About World Pediatrics
World Pediatrics envisions a world where every child, regardless of geography, has sustainable access to advanced pediatric healthcare. Its mission is to tackle global inequity in access to care—helping children survive and thrive through surgeries that preserve vision, restore mobility, and improve quality of life, while building durable health care capacity in partner countries. Its systems-strengthening work encompasses pediatric surgical care as well as maternal and neonatal care.
Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, World Pediatrics operates through a geographically distributed and regionalized network of offices, chapters, and staff across the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America. In the U.S., the organization has chapters in Richmond, St. Louis, Atlanta, and the Triangle region of North Carolina, with physical offices in Richmond, St. Louis, and Atlanta and dedicated development staff in the Triangle. Internationally, World Pediatrics maintains offices in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, St. Lucia, and Belize, with additional staff presence in six other countries throughout Latin America and the Eastern Caribbean, and significant emerging market opportunities in East Africa, Asia, and India. In Belize, World Pediatrics operates through a partner entity with its own legal entity and board under an operating and brand licensing agreement. World Pediatrics delivers direct care to children in need of surgery today, while empowering health professionals through long-term clinician training and transforming access to surgery through health systems strengthening for the children of tomorrow. A network of medical volunteers provides care to more than 3,000 children annually across 20+ pediatric subspecialties, and the organization has trained 7,665 health care workers. World Pediatrics works across its network to increase access to advanced pediatric care by building lasting expertise and bridging gaps that provide outlets for children to receive care, first, in-country, then within the region, and for the most complex cases, with partner international hospitals.
Founded in 2001 as the International Hospital for Children, the organization merged with Healing the Children Missouri in 2011, bringing together clinical networks, volunteers, and program expertise to expand access to care and strengthen local health systems.
Since its founding, World Pediatrics has delivered more than 80,000 medical services to over 28,000 children and completed more than 19,000 surgeries. A custom patient information system supports clinical follow-up, reporting, and analysis across its programs.
World Pediatrics brings together a rare combination of qualities: a proven, replicable model of health care delivery; a network of partners and volunteers that few peer organizations can match; a proprietary data infrastructure that supports learning and advocacy; and a mission whose moral clarity and measurable impact make it compelling to donors, medical professionals, and policy leaders alike. Looking ahead, World Pediatrics looks to reach more children in less time by expanding into additional countries, strengthening [and localizing] its international operations, increasing use of telehealth to reach more children, and growing revenue through new partnerships and grant opportunities. With a clear strategic direction, a proven model and a mission that connects immediate care to lasting local capacity, the organization is positioned for its next stage of growth.
Learn more about World Pediatrics at https://worldpediatrics.org/.
The Opportunity
Reporting to the Executive Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will lead World Pediatrics through its next phase of impact, organizational development, global growth, and expanded funding opportunities. The CEO will be U.S.-based, with an East Coast location preferred to support connectivity with the U.S.-based offices and World Pediatrics' international footprint. This is a pivotal leadership opportunity for an executive who can build on the organization’s existing strategic direction while strengthening the systems, culture, and funding base needed to deliver it. Working closely with the Board, staff, and regional leaders, the CEO will translate ambition into a focused set of funded priorities; deepen trust and connection across a geographically dispersed organization; and help World Pediatrics evolve from a U.S.-centered model toward a more integrated global organization, with regional hubs serving as centers of excellence. The leader will balance growth with sustainability, refining and strengthening what exists while identifying thoughtful opportunities to expand reach, visibility, and impact.
Responsibilities:
- Elevate World Pediatrics’ global visibility, advocacy, and external influence by sharpening its narrative, expanding strategic partnerships, and increasing recognition of its role in pediatric surgical care, maternal and neonatal care, and health systems strengthening. Serve as its chief spokesperson and ambassador with donors, medical partners, government leaders, media, and the broader global health community.
- Finalize and implement the organization’s newly developed 2035 strategic plan in partnership with the Executive Board and senior team, translating it into clear priorities, accountable plans, and measurable outcomes.
- Lead fundraising and revenue diversification, strengthening long-term donor relationships and repositioning World Pediatrics’ case for support to reach institutional, foundation, and global health funders. Build the fundraising function needed to secure this support while expanding government, corporate, and other sustainable funding and revenue expansion opportunities.
- Provide organization-wide operational leadership, overseeing day-to-day operations through the senior team and regional leaders. Strengthen coordination, clarify responsibilities, and establish consistent practices across programs, finance, human resources, technology, and administration to support effective delivery and sustainable growth.
