Executive Business Partner to the CEO

Heartspring Inc • Wichita, KS

13d

About The Position

The Executive Business Partner to the CEO serves as a trusted advisor, strategic thought partner, and operational extension of Heartspring's President & CEO. The role sits at the intersection of strategy, executive operations, organizational intelligence, relationships, and execution. It helps ensure the CEO's time and attention are focused on the priorities with the greatest organizational impact by synthesizing information, evaluating opportunities, anticipating needs, preparing decisions, and turning executive direction into coordinated action.

The position supports the CEO's effectiveness, translates strategy into execution, facilitates Executive Leadership Team and Operational Leadership Team operating rhythms, develops organizational and external-context knowledge, prepares the CEO for external leadership, and supports Board and governance operations. The role requires both strategic judgment and meticulous execution, along with discretion, strong communication, relationship-building, and the ability to operate effectively as priorities change.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business, communications, healthcare administration, public administration, education, organizational leadership, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of professional experience supporting senior executives, organizational leaders, elected officials, Boards, or high-profile stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience managing executive priorities and complex schedules.
• Demonstrated success coordinating cross-functional initiatives involving multiple leaders and stakeholders.
• Experience preparing executive briefings, presentations, correspondence, and decision-support materials.
• Experience developing systems to track priorities, commitments, decisions, and strategic follow-through.
• Exceptional professional writing, research, editing, and communication skills.
• Expert-level proficiency with Microsoft 365, project-management platforms, AI tools, and other technology used to improve executive productivity.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, business judgment, executive presence, discretion, and judgment with confidential information.
• Ability to anticipate needs, synthesize complex information into concise executive-level briefings, and communicate clearly.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills, follow-through, and personal accountability.
• Confidence interacting with executives, Board members, donors, community leaders, elected officials, and other high-profile stakeholders.
• Ability to build trusted relationships while maintaining professional boundaries; respectfully challenge assumptions, identify risks, and recommend alternatives.
• Curiosity and ability to develop expertise quickly in unfamiliar subjects and operate in a fast-moving environment with changing priorities.
• Ability to coordinate and support executive travel, conferences, community engagements, and external events as needed.
• Successful completion of applicable pre-employment requirements, including criminal background and registry checks, Kansas DCF-required screenings and clearances, drug screening, pre-employment physical and other position-specific requirements, employment eligibility verification, and required Heartspring orientation and training.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Public Administration, Communications, Education, Organizational Leadership, or a related field.
• Experience directly supporting a CEO, President, Founder, or Executive Leadership Team.
• Experience in healthcare, neurodevelopment, behavioral health, education, disability services, or nonprofit leadership.
• Experience supporting Board governance and Board of Directors operations.
• Experience with executive communications or CEO Office operations.
• Strategic planning and organizational project-management experience.
• Knowledge of legislative affairs, public policy, advocacy, fundraising, donor relations, community engagement, or external affairs.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor and operational extension of the CEO, understanding the CEO's priorities, commitments, relationships, and strategic objectives.
• Evaluate competing demands and recommend where the CEO's time and attention will create the greatest impact; anticipate emerging needs, opportunities, risks, and decisions.
• Manage and optimize the CEO's calendar around organizational priorities; prepare the CEO for meetings, decisions, events, travel, presentations, and external engagements.
• Manage executive communications, correspondence, inbox priorities, requests, and follow-up.
• Translate CEO priorities and strategic direction into clear actions, owners, timelines, and accountability.
• Maintain systems for tracking executive commitments, decisions, delegated responsibilities, deadlines, and follow-up.
• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives involving the CEO; identify barriers, competing priorities, and risks; provide visibility into progress, milestones, concerns, and decisions requiring escalation.
• Ensure commitments made in meetings become completed actions.
• Facilitate Executive Leadership Team and Operational Leadership Team operating rhythms, including agendas, preparation, decisions, commitments, ownership, next steps, follow-through, and cross-department coordination.
• Develop an understanding of Heartspring and its operating environment, including pediatric neurodevelopment, special education, behavioral health, residential treatment, healthcare and clinical services, disability advocacy, nonprofit leadership, healthcare and education policy, community partnerships, and funding.
• Identify and evaluate conferences, boards, committees, partnerships, speaking opportunities, and community forums for alignment with strategic priorities and organizational impact.
• Develop executive briefings, stakeholder profiles, talking points, background information, risk and opportunity assessments, and recommended actions.
• Coordinate with Advancement, Marketing & Communications, and organizational leaders to prepare for donor, legislative, community, Board, and industry engagements.
• Build systems to maintain and strengthen external relationships and ensure meaningful follow-up after engagements.
• Coordinate Board of Directors and Board Committee meetings, schedules, communications, and logistics.
• Prepare and organize Board agendas, packets, presentations, governance materials, and supporting documentation.
• Maintain Board and committee minutes, records, action items, and governance documentation; administer the Board management platform.
• Track Board directives, committee assignments, strategic priorities, and CEO follow-through, and support productive communication between the CEO, Board members, and committee leadership.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• 403(b) retirement plan
• 3% employer retirement contribution
• Professional development and learning opportunities
• Employee wellness and support resources
• Opportunities to collaborate with leaders across multiple disciplines
• A mission-driven environment where work directly influences organizational impact

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior