Healthy Start Coalition Executive Director

Healthy Start Coalition of Okaloosa and Walton Counties, Inc.
Executive Director – Full-time +
Salary Range: $74,000 - $80,000  
Benefit Package: Limited Medical, Dental, and Vision; AFLAC Medical and Accident support policies; Life Insurance; Investment Portfolio
Send Resume and/or Curriculum Vitae to: executivesearch@hsow.org
Position Summary
The Executive Director serves as the chief executive officer of the Okaloosa/Walton County Healthy Start Coalition, leading all activities in alignment with the Coalition’s mission: To promote positive birth outcomes and protect the health and well-being of all mothers, fathers, and their babies in Okaloosa and Walton Counties.
This role is pivotal in ensuring that families in the community have access to the services and support they need for a healthy pregnancy, a healthy baby, and a strong start in life. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and advocacy for maternal and child health initiatives across Okaloosa and Walton Counties.
Mission Alignment & Wrap-Around Context
This role is central to advancing the Healthy Start mission, ensuring that families receive comprehensive, coordinated, and high-quality services. The Executive Director serves not only as a manager but as a community leader, advocate, and strategic partner in improving maternal and child health outcomes across Okaloosa and Walton Counties. The position requires a visionary leader who can inspire staff, engage stakeholders, and strengthen the Coalition’s impact while upholding the mission.
Key Responsibilities

1. Leadership & Oversight
   • Oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring alignment with the Coalition’s mission, Board-approved policies, and contractual requirements.
   • Provide guidance, training, and technical assistance to Healthy Start–funded projects to maintain high-quality services for families.
   • Monitor and evaluate programs, budgets, and contracts to ensure fiscal accountability and operational efficiency.
   • Serve as the Coalition’s representative across diverse community venues and cultivate strategic partnerships with maternal and child health stakeholders in Okaloosa and Walton Counties, as well as statewide.
   • Participate as a board member for the Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions, which governs the 32 state-wide Healthy Start Coalitions.

1. Strategic Planning & Community Impact
   • Lead the ongoing evaluations and updates to the Coalition’s five-year Community Needs Assessment and 5-year Service Delivery Plan that includes Annual Action Plans and Measurable Targets.
   • Assess each program under the Coalition's umbrella annually to determine challenges, quantifiable goals, and action steps.
   • Identify emerging trends that negatively affect the Coalition’s mission and recommend policies, strategies, and initiatives to mitigate them.
2. Board & Stakeholder Engagement
   • Serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors, preparing financial reports, meeting minutes, and updates to bylaws, policies, and the employee handbook.

• Provide updates on contracts with funders and service providers, along with their required performance measures.
  • Facilitate Board development, orientation, and maternal and child health education presentations.
  • Represent the Coalition with government agencies, community organizations, media, and the public to promote awareness of maternal and child health issues and the Healthy Start system of care.

1. Advocacy & Fundraising
   • Participate in statewide Healthy Start legislative committee meetings and assist in monitoring and influencing legislation that affects the organization and its members.
   • Lead grant writing, fundraising, and revenue-generating activities beyond the scope of annual contracts to sustain and expand services.
2. Other Duties
   • Oversee property management for the Coalition’s offices, including IT security and the administration of equipment and supplies inventory.
   • Administer Human Resource functions like recruitment, hiring, compensation, onboarding, staff development, and managing performance.
   • Perform other responsibilities as assigned by the Board, ensuring all activities support the Coalition’s mission and community impact.

• Preferred: Master’s Degree with one year of experience in human resources, business, marketing, or related field with a minimum of three years of relevant experience in maternal and child health, health care delivery, project administration (planning, evaluation, contracting, budgeting), research, community building, strategic planning, systems development, or public policy.
• Preferred: Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of 5 years’ relevant experience as described above.

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills (both verbal and written), along with strong public speaking abilities.
• Suitable experience with Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.