- Lead, develop, and retain a geographically dispersed U.S. and international staff, strengthening organizational cohesion through clear communication, professional growth, leadership development, recognition, and meaningful opportunities for connection.
- Advance an integrated global operating model, with regional hubs serving as centers of excellence. Strengthen regional decision-making, improve information sharing, and build local capacity while reducing unnecessary dependence on U.S.-based systems and leadership.
- Oversee the quality, reach, and impact of programs and partnerships, drawing on internal subject-matter expertise and identifying thoughtful opportunities for expansion and adjacent strategies while maintaining quality and sustainability.
- Ensure strong financial stewardship through disciplined budgeting, sound nonprofit financial management, appropriate oversight of restricted funding, and clear financial reporting and accountability across programs and geographies.
- Advance the effective use of data, technology, digital health, and emerging tools such as AI to strengthen internal functions, impact measurement, program delivery, and organizational learning.
- Partner effectively with the Executive Board and other volunteer boards to support strong governance, clear roles, productive engagement, and alignment around organizational strategy.
Candidate Profile
The next CEO will be a mission-driven, entrepreneurial executive who pairs strategic vision with operational discipline and the ability to lead transformation in a complex, globally distributed organization. They will understand how to turn an ambitious strategy into a focused, sustainable plan; build the internal systems and funding base required to deliver it; and bring the judgment to strengthen what is working before expanding further. The successful candidate will be energized by the opportunity to grow World Pediatrics' reach and visibility while helping the organization become more integrated and globally led.
This leader will bring humility, curiosity, and a servant-leadership orientation, earning trust across cultures, offices, and stakeholder groups. They will value the expertise of existing staff, create meaningful opportunities for growth, and foster a connected leadership culture across the organization. Nonprofit fluency and fundraising experience are essential, along with a strong understanding of global health and international health care delivery and the ability to represent World Pediatrics credibly with donors, partners, government leaders, clinicians, and the broader global health community. Clinical credentials or direct experience in pediatric care, surgery, or humanitarian settings would be valuable but are not required.
Competencies and Qualifications
- Strategic Leadership and Transformation: Build on existing strategic direction while bringing fresh perspective, setting clear priorities, and creating the systems, accountability, and alignment needed to execute through change. Demonstrate experience leading a complex, geographically dispersed organization or team through growth or transformation and partnering effectively with a board of directors in a complex stakeholder environment.
- Fundraising and External Leadership: Demonstrate a track record of fundraising, donor development, or revenue growth grounded in long-term relationship building. Deepen existing relationships, diversify revenue, strengthen institutional fundraising, and represent World Pediatrics persuasively to donors, government leaders, medical professionals, and partners. Experience securing support from institutional philanthropy, foundations, government, or other diversified funding sources is a strong asset.
- Global Leadership and Cultural Fluency: Bring working fluency in international health care delivery and health systems sufficient to earn the confidence of clinicians, ministries, and in-country partners. Lead effectively across countries, cultures, and time zones; listen to regional expertise; strengthen two-way engagement; and support appropriate local voice and decision-making. Clinical credentials can add value but are not required.
- Operational, Financial, and Technology Stewardship: Demonstrate the ability to oversee day-to-day operations, coordinate functions and teams, and establish clear responsibilities and consistent operating practices across geographies. Bring strong nonprofit financial fluency, including budgeting, financial oversight, and restricted funding management, while strengthening people, data, and technology systems. Use technology, digital health, and emerging tools such as AI to improve effectiveness, impact measurement, and sustainable scale.
- Servant Leadership and Talent Development: Lead with humility, trust, clarity, and low ego. Demonstrate a track record of building strong teams and inclusive organizational cultures, developing and retaining staff, creating opportunities for internal growth, recognizing contributions, and strengthening communication and a consistent leadership culture across offices and teams.
Additional Requirements
- Willingness and ability to travel approximately 40–50% in the first year and 30–40% thereafter, including travel to Richmond headquarters, U.S. chapters, international program and partner locations, donor meetings, and conferences.
- Spanish, French, or another language relevant to World Pediatrics’ partner regions is an asset.
Compensation and Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $280,000 - $320,000 with a generous benefits package
Contact
DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Molly Brennan, Turner Delano, and Dina Tyler. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing the search team directly at [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.
DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
World Pediatrics is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.