Executive Director Position Description
Title: Executive Director
Reports to: HVAREF Board of Directors
Classification: Regular Full-Time (40 hours/week)
Salary: Commensurate with Experience
Location: Houston, TX (in person)
Position Summary
Under the direction of the HVAREF Board of Directors, the Executive Director provides overall institutional leadership, strategic direction, and operational management for the Houston VA Research and Education Foundation, Inc. (HVAREF). The Executive Director is accountable for advancing the organization's mission and long-term sustainability; protecting its financial and organizational assets; ensuring compliance with Board directives and applicable grantor, federal, state, and Department of Veterans Affairs requirements; and serving as the principal executive liaison among the Board, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) research leadership, investigators, sponsors, academic partners, and other stakeholders.
HVAREF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and education corporation that provides a flexible funding and administrative mechanism for research and education activities conducted at MEDVAMC, including industry- and privately sponsored initiatives.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Planning and Organizational Leadership
• Partner with the Board of Directors and MEDVAMC research leadership to develop, refine, and execute HVAREF's vision, strategic priorities, and multi-year organizational goals.
• Translate Board-approved strategy into measurable annual objectives, operating plans, performance indicators, resource priorities, and accountable implementation across the organization.
• Regularly assess progress toward strategic objectives and recommend adjustments based on performance, organizational capacity, financial position, regulatory changes, and emerging opportunities.
• Monitor trends and developments in nonprofit medical research, VA-affiliated nonprofit corporations, sponsored research, and the broader research environment; identify innovative practices and opportunities that strengthen HVAREF's programs, services, and financial sustainability.
Board Governance and Executive Partnership
• Serve as the Board's principal executive partner and provide timely, accurate, and decision-ready information to support effective governance, fiduciary oversight, policy development, and strategic decision-making.
• Communicate regularly with the Board regarding strategic plan progress, financial performance, organizational risk, major initiatives, compliance matters, operational performance, and issues requiring Board attention or action.
• Support the Board in developing and maintaining appropriate governance practices, policies, committee structures, and decision-making processes consistent with the organization's nonprofit and VA-affiliated responsibilities.
• Implement Board-approved policies, goals, and directives and establish clear mechanisms for tracking follow-through and organizational accountability.
• Advise the Board on emerging organizational needs, risks, opportunities, and external developments; seek Board guidance and approval when required.
Financial Stewardship and Risk Management
• Provide executive oversight of all accounting and financial management functions, including budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, payroll, capital assets, property management, internal controls, and financial reporting in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable Board, VA, grantor, federal, and state requirements.
• Direct development of the annual operating budget and monitor organizational fiscal performance, revenue, expenditures, cash position, reserves, and other indicators necessary to support sound financial stewardship and long-term sustainability.
• Provide clear and timely financial reporting to the Board and other appropriate stakeholders, translating financial information into actionable business and strategic insights.
• Lead preparation for and response to external financial and compliance reviews, including audits and oversight visits, and ensure timely resolution of findings and recommendations.
• Evaluate insurance, employee benefits, banking/investment arrangements, and other vendor services; recommend options to the Board as appropriate and negotiate contracts, terms, services, and premiums in the organization's best interest.
Research Administration, Contracts, and Operations
• Provide executive oversight of grants and contracts administration, including negotiation of research agreement terms that appropriately reflect the needs of HVAREF, investigators, sponsors, and MEDVAMC; coordinate with legal advisors as needed to finalize agreements.
• Ensure effective systems for tracking agreement execution, sponsor requirements, receipt and expenditure of funds, project obligations, documentation, and closeout.
• Work closely with investigators and research teams to ensure responsive, high-quality support in grant preparation, project accounting, human resources, purchasing, contracting, and related administrative functions.
• Establish and maintain effective policies, procedures, internal controls, and decision-making processes that support compliant, efficient, and consistent day-to-day operations.
• Organize administrative functions, establish clear roles and accountability, and continuously improve workflows and service delivery.
