Chief Business Development & Strategy Officer - Children’s Home Society of North Carolina

About Children’s Home Society

Children’s Home Society of North Carolina (CHS) is one of the premier nonprofit child and family services organizations in both North Carolina and the country. Our mission is to promote the right of every child to a permanent, safe, and loving family, and our work is grounded in four core values – integrity, excellence, compassion, and innovation. To the fullest extent, we are a mission and values driven organization. Our people are essential to our success and are individually and collectively compelled by this relentless focus around mission and values.

Family is at the heart of everything we do across a broad continuum of programs and services including early childhood family support, family strengthening and preservation, child welfare and permanency programs, post-permanency services, and youth empowerment. Children’s Home Society serves more than 20,000 children and families annually to help establish and sustain healthy, loving family relationships.

CHS has evolved since our founding more than a century ago to an organization with a $38M budget, 325+ full-time professional staff, and offices in cities across North Carolina. CHS is a respected pioneer and leader in our field, committed to high quality, evidence based, and evidence-informed practice, advocacy and policy influence, and innovative collaboration with public, private, research, and philanthropic partners.

CHS is seeking an innovative and experienced executive to serve as Chief Business Development & Strategy Officer (CBDSO), a visionary and mission-focused architect for growth, innovation, and sustainability. This leader will help shape the future of the organization, the evolution and expansion of our services and programs, building on the dramatic growth and success we have enjoyed in recent years.

Want to know more about CHS? Visit https://www.chsnc.org/.

About The Opportunity

Children's Home Society has a celebrated history with important contributions to the field of child and family services, including deep expertise in adoption and family support services. Although our focus today goes far beyond adoption, CHS remains a leader in this sector, having completed more than 17,000 adoptions in our history. CHS has and continues to serve an important leadership role in shaping related policy and best practice at the state and national level. Today, CHS remains one of the largest and most respected organizations of its kind in the country.

The CBDSO will join an organization primed for continued growth and impact, with a distinguished reputation, strong partnerships, a portfolio of exceptionally high-quality programs, an inspired and skilled staff, a committed and engaged board, and a strong financial position. CHS is poised for more as we look ahead.

Children’s Home Society also has a long-standing commitment to intentional planning and growth. Our current plan, created in collaboration with the Bridgespan Group in 2021, will be completed in the first half of 2026. The Chief Business Development and Strategy Officer will enjoy an integral role in shaping our next planning effort, engaging with important stakeholders, assessing opportunities, and helping chart our course forward. It is an exciting time as we mark 125 years of impact in 2027, with an ambitious outlook toward the future.

The Chief Business Development and Strategy Officer will enjoy an integral role in shaping our next planning effort, engaging with important stakeholders, assessing opportunities, and helping chart our course forward. It is an exciting time as we mark 125 years of impact in 2027, with an ambitious outlook toward the future.

The Chief Business Development & Strategy Officer is a senior executive role with primary responsibility for designing, driving, and executing growth and strategic initiatives. They will oversee the business development and strategic planning lifecycles, including identifying new opportunities, forging partnerships, and aligning strategies across departments and teams to ensure sustainable growth and impact. This role requires a holistic understanding of the organization and operating environment, strong analytical and leadership skills, and the ability to manage complex, high-impact initiatives from ideation to implementation. 

Reporting to the President & CEO, this role will serve on CHS’s executive leadership team and will maintain strong working relationships with critical stakeholders, trustees, and staff. The CBDSO will directly lead and support our business development, governmental affairs, grants management, and related teams and staff.

Key Functions and Responsibilities

We are seeking a visionary leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy, influence, and impact. In this role, you will serve as a key ambassador for our organization, building and nurturing relationships that shape the future of our industry and strengthen our position as a trusted partner and advocate. This is more than a position—it’s an opportunity to influence policy, shape industry standards, and strengthen our relationships at every level. You will be at the forefront of advocacy and engagement, ensuring our organization remains agile, informed, and impactful.

Strategic and Team Leadership

• Oversee strategic planning process(es) and implementation, effectively engaging the executive leadership team, board, external resources, and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the CEO, board of trustees, and senior leadership to develop shared understanding around strategic opportunities, insights, and aligned strategies.

Business Development and Growth

• Identify and pursue new opportunities, programs/services, and potential partnerships to expand the impact of the organization. 
• Spearhead initiatives for mergers, acquisitions, strategic alliances, and other collaborations.
• Analyze market trends, competitive landscapes, and economic conditions to identify risks and opportunities. 

