Chief Executive Officer

Status: Full-time, Exempt

Summary

The CEO will provide disciplined executive leadership to ensure organizational sustainability, operational excellence, financial strength, and exceptional service delivery. Working closely with the Board of Directors, the CEO will build upon recent organizational investments by improving execution, strengthening accountability, restoring long-term financial stability, and maximizing mission impact. The successful candidate will be an experienced operational leader who demonstrates sound financial judgment, exceptional relationship-building skills, and a proven ability to translate strategic initiatives into measurable results.

The CEO’s overarching objective is to ensure that the Lighthouse remains the pre-eminent agency serving the visually impaired in the State of Florida.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Stewardship

The CEO will:

·      Restore the organization to sustainable annual operating performance.

·      Develop multi-year financial plans that reduce dependence on endowment funding.

·      Ensure all budgets are balanced through realistic revenue projections, clearly defined assumptions, and disciplined expense management.

·      Develop Board dashboards, including:

·       operating margin

·       cash flow

·      fundraising performance

·      program profitability

·      staffing productivity

·      Grant applications being worked on, submitted, status, amount, award decision date

·      Recommend organizational restructuring when necessary

·      Evaluate every program for financial sustainability and mission impact

Organizational Performance and Accountability

The CEO will:

• Establish measurable organizational performance goals.
• Create a culture of accountability at every leadership level.
• Develop Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for every department.
• Report performance metrics to the Board monthly.
• Ensure strategic initiatives produce measurable outcomes.
• Hold senior leadership accountable for achieving agreed-upon goals.

·       Develop, mentor, and retain a high-performing leadership team while fostering a culture of trust, collaboration, accountability, innovation, and employee engagement.

·       Develop and maintain an enterprise risk management framework addressing financial, operational, compliance, cybersecurity, reputational, and strategic risks.

Strategic Leadership & Governance

The CEO will:

• Execute the Board-approved strategic plan and recommend modifications based upon measurable outcomes.
• Collaborate with the Board to define and execute the mission, vision, strategy, and organizational priorities.
• Provide guidance and insights to support effective governance and decision-making.
• Ensure alignment of organizational goals and programs with community needs.
• Keep the Board informed on organizational performance, community trends, and challenges.
• Seek out opportunities to enhance and expand client programs and services by building mutually beneficial partnerships.

 Operations & Administration

The CEO has responsible for the day-to-day management of the organization and has authority over operational decisions consistent with Board-approved policies and strategic direction.

The CEO will:

·      Lead and manage staff, volunteers, and contractors, fostering a high-performing and collaborative culture.

·      Optimize organizational structure, staffing, and seek to continuously improve operational efficiency.

·      Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, and accreditation requirements.

·      Develop a culture of operational innovation (e.g., AI) where appropriate.

 Fundraising and Revenue Creation

The CEO will:

• Personally lead the organization's major gift strategy.
• Align resources with fundraising/development strategy and the most viable revenue opportunities.
• Build and maintain relationships with major donors.
• Strengthen relationships with private foundations.
• Expand planned giving.
• Develop corporate partnerships.
• Maintain a diversified fundraising strategy balancing:
  • individual giving
  • corporate giving
  • foundations
  • grants
  • government contracts (e.g., DBS)
  • planned giving

·       Empower senior leadership to create and market innovative programs and services to peer organizations as a revenue stream.

Financial Management

The CEO will:

·      Lead the financial management functions, including budgeting, forecasting, and long-term planning, to safeguard the organization’s fiscal health and support mission-driven growth.

·      Work with the outsourced accounting team to develop comprehensive, accurate, and timely financial metrics and cash flow analyses.

·      Identify opportunities to optimize resource allocation and improve financial efficiency.

Board Partnership Expectations

The CEO will:

• Maintain transparent and timely communication with the Board.
• Provide timely and accurate financial reporting.
• Notify the Board of emerging risks.
• Present objective performance metrics.
• Foster a culture of candor and accountability.
• Collaborate with the Board to leverage its experiences and skills to best serve the mission.

Program Oversight & Evaluation

The CEO will:

• Develop and implement data-driven performance metrics to evaluate client-centric program outcomes and impact.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and disciplined management within program teams.

