Applications have closed
Founded in 1969 in Seattle, Neighborcare Health is a nonprofit, mission‑driven Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) dedicated to providing comprehensive, high‑quality, and culturally responsive healthcare to individuals and families who face barriers to care. Established by community advocates seeking accessible healthcare for underserved neighbors, Neighborcare Health has grown over more than five decades into one of the largest and most integrated safety‑net healthcare organizations in the Pacific Northwest. Today, the organization delivers medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services through a broad network of community‑based and school‑based clinics, while actively advocating to improve the overall health and well‑being of the diverse communities it serves.
Mission
The mission of Neighborcare Health is to provide comprehensive health care to families and individuals who have difficulty accessing care; respond with sensitivity to the needs of our culturally diverse patients; and advocate and work with others to improve the overall health status of the communities we serve.
Purpose
Our purpose is to improve health by engaging, educating and empowering people in the communities we serve. Our ultimate goal is 100% access, and zero health disparities.
Core Values
- Social Justice – Each day we work for a more just society where excellent health is enjoyed by all.
- Cultural Sensitivity – We treat our patients and fellow staff members with the utmost respect and dignity. We treasure the cultural and ethnic diversity of Neighborcare Health staff and clients and continually seek to understand and honor each person.
- Community – We place value both on the sense of community we maintain inside Neighborcare Health and on the way we weave ourselves into the fabric of the larger community. Our culture at Neighborcare Health is built on an ideal of equality and a spirit of teamwork, where all staff members are valued for their contributions.
- Excellence – We approach our work with professionalism, pride and commitment. We seek to continuously improve and, in all we do, service to our patients and community comes first.
Whole‑Person Primary Care & Integrated Health Services
Whole-person primary care is designed around the real lives of the communities it serves. Through an integrated model that combines medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services, Neighborcare removes barriers and simplifies access to care—meeting patients where they are and supporting them across every stage of life. Multidisciplinary care teams emphasize prevention, chronic disease management, and continuity, while addressing the social drivers of health that shape long‑term outcomes.
Behavioral Health & Integrated Wellness
Behavioral health is fully embedded across Neighborcare’s care model, reflecting the organization’s commitment to treating mental health with the same urgency and compassion as physical health. Licensed clinicians partner directly with primary care teams to deliver counseling, crisis support, and substance use services in familiar, trusted settings. This integrated approach improves access, reduces stigma, and ensures patients receive coordinated care—especially those navigating complex medical and behavioral health needs.
Dental & Oral Health Access
In Dental & Oral Health, Neighborcare Health operates one of the region’s most robust safety‑net dental programs, offering preventive, restorative, and urgent dental care for patients of all ages. Services are delivered through community clinics, school‑based programs, and specialty partnerships, including pediatric dental care. By integrating oral health into overall care, Neighborcare strengthens long‑term health outcomes and addresses disparities that disproportionately affect low‑income communities.
Youth, School‑Based & Adolescent Health
The organization has established itself as a leader in youth‑focused care, delivering medical, dental, and behavioral health services directly within schools and youth‑centered settings. These clinics provide convenient, confidential access to care, supporting student well‑being, academic success, and lifelong health habits. Youth programs are intentionally designed to be inclusive, trauma‑informed, and responsive to the unique needs of adolescents and young adults.
Care for People Experiencing Homelessness
Neighborcare provides low‑barrier, compassionate care for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Through specialized clinics and outreach partnerships, care teams address complex medical, behavioral, and social needs while coordinating with housing and community organizations. This work reflects Neighborcare’s deep commitment to equity—ensuring dignity, continuity, and access to care for those most often left behind.
Women’s Health, Maternity & Midwifery Care
Women’s health services span family planning, prenatal and postpartum care, gynecology, and midwifery, delivered through models that prioritize continuity, cultural responsiveness, and trust. Neighborcare’s maternity care approach integrates clinical services with social supports, improving outcomes for mothers and infants while strengthening long‑term health across families.
Locations
With a vast network of nearly 30 community‑based, school‑based, and specialty clinics serving patients across Seattle and Vashon Island Neighborcare delivers care directly within the communities it serves. Clinic sites are intentionally located in neighborhoods experiencing the greatest health disparities, ensuring care is accessible where need is highest.
