Unity Health Care
Chief Executive Officer
Location: Washington, DC, hybrid 
Compensation: $450,000 - $550,000

About Unity

Unity Health Care reaches people wherever they are to provide compassionate, comprehensive, high-quality health care that is accessible to all and advances health in Washington, DC. As the largest network of community health centers in the District of Columbia and one of the largest in the country, the Unity team of compassionate and multicultural health professionals places Unity values into action every day to bring whole-person care and wellness to nearly 80,000 patients through almost 300,000 visits annually through the network of over 27 traditional and non-traditional health sites and a mobile medical outreach vehicle. 59% of Unity patients have income below 100% of the federal poverty guideline, and 60% are on Medicaid.

Unity was founded in 1985 as Health Care for the Homeless Project (HCHP), providing primary health care services to homeless individuals and families residing in local emergency shelters or on the streets of the District of Columbia. In 1997, HCHP officially changed its name to Unity Health Care as services were expanded from not only serving people experiencing homelessness, but to providing primary and specialty care to all District residents. 

In 2006, Unity developed and implemented the country's first comprehensive community-oriented correctional health care model. Since then, Unity has been the sole provider of comprehensive medical services to the Washington, DC Department of Corrections, providing medical and behavioral health services within Washington, DC jail facilities. It has been recognized as an innovative and quality correctional health care model. In May 2025, the District awarded Unity a five-year contract, which will enable this critical work through 2030.

Unity is one of nine Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)  in Washington, DC, whose leaders are closely connected through the DC Primary Care Association, an important organization focused on providing strategic thought partnership, advocacy, and technical assistance to member community health centers. The group convenes and collaborates often on several key issues that affect FQHCs and their patient populations. Unity is also a key member and leader of the DCPCA’s Connected Care Network, which is comprised of seven FQHCs that have come together to form a clinically integrated network. 

Unity is the largest and preeminent community health center network in the District of Columbia, which offers a unique environment and ecosystem for a leader passionate about community health care. Washington, DC, is home to 679,000 individuals, boasts three medical schools, several nursing programs, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, along with equally compelling neighboring jurisdictions in Maryland and Virginia. A new hospital in Washington, DC’s Ward 8 offers additional opportunities for partnership and impact. While the health care terrain is complex and constantly changing, there is space and room for innovation, piloting new models, and learning from a diverse set of local, passionate, and committed leaders in the region. 

Unity is a teaching health center and is deeply committed to training the next generation of providers interested in working in community health centers and with underserved populations. Unity’s Teaching Health Center includes a Family Medicine Residency and a Family Nurse Practitioner residency, which helps create a pipeline of providers poised to address the needs of medically vulnerable populations. Unity has been focused on increasing medical access and care in Wards 7 and 8 in Washington, DC—they prioritize where there is the most need. 

Additionally, in 2025, Unity received funding from the Bedford Falls Foundation to fund a partnership to provide a pathway for medical assistants to attend nursing school and earn an RN degree. Unity will be partnering with Trinity University and other community partners to offer this opportunity to medical assistants. In 2023, the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation committed dollars to establish The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation Behavioral Health Development Fund to support the growing behavioral health needs of adults, children, adolescents, and families.

Unity recognizes three unions and is negotiating three collective bargaining agreements for providers, environmental service workers, and nurses. The negotiations and ultimately working with these three unions are an important aspect of Unity and a reflection of their values and ethos as an organization. 

Unity has an annual organizational budget of $146M and a talented and committed staff of 800. 

For more information, please visit www.unityhealthcare.org

About the CEO Position

Unity seeks a collaborative, transparent, authentic relationship builder who brings a vast knowledge of community health centers and a deep understanding of the healthcare terrain and the community healthcare ecosystem. The ideal candidate has an ethos of “people first” and connectedness and an orientation to excellent service and care – to staff, the Board, key partners, and individuals and families across Washington, DC, who rely on Unity for compassionate and high-quality care. The ideal candidate will also bring a record of and a strong orientation to systems thinking and values-based care competencies.

The ideal candidate is a strong leader with a track record of listening first, bridging differences, and uniting staff around a common goal. The strongest candidates also authentically and adeptly build and sustain trust with staff, board, and stakeholders. They think creatively and infuse innovation across all practice areas. They animate and model Unity values. They engage, include, delegate, share power, and amplify others before themselves.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced leader to build on a solid foundation of success and sustainability and continue to deepen and broaden the impact for which Unity is so well known. The new leader will be rooted in care and patient outcomes and bring a strong business acumen. They will empower and amplify the Unity staff and Board, ultimately impacting the health and well-being of individuals and families across the District of Columbia. The role is equal parts internally focused, leading and collaborating with staff on strategy, the transition to EPIC scheduled for later this fall, and culture, and externally focused with the DCPCA, external partners, funders, DC government, and the community.