Public & Community Relations

The CEO will:

• Serve as the public face of the organization, representing Lighthouse at events, conferences, and with partners.
• Oversee marketing and communication strategies to raise visibility and awareness of the organization’s mission.
• Build partnerships with government, nonprofit, and professional organizations to expand the organization’s reach and impact.

·       Build and strengthen relationships with county governments in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, DeSoto, and Highlands counties to secure new funding opportunities and expand program impact.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

Nonprofit Leadership Experience

• At least 6 years of progressive leadership experience, including 4 years in senior management within social services, rehabilitation, or nonprofit organizations.
• Proven success in fundraising, fiscal management, and program oversight, particularly in human-service organizations with multi-million-dollar budgets.
• Experience managing day-to-day operations while maintaining a focus on long-term strategic goals.
• Experience in managing industry accreditation processes and compliance therewith.
• Demonstrated ability to align organizational staffing, expenses, and operational priorities with realistic revenue expectations while maintaining high-quality mission delivery.

Mission Alignment

• A deep, personal commitment to the mission of empowering individuals with vision loss. Candidates with lived experience or a strong history of advocacy for the blind and visually impaired community are highly valued.
• A passion for making a tangible impact in the lives of individuals and communities served by the organization.
• Strategic evaluation of current and potential competitors for services, clients, funding, and staff talent.
• Experience in successfully completing organizational turnaround initiatives (i.e., change management).

Financial Viability

• Demonstrated success restoring financial stability.
• Experience leading organizations through operational improvement and the evolution of resource efficiency.
• Experience managing periods of budget deficits.
• Proven record improving and maintaining financial performance.
• The ability to interpret financial data and make informed decisions to ensure the organization’s financial health and sustainability.
• Experience working with outsourced accounting teams and developing detailed financial metrics and cash flow analyses.
• Experience raising funds by building durable philanthropic relationships while diversifying revenue streams.

·       Demonstrated success in personally cultivating and soliciting six-figure gifts is strongly preferred.

Strategic Vision & Execution

• Experience in implementing and measuring long-term strategic plans that align with the organization’s mission and goals.
• A hands-on approach to leadership, with the ability to balance high-level strategy with day-to-day operational management.
• A proven record of acting with nimbleness and acuity to anticipate and address organizational challenges and opportunities.

Cultural Leadership

• A commitment to fostering a positive organizational culture, addressing internal challenges, and promoting staffdevelopment and collaboration.
• Experience in managing and mentoring teams, with a focus on building leadership capacity within an organization.
• Experience as an organizational change agent, able to guide an evolving organization to ensure its sustainability.

Technology, Asset Management, Information and Data Security

• Experience in oversight of and compliance with cybersecurity measures, data privacy, and technology modernization.
• Experience in managing maintenance agency assets to include physical building, fleet, and equipment.
• Proficiency with office technology and software.

Advocacy & Community Engagement

• A strong public presence and the ability to serve as a passionate advocate for the blind and visually impaired community.
• Experience in public speaking, media relations, and community outreach to raise awareness and support for the organization’s mission.
• The ability to build partnerships with local governments, community organizations, and other stakeholders to expand the organization’s reach and impact.

 Additional Requirements

• Valid Florida driver’s license, reliable transportation, and proof of insurance.
• Ability to pass level two background checks.
• Ability to travel independently.
• Proficiency with office technology and software.

This is a salaried (exempt) position. The pay range is $95,000 - $130,000 plus benefits, depending on qualifications and experience.

The successful candidate will work primarily from the agency’s headquarters in Sarasota, FL, and will be expected to travel throughout the five-county service region from time to time.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit the following materials electronically to:

similar-eldest1k@icloud.com.

1.    A cover letter explaining your interest in the position and why your experience and qualifications make you a strong candidate;

2.    Current résumé or curriculum vitae detailing relevant professional experience, education, leadership experience, and accomplishments; and

3.    Response to the following three questions (maximum two pages total):

a.    What do you consider the three most important responsibilities of a nonprofit CEO?

b.    How have you successfully developed relationships with major donors and cultivated individual philanthropy?

c.    Describe a significant professional challenge or failure that changed the way you lead. What did you learn about yourself, how did it change your approach to leadership, and how would that experience influence the way you would lead the Lighthouse Vision Loss Center?

Professional references will be requested from candidates advancing to the finalist stage.

Application Deadline: September 30, 2026