Title: Executive Director VA Foundation for Healthy Youth
State Role Title:
Hiring Range: Negotiable
Pay Band: UG
Agency: VA Foundation for Healthy Youth
Location: VA Foundation Healthy Youth
Agency Website: https://vfhy.org/
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) seeks a visionary and results-oriented Executive Director to lead one of the Commonwealth's most important prevention and youth wellness organizations.
The Executive Director serves as the chief executive officer of the Foundation and is responsible for advancing VFHY's mission to empower Virginia's youth to make healthy choices by reducing and preventing tobacco, nicotine, substance use, and childhood obesity while promoting lifelong wellness.
Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Executive Director provides strategic leadership, oversees organizational operations, manages public and private partnerships, and serves as the Foundation's principal ambassador across Virginia.
*Key Responsibilities*
Strategic Leadership
• Develop and execute a statewide strategy that advances youth health and prevention outcomes across Virginia.
• Identify emerging public health challenges affecting young people and position the Foundation to respond effectively.
• Establish measurable goals, performance metrics, and accountability systems that demonstrate impact and return on investment.
• Provide leadership to the Board of Trustees and support long-term organizational planning.
Partnerships and External Engagement
• Build and maintain strong relationships with schools, local governments, healthcare organizations, community groups, youth-serving organizations, philanthropic partners, and state agencies.
• Serve as VFHY's primary spokesperson and representative before stakeholders, policymakers, and the public.
• Lead statewide engagement efforts that increase awareness, strengthen partnerships, and expand the Foundation's reach.
• Convene leaders and organizations around shared prevention and youth wellness goals.
• Provide strategic insight to policymakers, stakeholders, and partners on prevention-related issues.
Program and Grant Oversight
• Provide executive oversight of VFHY grant-making, prevention initiatives, and community investments.
• Ensure programs are evidence-based, outcomes-focused, and aligned with the Foundation's mission.
• Monitor program performance and continuously improve strategies based on data and results.
• Identify opportunities to scale successful initiatives and replicate best practices across Virginia.
Organizational Management
• Lead and develop a high-performing team committed to excellence, accountability, and innovation.
• Oversee budget development, financial stewardship, contracts, and organizational operations.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and Board policies.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and mission-driven service.
• Position Virginia as a national leader in youth wellness and prevention innovation.
Minimum Qualifications
The successful candidate will be an accomplished executive who can translate strategy into measurable results, build coalitions across diverse stakeholders, manage public resources responsibly and position VFHY as a leading voice on youth health and prevention.
*Preferred Qualifications*
• Commitment to children and youth. This work is personal to you. You understand why prevention matters and you can articulate that case compellingly to any audience.
• Senior leadership experience in a complex organization, whether it be nonprofit, government, public health, education, philanthropy, or a related sector. You have led something, grown something, or built something that required real strategic and operational skill.
• A builder's instinct. You are not satisfied maintaining what exists. You see opportunity, you pursue it, and you know how to bring others along. You have expanded an organization's reach or impact in a measurable way.
• Fundraising and revenue development experience You have diversified an organization's funding base. You know how to make the case to foundations, federal agencies, and corporate partners.
Additional Considerations
This is a Governor appointed position and requires the successful completion of a criminal background check. Limited intermittent teleworking may be considered for as needed circumstances. Position is expected to work primarily from the Foundation’s office at 701 East Franklin Street, Ste. 500, Richmond, VA.
Special Instructions
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
Contact Information
Name: Secretary of Health and Human Services
Phone: 804-786-7765
Email: healthandhumanresources@governor.virginia.gov
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.
Note Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.
The Commonwealth of Virginia is located in the South Atlantic region of the United States. It was the 10th state to be admitted to the Union on June 25, 1788. Home to approximately 8 million residents, Virginia is the 12th most populous state in the United States. The capital is Richmond, and its most populous city is Virginia Beach.
The narrative history of the Commonwealth of Virginia often begins with the founding of Jamestown in 1607, near what is now modern day Williamsburg, Virginia. Jamestown became the first permanent English settlement in the New World, and the Virginia General Assembly, established on July 30, 1619, is now recognized as the oldest legislative body in the western hemisphere. When Virginia became a royal colony in 1624, the robust tobacco trade that had been developing in Virginia helped establish the American colonies as a powerful economic force. During the American Revolution, Virginia witnessed the final surrender of British forces at Yorktown and later became known as the birthplace of many revolution-era figures and future American presidents, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. To date, 8 United States presidents have been born in Virginia, more than in any other state.
The modern government of Virginia is nearly identical in structure to the federal government, and is divided into 3 branches, these being the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches. The Virginia General Assembly is comprised of the 100-member House of Delegates and the 40-member Senate. A governor and lieutenant governor are elected every 4 years. Governors cannot be elected to or serve consecutive terms. Virginia’s judicial system consists of the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Court of Appeals of Virginia, the Circuit Courts, and the lower General District Courts and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts. Virginia has 13 electoral votes in presidential elections, and possesses 11 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
