Chief Executive Officer

The American Cancer Society, in partnership with Korn Ferry, invites nominations and expressions of interest for the position of Chief Executive Officer.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) exists because the burden of cancer is unacceptably high. ACS and their influential nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, the ACS Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), are committed to ending cancer as we know it, for everyone. Through mission pillar work in advocacy, research, and patient support, along with development efforts, ACS and ACS CAN are working to reduce these cancer disparities and advance health equity. For more than 110 years, ACS has leveraged their expertise to invest in groundbreaking cancer research, sustain and grow vital patients, caregivers, and clinician support programs, and advocate for legislative priorities that help reduce the impact of cancer for people in every community. They challenge themselves to expand their reach, better amplify the many ways their work impacts the people they serve and find new ways to help ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. ACS and ACS CAN rely on the strength of 1.3 million dedicated volunteers. From volunteers who impact national and local policies, to community volunteers who organize patient support programs and fundraising activities, the Society’s volunteers, supported by their workforce, drive every part of the mission.

Critical to their success is the recruitment of a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who will lead one of the nation’s most important and impactful nonprofit organizations, as well as its influential nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate. The CEO will partner with the ACS and ACS CAN Boards to set bold vision and strategic direction, inspire innovation, and provide dynamic leadership both internally and externally to advance ACS’s mission of ending cancer as we know it for everyone. They will play a critical role in driving impactful cancer programs and initiatives, and in fundraising, ensuring a successful capital campaign, cultivating major donors, and optimizing responsive digital channels to maximize sustainable revenue generation. Further, and in partnership with the Boards, the CEO will shape and implement the organization’s strategic plan and ensure ACS’s and ACS CAN’s short- and long-term fiscal health. As the primary representative and spokesperson and organizational steward, the CEO will build, strengthen, and sustain energizing relationships with volunteers, researchers, donors, healthcare organizations, policy makers, and the media.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ideal candidate will be a highly accomplished, visionary, and strategic leader with multi-sector (private, public, and/or nonprofit) experience and a record of strengthening organizations, delivering breakthrough results, and setting the direction for sustainable growth and impact in the future. The CEO will have led organizations of significant scope, scale, and complexity, served, and partnered with multi-stakeholders, and established operating policies and procedures commensurate with the organization’s reach and size. They will have a record of accomplishment leading organizational change to achieve a mission and strategic priorities, building agility into the workforce, and instilling a culture of accountability. This will require a leader who is innovative, dynamic, and courageous, and who understands how to cultivate relationships with leaders in healthcare and the scientific community, government, business, donors, staff, and volunteers. The new CEO will be an inspirational leader and a compelling voice for ACS’s mission for myriad audiences. An understanding of the cancer space or broader health landscape is highly desirable, and while it is not required that the candidate have an MD or PhD, it is preferred that the next CEO have significant experience(s) with patients along any portion of the patient’s journey.

Korn Ferry is assisting the American Cancer Society with this important recruitment. Applications should include a detailed resume or curriculum vitae and a letter of interest that highlights the applicant’s personal vision and relevant leadership experience. To ensure full consideration, inquiries, nominations, and applications should be submitted electronically, in confidence, to Tara.Vittese@KornFerry.com

The American Cancer Society is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will take positive action to continually ensure equal opportunity to our employees and to our applicants in the conduct of all business activities. The Society is dedicated to providing equal opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran’s status, caregiver status, genetic information, or any factor that is a prohibited consideration under applicable law.