North Seattle
– 9 locations
– Includes community clinics, high school–based and middle school–based health centers, and a dedicated youth clinic
Central Seattle
– 4 locations
– Focused on elementary schools and youth‑serving specialty locations in high‑need urban neighborhoods
South & Southwest Seattle
– 15 locations
– Neighborcare’s largest regional footprint, heavily school‑based and community‑embedded
Outside Seattle
– 2 locations
– One High School and a Dental Clinic at St. Peter Hospital
Financial Overview
Financially, Neighborcare Health operates at meaningful regional scale as one of the largest safety‑net Federally Qualified Health Centers in the Pacific Northwest, with nearly ~$100 million in annual operating revenue. The organization’s financial model is supported by a diversified mix of patient service revenue, federal and state grants, and philanthropic contributions, enabling Neighborcare to continue delivering comprehensive care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. Like many community‑based health systems, Neighborcare is currently navigating operating losses driven by workforce cost inflation, reimbursement pressures, and the broader volatility impacting safety‑net providers.
As the organization has grown in size, scope, and complexity, Neighborcare has increasingly focused on strengthening operational effectiveness, enhancing financial and data rigor, and aligning resources more closely with community needs and service demand. Leadership is oriented toward continuous improvement—maturing enterprise systems, improving cost transparency, and reinforcing sustainable financial practices—while thoughtfully preserving the organization’s deeply rooted, community‑centered culture. This forward‑looking approach positions Neighborcare Health to adapt to an evolving healthcare environment and continue advancing its mission with long‑term stability and resilience.
2025 – 2027 Strategic Plan
Neighborcare Health’s 2025–2027 Strategic Plan reflects an organization at a thoughtful and intentional moment in its evolution—one that is focused on deepening impact, strengthening its people and systems, and positioning itself for long‑term sustainability in an increasingly complex healthcare environment. The strategy centers on ensuring the organization is strong, aligned, and resilient at its core. The organization’s 4 Pillars include:
People
Neighborcare is committed to its people as essential to delivering high‑quality, community‑centered care. The organization focuses on attracting, retaining, and supporting a diverse and mission‑driven workforce by strengthening compensation and benefits, advancing equity and representation, and fostering open, consistent communication. Leaders view staff engagement, stability, and well‑being as foundational to long‑term success and to sustaining the trust of the communities Neighborcare serves.
Patients
The health center prioritizes clinical quality, access, and the patient experience across all programs and settings. The organization works to deliver integrated, whole‑person care that connects medical, dental, behavioral health, and community‑based services in a coordinated and reliable way. Ongoing use of quality data and patient feedback helps ensure care is effective, compassionate, and responsive to the lived experiences of patients and families.
Stewardship
Leadership prioritizes strong stewardship to ensure long‑term sustainability and organizational resilience. Leadership focuses on aligning resources with mission‑critical priorities, strengthening data‑informed decision‑making, and investing thoughtfully in infrastructure, including technology and facilities. This approach supports a nimble, well‑managed organization that can respond to evolving community needs while maintaining financial and operational discipline.
Community
Neighborcare Health prioritizes deep, trusted relationships with the communities it serves. The organization actively partners with schools, community organizations, and local stakeholders, recognizing that health outcomes are shaped well beyond the clinic walls. Neighborcare also emphasizes clear, ethical communication of its role, impact, and value—reinforcing trust, strengthening alignment, and affirming its identity as a community anchor.
Awards
Neighborcare Health has earned national recognition for quality and operational excellence through the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration’s (HRSA) Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) program. In 2025, Neighborcare received the High‑Value Care badge, recognizing improvements in clinical quality while minimizing costs, as well as the Advancing Health Information Technology (HIT) for Quality badge, which honors effective implementation and use of electronic health records, telehealth capabilities, and patient engagement through health IT. Together, these distinctions underscore Neighborcare’s commitment to delivering high‑quality, efficient, and technology‑enabled care within a mission‑driven, safety‑net environment.
In addition, Neighborcare Health has a Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) status, reflecting a sustained commitment to coordinated, team based, and patient focused care delivery—particularly for underserved populations.
Purpose of the Position
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Neighborcare Health serves as the organization’s principal leader, strategist, and steward, advancing a deeply rooted mission to improve health access and outcomes for communities facing the greatest barriers to care. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO is responsible for guiding Neighborcare as a trusted, community‑anchored Federally Qualified Health Center, while strengthening organizational performance, long‑term sustainability, and regional impact across the Seattle metropolitan area.