This leader will also navigate a changing policy and funding landscape, which will directly impact Unity’s ability to fulfill its mission and serve its patients. As a result, the new leader will bring a record of success fundraising from a variety of sources and innovation in thinking about revenue and growth in a challenging external environment.

The CEO manages a senior executive team of six dedicated, passionate, and high-performing leaders who bring a diverse and critical skillset to Unity:

• Chief Operating Officer
• Chief Medical Officer
• Chief Financial Officer
• Chief Human Resources Officer
• Chief Administrative Officer
• Chief Information Officer

The CEO reports to an engaged and committed board of directors, which is eager to support the new leader's success.

Responsibilities

Strategy and Leadership 

• Lead Unity’s strategic direction, collaborating with the Board, staff, and key partners to design, implement, and track goals aligned with the Unity vision, mission, and strategic plan; 2025 marks the end of a three-year strategic plan, and Unity will be embarking upon the creation of a new one under the incoming CEO
• Develop and maintain a trusting, transparent working relationship with the Board and ensure open communication about successes and challenges of financial, programmatic, and operational performance 
• Ensure ongoing organizational excellence, rigorous performance evaluation, and consistent, high-quality finance, administrative, fundraising, communications, and other systems
• Maintain a strong working knowledge of the current healthcare environment in the region and foster a positive community partnership and reputation with policy-making agencies, funders, and other critical entities
• Identify and pursue areas of shared interest with key stakeholders, creating opportunities for new and/or stronger partnerships to strengthen Unity’s impact
• Promote positive governance and the role of Unity in local policy development
• Cultivate and nurture a transparent and robust partnership with the Board, facilitating open dialogue concerning the evaluation of financial, clinical, programmatic, and societal impacts vis-à-vis predefined objectives for both the organization and the community
• Direct the delivery of high-quality, comprehensive health services and ensure the optimum functioning and quality of all aspects of the clinic and community programs
• Develop and implement strategies that allow Unity to weather unexpected challenges, building resilience in key staff and programs

Culture and Collaboration

• Facilitate positive, constructive interactions among and between all key collaborators by demonstrating sensitivity to all cultures, identities, behaviors, and wellness perspectives
• Successfully advocate for, encourage, and actively facilitate respect within and among the Unity board, staff, providers, and patients
• Model and animate Unity values, centering respect, engagement, and a sense of togetherness

Team Management

• Engage, lead, coach, develop, and mentor Unity’s Senior Leadership Team and inspire and empower all staff in the organization to set and reach meaningful, mission-driven goals
• Build, support, and facilitate collaboration between clinical, administrative, and community staff and across organizational departments, functions, and tenures, and strengthen internal communications to cultivate strong, trusting working relationships at every level across locations
• Model and promote an organizational culture reflective of Unity’s roots that centers the vision, mission, and values of the organization as well as performance, accountability, and impact

External Relations and Fundraising

• Serve as the lead external representative of Unity in the community with funders, local and state policy leaders, organizational partners, and champions, advocating for and testifying on behalf of the organization and ensuring that Unity is vocal and visible in relevant spaces
• Actively seek out partnerships in a variety of spaces that benefit the patient community and staff of Unity 
• Develop, cultivate, and deepen relationships with key philanthropic funders and government officials through stories of impact, clinical results, and a clear strategy for growth and change

Financial Leadership

• Oversee Unity budget and finances and work in concert with the CFO to create and ensure adherence to appropriate financial policies and controls
• Oversee and provide leadership for Unity's organizational sustainability, with a focus on strategies to drive patient visits, increase medical and pharmacy revenue, as well as generate revenue from other sources, including grants, events, major donors, etc.
• Ensure creation, adherence to, and maintenance of organizational policies and procedures to facilitate effective workflow, decision-making, and communication protocols across the organization
• Maintain and cultivate relationships with potential individual, philanthropic, and corporate donors and ensure appropriate access to information
• Develop and oversee a model of care delivery that drives sustainability, growth, and impact

Qualifications
The Unity Search Committee recognizes that not every candidate will bring all the knowledge, skills, and experiences listed below and welcomes candidates with various experiences.

• Passion, collaboration, and an abiding commitment to the mission of Unity and its member community health centers
• At least 10 years of executive leadership experience with a strong track record of building, empowering, supporting, and inspiring groups of key partners and collaborators 
• Track record of building and nurturing authentic, trust-based, cooperative, and high-impact organizational partnerships 
• Record of strong leadership and management with a talented and multidisciplinary staff
• Clear and transparent communication skills with the ability to engage, connect, and inspire a variety of audiences
• A proactive problem solver who can bridge the gap between strategy and execution and who brings experience navigating the complex and evolving healthcare terrain
• Experience overseeing essential executive functions, including strategy, finance, operations, and programs

How to Apply

Unity has retained the executive search firm LeaderFit to lead this search. Candidates should share an updated resume and brief cover letter outlining their interest in the role and upload it to the LeaderFit system here.