Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Canada | Remote
Headway Search Group is leading a national search for a Chief Executive Officer to guide a respected Canadian medical specialty association through its next phase of strategic execution, stakeholder alignment, and organizational leadership.
This is a consequential leadership mandate within a physician-led, member-based organization operating at the intersection of healthcare, advocacy, education, and research. The CEO will play a central role in advancing the voice and impact of a national clinical community while ensuring strong internal execution and alignment.
The organization has recently emerged from a meaningful period of renewal, with strengthened financial footing, improved member engagement, and modernized governance. The next CEO will build on this foundation, sustaining momentum on a multi-year strategic plan while expanding external influence and deepening relationships across a complex healthcare ecosystem.
The CEO will also support the organization’s broader medical and academic mandate, including engagement with national and international partners, affiliated foundations, and stewardship of a highly regarded peer-reviewed specialty journal that plays a key role in advancing clinical research and practice.
In this role, you will:
Provide enterprise leadership across strategy, operations, governance support, membership, communications, and core programming
Strengthen the effectiveness, clarity, and engagement of a distributed national team
Partner closely with a volunteer Board of physician leaders, ensuring strong reporting, alignment, and disciplined execution
Build productive relationships with members, committee and section leaders, academic stakeholders, foundation partners, and external collaborators
Advance the organization’s advocacy priorities within the Canadian healthcare system and broader policy landscape
Ensure the organization continues to deliver meaningful value to its members and remains a trusted voice within the medical community
The early mandate is clear:
Build trusted relationships quickly with the Board, staff, and key stakeholders
Develop a sharp understanding of the organization’s culture, operations, and strategic priorities
Reinforce communication norms and decision-making discipline
Sustain a strong, aligned team culture while supporting the next phase of organizational growth and impact
We are interested in speaking with leaders who bring:
Senior leadership experience in a complex, stakeholder-driven environment
Experience working closely with a Board and navigating the governance–management interface
Strength in financial stewardship, planning, and organizational leadership
A track record of building healthy, accountable, high-performing teams
The judgment and influence required to lead in a physician-led, volunteer-driven environment
Experience in healthcare, professional associations, academic institutions, or other mission-driven organizations is strongly preferred
This is a remote leadership role with some travel required for Board meetings, national events, and stakeholder engagement.
