The Opportunity
The National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) seeks a visionary and collaborative leader to serve as its next President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Following more than 13 years of successful leadership as NNPHI’s inaugural full-time CEO, Dr. Vincent Lafronza will retire in December 2026 after guiding the organization through tremendous growth and impact. This is a rare opportunity to lead a highly respected, mission-driven national network at a pivotal moment for public health in the United States. NNPHI is the national membership network for 52 local and state public health institutes (PHIs) nationwide. These nonprofit organizations operate at the local and state levels to strengthen public health systems and improve population health outcomes. Public health institutes are essential to the nation’s public health systems. The incoming CEO will have a unique platform to shape public health infrastructure, policy, and collaboration nationwide, while supporting local innovation that improves lives and communities across the country. NNPHI sits at the nexus of policy, local innovation, and national collaboration. NNPHI’s program teams lead federally and privately funded public health initiatives in partnership with member institutes and aligned organizations that strengthen health systems and the public health workforce locally, statewide and across the nation. With a presence in all 50 states and numerous territories, NNPHI’s members represent more than 12,000 public health experts and over $2.2 billion in annual funding in partnership with local and state public health systems. Reporting to a highly engaged Board of Directors, the CEO is responsible for NNPHI’s strategy, operations, financial sustainability, and national visibility and influence. As the face and voice of the organization, the CEO will guide NNPHI and its members through a rapidly evolving public health and funding landscape, championing the value of public health institutes, strengthening the network, and positioning NNPHI for even greater long-term impact. The CEO oversees more than 50 staff across offices in New Orleans and Washington, D.C.
The ideal candidate will be a collaborative, entrepreneurial, strategic, and values-driven leader with:
- Deep understanding of the public health ecosystem and the unique role of public health institutes
- Significant senior executive leadership experience in complex, mission-driven organizations
- Proven success securing federal funding, grants, contracts, philanthropic support, and new business opportunities
- Strong financial acumen and experience guiding organizations through funding transitions
- Exceptional relationship-building, diplomacy, and communication skills
- Experience advocating at the national level with federal agencies, policymakers, and major partners
- Experience building and leading high-performing leadership teams
- Commitment to health equity
- A leadership style grounded in humility, accessibility, and shared purpose.
A graduate degree in public health, healthcare administration or management, business administration, or a related field is required. Federal government relations experience and established relationships with national public health leaders are strongly preferred. NNPHI has offices in New Orleans and Washington, D.C., and operates in a hybrid work environment. The CEO is expected to be a visible presence amongst staff and partners.
Position Summary
Reporting Relationships
The President and Chief Executive Officer reports to the Board of Directors. Reporting to the CEO are the Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration and the Senior Vice President of Programs. The Executive Leadership Team also includes the Vice President of Technology, Strategy, and Innovation, as well as the Managing Director of Programs and Special Projects.
Responsibilities
The CEO is responsible for all functions of NNPHI and works with the Board of Directors and senior leadership to establish innovative strategies and ensure the organization’s effective operations and sustainability. The CEO recommends and participates in the board’s development of new policies, procedures, and programs and leads a high-functioning, accountable team in pursuit of NNPHI’s mission. As the face and voice of the organization, the CEO communicates goals, initiatives, and accomplishments to a broad range of partners and constituents nationally. The CEO ensures that member public health institutes remain a vital resource to the nation’s communities, policymakers, and the public.
Specifically, the CEO:
- Engages the Board of Directors, members, staff, and partners to develop and enact NNPHI’s strategic plan.
- Provides strategic direction to meet fiscal, operational, and mission-based objectives to ensure impact and organizational viability.
- Provides leadership, guidance, and support to the Board of Directors and serves as a voting member of the board.
- Seeks opportunities for the development of new institutes and cooperative programs and the enhancement of network member capacities through collaboration.
- Works to identify new sources of funding for NNPHI and network members.
- Develops national relationships and partnerships to cultivate a broad network and enhances NNPHI’s visibility to advance its mission and vision.
- Leads the NNPHI team to balance current responsibilities while leading the development of innovative strategies for network members and NNPHI’s long-term positioning and influence. Provides appropriate oversight of NNPHI’s projects and initiatives to ensure efficiency, compliance, quality, and client satisfaction.
