Chief Strategy & Special Initiatives Officer

The Chief Strategy & Special Initiatives Officer is a senior executive leader responsible for advancing organizational effectiveness, innovation, quality improvement, and enterprise-wide transformation initiatives that support Comunilife’s mission, growth, and long-term sustainability.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Strategy & Special Initiatives Officer serves as a strategic advisor and organizational leader focused on identifying opportunities for innovation, strengthening organizational performance, guiding change initiatives, and leading high-priority projects that require executive-level coordination and cross-functional collaboration.

A defining priority of this role is the design, establishment, and formalization of Comunilife’s Quality Improvement department — building its charter, structure, staffing, and measurement infrastructure from the ground up and then transitioning it to sustained, steady-state executive oversight. The position also provides leadership for organizational effectiveness, enterprise initiatives, public-sector alignment, and CEO-designated strategic projects, working closely with executive leadership, department heads, and external stakeholders to advance organizational priorities and ensure the successful implementation of complex initiatives that improve outcomes, strengthen operations, and enhance mission impact.

Role evolution. This is an evolving executive seat. Its initial mandate centers on building the Quality Improvement function and carrying the enterprise strategy and special-initiatives portfolio. Over time, as these are established, the role is expected to expand in scope — taking on broader responsibility for extending the CEO’s reach across the executive team, coordinating the leadership operating rhythm, and serving as a trusted proxy in internal and external settings. Candidates should be energized both by building functions and, in time, by multiplying the effectiveness of the CEO and executive team.

Essential Functions and Key Accountabilities

I. Quality Improvement — Department Build & Ongoing Oversight 

Design and establish Comunilife’s Quality Improvement department, then transition it to sustained executive oversight.

• Charter and formalize the Quality Improvement department, including its purpose, scope, reporting structure, staffing plan, and governance.
• Recruit, onboard, and develop Quality Improvement staff; define roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations.
• Build the department’s core infrastructure — policies and procedures, data collection and reporting systems, performance indicators, and outcome measurement frameworks.
• Establish organization-wide quality improvement processes, standards, and continuous-improvement cycles aligned with funder, regulatory, and accreditation expectations.
• Promote the use of data and performance information to improve services, operations, and outcomes.
• Analyze trends and performance information to identify opportunities for improvement, and partner with operational leadership to act on them.
• Transition the established department to steady-state operations, providing ongoing executive oversight, quality assurance, and continuous refinement.
• Foster an organization-wide culture of learning, evidence-informed practice, and continuous improvement.

II. Enterprise Strategy, Innovation & Organizational Growth

Identify opportunities that strengthen organizational sustainability, innovation, effectiveness, and long-term impact.

• Advise the CEO and Executive Leadership Team on emerging trends, risks, opportunities, and strategic considerations affecting the organization.
• Conduct environmental scans, organizational assessments, and market analyses to identify opportunities for innovation and growth.
• Evaluate emerging service models, strategic partnerships, business opportunities, and organizational investments.
• Support executive leadership in assessing opportunities for expansion, diversification, and enhanced mission impact.
• Develop recommendations that strengthen organizational effectiveness and long-term sustainability.
• Facilitate strategic discussions regarding future organizational priorities and growth opportunities.

III. Enterprise Initiatives & Special Projects

Lead high-priority initiatives designated by the CEO that require executive-level oversight and coordination.

• Lead special projects and initiatives that fall outside traditional departmental responsibilities.
• Develop implementation strategies, project plans, timelines, performance measures, and deliverables.
• Coordinate enterprise-wide initiatives requiring collaboration across multiple departments.
• Conduct feasibility assessments, research, and analyses related to strategic opportunities.
• Lead project teams, task forces, and workgroups responsible for implementing major organizational initiatives.
• Remove barriers to implementation and facilitate timely project completion.
• Support development and launch of new programs, pilot projects, partnerships, and innovative service models.
• Ensure successful implementation of CEO-prioritized initiatives.

IV. Organizational Transformation, Culture & Change Leadership

Lead initiatives that improve organizational effectiveness, strengthen culture, and support enterprise-wide change.

• Lead organization-wide transformation initiatives that improve effectiveness, accountability, and service quality.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, innovation, learning, and continuous improvement.
• Support major organizational change initiatives, restructuring efforts, and process improvement efforts.
• Collaborate with Human Resources leadership to support culture-building, organizational development, workforce planning, and leadership development initiatives.
• Identify and address barriers to organizational effectiveness and employee engagement.
• Advance a culture of accountability, performance excellence, and mission alignment.

V. Government Systems Alignment & External Strategic Relations

Support organizational readiness and alignment with evolving public-sector systems and priorities.

• Monitor policy, funding, and system trends that may affect organizational operations, service delivery, and strategic opportunities.
• Assess potential opportunities and risks associated with changes in public-sector priorities.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with government, regulatory, healthcare, housing, and community stakeholders.
• Advise executive leadership regarding public-sector developments that impact organizational planning and sustainability.
• Support organizational positioning within government-funded and regulated environments.
• Collaborate with operational leadership to ensure organizational readiness for significant system changes.

VI. Executive Leadership & Organizational Coordination

Serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and support enterprise-wide leadership efforts.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO on organizational issues and emerging opportunities.
• Facilitate collaboration and communication among executive leaders and departments.
• Support leadership decision-making through research, analysis, and strategic recommendations.
• Prepare executive reports, presentations, and briefings for senior leadership and the Board of Directors as needed.
• Represent Comunilife in meetings, coalitions, forums, and partnerships as assigned.
• Support organizational problem-solving and executive decision-making processes.

Executive Collaboration

The Chief Strategy & Special Initiatives Officer serves as a collaborative member of the Executive Leadership Team, partnering with executive leaders to advance organizational priorities, coordinate enterprise-wide initiatives, and support the successful implementation of strategic goals.

The role works across departments and executive functions to enhance organizational effectiveness, drive transformation efforts, lead quality improvement initiatives, and support CEO-designated priorities while respecting established responsibilities for compliance, governance, fundraising, communications, and operational oversight.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong knowledge of organizational development, change management, strategic analysis, and performance improvement.
• Demonstrated experience building or formalizing a quality improvement, performance management, or organizational effectiveness function — not only overseeing an established one.
• Demonstrated success leading complex, enterprise-wide initiatives and transformation efforts.
• Experience managing cross-functional teams and organizational projects.
• Strong understanding of nonprofit, healthcare, housing, behavioral health, or human services environments.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, facilitation, and relationship-management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to build consensus and influence without direct authority.
• Experience utilizing data to support decision-making and organizational improvement.
• Commitment to equity, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Education & Experience Requirements

• Master’s degree preferred in Public Administration, Public Policy, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Organizational Leadership, Social Work, or a related field.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading organizational transformation, special initiatives, quality improvement, or organizational effectiveness functions, including standing up or formalizing new functions.
• Experience in nonprofit, healthcare, housing, behavioral health, government, or related sectors preferred.
• Experience working in complex, multi-site, and government-funded organizations preferred.