Neighborcare enters its next chapter with a strong mission, deep community trust, and a committed workforce. The CEO will build on this foundation by setting clear direction, aligning leaders and teams around shared priorities, and translating vision into consistent execution. This is a pivotal moment for the organization, requiring steady leadership as care models, workforce dynamics, and financial pressures continue to evolve.
The CEO focuses on leading and developing the senior leadership team and engaging staff across the organization, reinforcing a culture of trust, accountability, and collaboration. A key priority is strengthening coordination across clinical, operational, financial, and community functions so people are clear on goals, roles, and expectations. Through visible, values based leadership, the CEO creates an environment where teams feel supported, empowered, and focused on delivering high quality care.
Externally, the CEO represents Neighborcare in the community, building strong relationships with partners, funders, policymakers, and peers. By clearly articulating Neighborcare’s mission and impact, the CEO ensures the organization remains a respected and influential voice in community health.
Key Responsibilities
Enterprise Leadership & Governance
– Serve as the Chief Executive Officer of Neighborcare Health, accountable to the Board of Directors for the overall performance, sustainability, and mission alignment of the organization.
– Maintain transparent, timely, and consistent communication with the Board, ensuring members are informed, engaged, and equipped to make sound decisions.
– Advance Neighborcare’s mission, vision, and long‑term goals, serving as the ultimate leader on organizational performance, risk, strategy, and opportunity.
– Uphold all HRSA Health Center Program governance requirements, including consumer‑majority Board compliance.
Strategy, Growth & Organizational Performance
– Lead the development, execution, and refinement of Neighborcare Health’s strategic and operational plans, ensuring alignment with mission, community needs, and long‑term sustainability.
– Translate strategic priorities into a small number of clear, achievable organizational focus areas, providing clarity on what the organization is—and is not—working on.
– Establish clear decision‑making pathways, operating principles, and accountability structures to reduce fragmentation and improve execution.
– Ensure strategic initiatives are implemented with follow‑through, measurable outcomes, and consistent communication across the organization.
– Advance enterprise data, analytics, and performance management capabilities to support productivity, quality improvement, financial resilience, and informed decision‑making across all service lines.
Clinical Quality, Compliance & Risk Management
– Ensure delivery of high‑quality, equitable, patient‑centered care aligned with Neighborcare’s Service Commitments and values.
– Champion continuous quality improvement, patient experience, and safety across all clinical and community‑based programs.
– Ensure full compliance with FQHC, HRSA, FTCA, and all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
– Strengthen partnership between clinical leadership and operational teams, clarifying roles, responsibilities, and shared objectives to support effective care delivery.
Financial Stewardship & Sustainability
– Provide executive oversight of the organization’s financial performance, working closely with the Chief Financial Officer to ensure sound budgeting, forecasting, and financial controls.
– Advance a sustainable operating model that balances mission impact with financial discipline and regulatory requirements.
– Ensure development and oversight of annual operating and capital budgets aligned with strategic priorities.
– Strengthen financial transparency and communication so staff and leaders understand financial realities, tradeoffs, and the “why” behind key decisions.
– Steward diversified revenue sources including patient services, grants, contracts, philanthropy, and public funding.
People Leadership, Culture & Accountability
– Lead and develop a high‑performing senior leadership team, setting clear expectations for collaboration, accountability, and shared ownership of results.
– Foster a culture grounded in trust, inclusion, psychological safety, and mutual respect.
– Promote servant leadership behaviors—listening, empathy, humility, and accountability—across all levels of the organization.
– Address silos and strengthen collaboration between clinical, operational, and administrative teams.
– Establish clear performance expectations, feedback mechanisms, and accountability processes that are fair, transparent, and consistently applied.
Organizational Transformation
– Leads mission aligned change that strengthens systems, execution, and accountability while preserving culture and trust during periods of significant change related to labor relations, executive team formation, and business model pressures.
– Leads the design and implementation of new operating models that measurably improve quality, affordability, and the day‑to‑day experience for patients and staff.
Workforce & Labor Relations
– Support recruitment, retention, and development of a mission‑driven workforce, recognizing the realities of workforce burnout and the importance of engagement and belonging.
– Partner with Human Resources to ensure strong onboarding, leadership development, succession planning, and workforce planning.
