director will actively participate in a leadership role as the Board develops long-range strategic plans for the Clinic.

• Experience in management of staff and budgets, preferably in a healthcare setting
• Minimum of three years’ senior-level administrative experience in a nonprofit organization
• Minimum of bachelor’s degree
• Demonstrated comprehension of healthcare sector dynamics
• Ability to act strategically while working tactically and operationally
• People skills, energy, and ability to act in an environment of uncertainty
• Professional stature to interact with medical providers, funders, government agencies and other health care administrators
• Capacity to lead by example with integrity, strength, and compassion
• Experience with strengthening philanthropic connections in the community
• Experience working with diverse populations, including the Hispanic community