• Represent HVAREF in business negotiations and execute agreements, arrangements, and contracts within delegated authority.
People Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness
• Lead all aspects of human resource management, including workforce planning, recruitment, hiring, position design, compensation, performance management, employee development, corrective action, and separation in accordance with Board-approved policies and applicable requirements.
• Establish and maintain position descriptions, performance expectations, and evaluation processes that align individual contributions with organizational priorities.
• Promote an environment of open communication, collaboration, professionalism, inclusion, and service excellence.
External Relations and Partnerships
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with MEDVAMC leadership, investigators, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Medical Center institutions, research sponsors, VA offices, the National Association of Veterans' Research and Education Foundations (NAVREF), other VA-affiliated nonprofits, charitable organizations, regulatory partners, and other stakeholders.
• Cultivate strategic partnerships that advance HVAREF's mission, expand organizational capacity, and support research and education opportunities at MEDVAMC.
• Represent HVAREF in appropriate local and national forums and communicate the organization's value, capabilities, and priorities to internal and external audiences.
• Stay abreast of external policy, regulatory, sponsor, market, and institutional changes that may affect HVAREF and recommend appropriate organizational responses.
Qualifications and Leadership Profile
The successful candidate will bring a blend of executive leadership, nonprofit governance, research administration, financial stewardship, and relationship-management experience. Competitive candidates will demonstrate the following:
Required Qualifications
• Graduate degree in business, healthcare administration, public administration, research administration, finance, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant executive-level experience.
• At least five years of progressively responsible management experience in a nonprofit, research, academic, healthcare, government, or similarly complex regulated environment, with demonstrated responsibility for organizational operations and financial management.
• Current knowledge of research administration, sponsored programs, grants and contracts, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing budgets, financial forecasts, internal controls, and executive-level financial reporting.
Leadership Competencies
• Strategic leadership: Demonstrated ability to set direction, translate strategy into execution, define measurable goals, monitor performance, and adapt plans as conditions change.
• Board and governance acumen: Ability to work effectively with a governing board, prepare decision-quality information, support fiduciary and policy oversight, and maintain appropriate distinctions between governance and management responsibilities.
• Executive judgment: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to assess organizational risk, balance competing priorities, make sound decisions with incomplete information, and escalate matters appropriately.
• Financial and operational fluency: Ability to connect financial performance, resource allocation, operational performance, and strategic priorities to support sustainable organizational decision-making.
• Relationship management: Proven ability to build trust and productive partnerships across institutional boundaries, including with senior leaders, investigators, academic partners, sponsors, regulators, professional associations, and external advisors.
• Communication and influence: Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and facilitation skills; able to communicate complex financial, operational, regulatory, and strategic matters clearly to varied audiences.
• People leadership: Demonstrated ability to attract, develop, motivate, retain, and hold accountable a high-performing team while fostering collaboration, inclusion, and professional growth.
• Change and growth orientation: Comfortable leading an evolving organization, improving systems and processes, and identifying opportunities to strengthen services, revenue, capacity, and organizational impact.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with a VA-affiliated nonprofit research and education corporation, academic medical center, healthcare research organization, or other complex sponsored-research environment.
• Experience supporting or working directly with a nonprofit Board of Directors or comparable governing body.
• Record of successful business development, fundraising, partnership development, or revenue-growth initiatives.
• Familiarity with federal research requirements, VA research operations, nonprofit compliance, and sponsored-research contracting.
Environmental Conditions / Physical Demands
• Physical: Frequently sits for extended periods to perform computer-based work and attend meetings. Occasionally stands or walks within the office or VA campus and may occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull objects weighing up to 10 pounds.
• Environmental: Primarily office-based work using standard office equipment.
Conditions of Employment
As a condition of employment, all HVAREF employees are required to receive an approved Without Compensation (WOC) appointment with MEDVAMC and complete a background check.