– Lead constructive engagement within a unionized environment, fostering respect, trust, and open communication.
– Ensure people practices are consistent, humane, and aligned with Neighborcare’s values.
Community Engagement, Advocacy & External Relations
– Serve as Neighborcare Health’s primary external representative and advocate with community partners, donors, regulators, policymakers, and peer organizations.
– Strengthen partnerships with health systems, public agencies, and community organizations to expand access and improve community health outcomes.
– Lead local, state, and federal advocacy efforts on behalf of community health centers and the populations served.
– Articulate a clear, authentic narrative about Neighborcare’s mission, impact, and future direction.
– Advance Neighborcare Health’s philanthropic strategy by cultivating and stewarding relationships with individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners to support mission‑aligned growth and long‑term sustainability.
Fairness and an Inclusive Workforce
– Demonstrate a visible and sustained commitment to fairness, respect, and inclusive leadership across the organization.
– Ensure principles of fair access, accountability, and consistency are embedded in strategy, operations, people practices, and care delivery.
– Actively listen to and incorporate the perspectives of patients, staff, and community members, particularly those experiencing barriers to care.
Visibility, Communication & Trust‑Building
– Maintain a highly visible leadership presence across clinics, programs, and administrative teams, including regular site visits and meaningful engagement with frontline staff.
– Communicate clearly, honestly, and consistently—especially during periods of change—using plain language and avoiding unnecessary “corporate” framing.
– Build trust through listening, follow‑through, and alignment between words and actions.
Year one critical success factors
– Build Trust, Visibility, and Alignment Across the Organization. Establish credibility and trust through consistent presence across clinics and programs, active listening, and clear, plain‑spoken communication. – Strengthen relationships with frontline staff, clinical and operational leaders, and the Board; clarify roles, decision‑making, and expectations; and foster a culture of mutual respect, accountability, and collaboration.
– Strengthen the Operating and Financial Foundation for Long‑Term Success. Gain a clear and practical understanding of clinical operations, workforce capacity, cost structure, and revenue performance. Partner with the leadership team to refine systems, improve efficiency, and support sustainable decision‑making—balancing financial stewardship with patient access, staff experience, and mission delivery, while increasing transparency around priorities and progress.
– Set Clear Priorities and a Forward Path for the Organization. Define and communicate a small number of organizational priorities that provide focus and direction for Neighborcare’s next chapter. Align the senior leadership team around these priorities, establish clear accountability and measures of success, and ensure the organization is positioned to deliver high‑quality, patient‑centered care while adapting to regulatory, workforce, and community needs.
– Transformation of the Organization. With active labor dynamics, new senior leadership team members, and operating model pressure driven by reimbursement changes, this leader will need to be able to navigate complexity, stabilize culture, and drive disciplined execution.
Key Mission Critical Competencies
– Engages and Inspires – Creating a climate in which people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives.
– Strategic Vision – Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
– Situational Adaptability – Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.
– Ensures Accountability – Holding self and others accountable for meeting commitments.
– Aligns Execution – Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
The Candidate
Experience and professional qualifications required for the role.
– A Master’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
– 10+ years in related management with healthcare or healthcare adjacent experience preferred.
Skills and Competencies
– Strategic Leadership & Vision – Ability to set direction, drive organizational priorities, and lead through complexity and growth.
– Financial Acumen & Business Management – Strong financial acumen with the ability to steward resources responsibly, support sound decision‑making, and invest in mission‑aligned growth.
– Talent Development & Leadership Pipeline Growth – Commitment to developing strong leaders and managers through clear expectations, servant leadership, cross‑functional collaboration, transparent accountability, and a culture that supports engagement, growth, and retention.
– Transformation & Modernization – Proven ability to lead organizational transformation, standardize systems, and advance data‑driven improvement.
– Community & Stakeholder Engagement – Skilled at building trusted partnerships with community leaders, elected officials, donors, and regulators. Skilled in fundraising is a plus.
– Cultural Competence & Mission Alignment – Demonstrated ability to lead in a diverse, multiethnic environment with deep respect for community identity and equity.
– Crisis Navigation & Regulatory Awareness – Ability to respond effectively to regulatory shifts, funding volatility, and operational disruptions.
******
Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis. Artificial Intelligence tools may be used in connection with the recruitment process for this position.
C1EO