- Mentors and empowers NNPHI employees with an emphasis on teamwork, mutual accountability, and client satisfaction.
- Acts as a subject matter expert, connector, and spokesperson for the network.
- Engages in appropriate advocacy on behalf of public health institutes to educate and inform national and local policy makers, community leaders, and partnered organizations.
Goals and Objectives
The following goals and objectives have been identified as priorities for the next CEO:
- Articulate and advance an integrative vision and strategic plan for NNPHI’s future
The CEO will have the opportunity to work with the NNPHI board, staff, and partners to develop a shared vision and new strategic directions and plan for the organization. The appointment of a new CEO amid significant changes to the federal public health landscape creates an opportunity for NNPHI to reflect on its direction and gather input from partners, funders, members, and other stakeholders to enhance the reach, influence, and impact of the network and its member institutes.
- Enhance advocacy for the network and the vital role of public health institutes
As the national voice for public health institutes, NNPHI has the opportunity to further educate and inform policymakers at the national and local levels of the unique value and impact of public health institutes in improving the public’s health. The CEO will work to expand the network’s advocacy footprint while continuing to monitor how policy changes will impact members. NNPHI will also continue to align with partners and organizations with similar advocacy goals to ensure public health institutes are at the table for relevant policy discussions.
- Enhance network services, collaborations, and shared practices
With 51 members and growing, there are additional opportunities to leverage the network’s collective capacity, buying power, and learned best practices. NNPHI can explore offering supply chain and sourcing contracting, assisting smaller institutes with technology and systems, further connecting institutes to augment staff and capacity for programs, and establishing additional interest groups around common priorities. The CEO will ensure the value proposition is clear for the network’s diverse member institutes.
- Diversify revenue streams
Currently, the majority of NNPHI’s budget is reliant on federal sources, primarily CDC funding. While there remain significant opportunities for NNPHI to identify, obtain, and collaborate on federally funded grants and contracts for the network, shifting national priorities will require NNPHI to diversify its funding base. The CEO must work with NNPHI members and other stakeholders to stay abreast of federal priorities, align with national foundation, philanthropic, and aligned industry goals, and be an even greater resource for member institutes.
- Enhance cross-state collaboration and support
Public health challenges transcend borders, and NNPHI has a unique vantage point. The CEO will foster interstate learning and collaboration and support institutes operating in complex local environments. Regional coalitions may continue to form in the current landscape, creating opportunities to go beyond the current regional hub model.
Candidate Qualifications
NNPHI seeks in its next CEO an experienced and highly collaborative leader with a successful record of coalition building, effecting positive change, and making an impact.
The CEO must be visionary, entrepreneurial, and committed to championing NNPHI’s mission. The CEO is expected to possess a deep understanding of and substantive experience within the public health ecosystem, including public health institutes, agencies, healthcare providers, community organizations, and notfor-profit institutions. Importantly, NNPHI’s next leader must understand the contextual opportunities and challenges facing public health institutes.
NNPHI requires a strategic chief executive with financial sophistication, exceptional communication skills, and the capacity to engage federal agencies, foundations, partners, not-for-profits and policymakers to elevate the network’s visibility and signal NNPHI’s nationwide reach and capabilities. The CEO must advocate in a nonpartisan manner, maintain a visible presence and robust national engagement, and effectively steward strategic relationships locally, statewide, in Washington, D.C. and across the nation.
Education/Certification
- Graduate degree in public health, health care administration or management, business administration or a related field.
Specific Knowledge and Work Experience
- Progressive senior executive experience gained in a similarly complex organization focused on improving public health and health policy.
- Demonstrated track record of building strategies to secure extramural funding, grants and contracts, new lines of business, and/or philanthropic funds.
- Proven history of developing networks of partners, policymakers, community and philanthropic leaders to advance an organization’s mission; established relationships with leading national public health figures and organizations is ideal.
- Solid operational management background with strong fiscal acumen. ? Experience attracting, developing, and mentoring strong leadership teams.
- Experience working strategically with a volunteer board of directors.
- Experience building a strategy to advance a policy agenda and working with federal agencies, legislators, and policymakers to advance public health priorities.
- Experience leading a geographically dispersed staff.
