Executive Director

Executive Director

Friends for Sight

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah (Hybrid)

Friends for Sight offers a flexible hybrid work environment.

Reports To: Board of Directors

Status: Full-Time, Exempt

Compensation: $84,000–$104,000 annually, depending on experience.

About Friends for Sight

Friends for Sight believes accessible vision care opens the door to discovery—creating a ripple effect for generations. Through vision screenings, comprehensive eye exams, prescription glasses, mobile clinics, and community partnerships, Friends for Sight ensures that every Utahn, regardless of income or background, has access to quality vision care.

Our Vision: A future where every Utahn has access to the vision care they need to learn, work, and thrive.

Position Summary

The Executive Director serves as the chief executive officer of Friends for Sight and is responsible for advancing the organization's mission through strategic leadership, financial stewardship, fundraising, organizational management, and community engagement. Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director leads the organization's staff, cultivates strong partnerships, and ensures Friends for Sight remains financially sustainable while expanding its impact across Utah.

The Executive Director works collaboratively with the Operations Manager and Development Director to implement the Board's strategic vision, strengthen organizational capacity, and build meaningful relationships with donors, volunteers, community partners, and policymakers.

Essential Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Execute the Board-approved Strategic Plan by providing organizational leadership, accountability, and direction.
• Translate strategic priorities into annual organizational goals and measurable objectives.
• Lead the leadership team in implementing strategic initiatives and organizational priorities.
• Monitor organizational performance, identify emerging opportunities and challenges, and recommend strategic adjustments as needed.
• Provide regular updates to the Board of Directors regarding strategic progress, organizational performance, and future priorities.

Organizational Leadership

• Recruit, supervise, mentor, and develop high-performing staff.
• Cultivate a workplace culture where every employee, volunteer, Board member, partner, and community member is treated with dignity, respect, and fairness, establishing these principles as the standard for all organizational relationships.
• Align staff with organizational priorities while fostering collaboration, accountability, transparency, and professional growth.
• Promote effective communication and shared leadership across the organization.

Board Relations

• Serve as the primary liaison between the Board of Directors and staff.
• Support Board recruitment, orientation, engagement, and governance.
• Prepare Board meeting materials, strategic recommendations, and organizational reports.
• Partner with Board committees to accomplish organizational priorities.
• Ensure compliance with Board policies and nonprofit governance best practices.

Financial Stewardship

• Partner with accounting staff and the Board Treasurer to develop and oversee the annual operating and program budgets.
• Ensure sound financial management, internal controls, and responsible stewardship of organizational resources.
• Monitor financial performance and recommend adjustments to support long-term sustainability.
• Oversee investment and cash management strategies in collaboration with the Finance Committee.
• Ensure compliance with nonprofit accounting standards, grant agreements, contractual obligations, and regulatory requirements.
• Present accurate and timely financial information to the Board of Directors.

Fundraising & Development

Working closely with the Development Director, the Executive Director will:

• Serve as the organization's chief fundraiser and ambassador.
• Cultivate relationships with individual donors, foundations, corporations, and government partners.
• Identify and pursue new funding opportunities.
• Support grant development, stewardship, and donor engagement.
• Participate in fundraising campaigns, special events, and donor cultivation activities.
• Strengthen long-term philanthropic investment in Friends for Sight.

Community Partnerships & External Relations

• Serve as the primary public representative and spokesperson for Friends for Sight.
• Develop and strengthen strategic partnerships with healthcare providers, school districts, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders.
• Represent Friends for Sight at community events, conferences, legislative meetings, and public forums.
• Advocate for vision screening and accessible vision care throughout Utah.
• Increase the organization's visibility, influence, and reputation statewide.

Program & Operations Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership and support to the Operations Manager to ensure programs and operations advance the organization's mission and strategic priorities.
• Ensure organizational resources, staffing, and systems support effective program delivery and long-term sustainability.
• Review organizational performance and use program data to inform strategic decisions and continuous improvement.
• Encourage innovation and organizational learning to strengthen services and expand community impact.

Operations & Compliance

• Oversee organizational policies, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure compliance with HIPAA, employment law, nonprofit regulations, and organizational policies.
• Oversee organizational technology, facilities, insurance, and key vendor relationships.
• Ensure operational systems support organizational effectiveness and long-term sustainability.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business administration, public administration, healthcare administration, social work, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible nonprofit leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success supervising staff and leading organizational operations.
• Experience developing and managing organizational budgets.
• Proven success in fundraising, donor cultivation, grant management, and community engagement.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Preferred

• Master's degree in nonprofit management, business administration, public administration, social work, or a related field.
• Executive Director or senior nonprofit leadership experience.
• Experience working closely with nonprofit Boards of Directors.
• Experience leading organizational growth, strategic planning, and change management.
• Familiarity with nonprofit financial management.

Compensation & Benefits

Friends for Sight offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including:

• Employer-paid health insurance for the employee
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with a 3% employer match (fully vested on day 1)
• Professional development opportunities, leadership coaching, and continuing education
• A flexible, family-friendly hybrid work environment that supports work-life balance

Our Values

At Friends for Sight, we are guided by five core values:

Person-Centered Care

We treat everyone with dignity and respect, valuing each person’s unique needs and experiences.

Mission-Driven Integrity

We are unwavering in our commitment to our mission, making thoughtful, strategic decisions that maximize impact

Community Partnership

We believe lasting impact comes from collaboration—working alongside communities to expand access to quality vision care.

Excellence in Vision Care

We are committed to staying current with vision care best practices, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, accessible services that meet the evolving needs of the communities we serve.