Strategy and Innovation

• Translate strategic plan(s) and priorities into actionable initiatives and ensure these initiatives are effectively executed and aligned across the organization. 
• Drive innovation and new business opportunities to sustain and expand the impact of the organization.
• Collaborate on sustainable funding strategies that support CHS’s financial health and strategic growth.

Organizational and Team Leadership

• Effectively lead our governmental affairs, grants management, business development, and related teams with exceptional communication skills, a passion for people development, and a proven ability to deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
• Balance strategic thinking and hands-on leadership to ensure operational success and employee engagement.
• Work effectively with executive peers and across multidisciplinary teams and geographies, fostering mutually valued relationships and collaboration.

Stakeholder Engagement and External Affairs

• Cultivate and advance relationships with a broad spectrum of stakeholders — strategic partners, advocacy groups, elected officials, industry associations, and peer organizations — ensuring our voice is heard and respected in every forum.
• Maintain strong, collaborative ties with government officials, agencies, and policymakers. Your advocacy will ensure our priorities remain front and center in legislative and regulatory conversations.
• Oversee the monitoring of legislative and regulatory developments. Provide timely, actionable insights to executive leadership, enabling informed decisions.
• Serve as the face of the organization in meetings, hearings, and important forums. Communicate our positions with clarity, confidence, and credibility, reinforcing our reputation as a leader in the field.

Experience, Skills, Competencies, and Attributes

The Chief Business Development & Strategy Officer will be inspired by the mission and values of Children’s Home Society and will possess most of the following skills, experience, and competencies.

Skills and Proficiencies

• Mission-driven leader with a passion for strengthening families and communities.
• High motivation for the CHS mission; values and style alignment with CHS’s culture; ability to drive change through a highly collaborative and supportive approach.
• Extensive leadership and management experience in strategic planning and execution, preferably with organizations of comparable size and complexity to CHS, including management of high caliber external consultants and partners.
• Proven track record in developing and executing business strategies and transformative growth initiatives, including organic growth, program development and scaling, entering new markets, and strategic partnerships (including mergers and acquisitions).
• A broad understanding of various business functions and a holistic view of CHS and its operating environment. 
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. 
• Strong financial acumen and demonstrated ability to analyze complex issues and data. 
• Outstanding communication, presentation, and influencing skills. 

Experience

• Minimum of ten (10) years of leadership experience with progressive supervisory roles and demonstrated ability to lead teams or manage large projects.
• Minimum of five (5) or more years of executive-level leadership preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in leading high impact strategic initiatives and driving growth in complex organizations.
• Demonstrated experience in government relations, public policy, or advocacy roles preferred.
• Strong leadership and team building skills; great team leader/player. 
• Demonstrated experience in developing and executing business strategies and significant growth initiatives.
• Track record of successfully developing individuals in key staff and leadership positions. 

Abilities

• Communicate with excellence (written, verbal, and interpersonal).
• Demonstrate sound judgment, decision-making, and the ability to consult with others to make the best decisions.
• Demonstrate passion for CHS, our mission and services.
• Inspire others around the work of the organization.

Education, Licenses, & Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required. An advanced degree is preferred (e.g. an MBA with significant experience in a closely related field).
• Relevant certifications and professional designations may be advantageous but are not required.

Schedule Expectations

This position is a salary-exempt job that requires some weekends and evening work, along with working our standard scheduled week. The ability to travel as needed and work flexible hours is required to meet business needs. If working remotely, the CBDSO is required to be available by telephone and email during specified hours as required.

How to Apply

To apply, click on the link to the Chief Business Development & Strategy Officer – Children’s Home Society of NC position profile at www.ArmstrongMcGuire.com/apply. You will see instructions for uploading your compelling cover letter, resume, salary requirements, and professional references. Please provide all requested information to be considered. In case of any technical problems, contact talent@armstrongmcguire.com. No phone calls, please, and no applications will be accepted by email or directly from third-party posting sites. Due to integration issues, applications submitted through 3rd party sites such as Indeed and LinkedIn may not be received.

Anticipated base salary of $180,000 or above, commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus potential bonus opportunity. Benefits include medical, dental, life, short and long-term disability insurance, a flexible spending plan, 403(b) retirement plan with generous match, accrued vacation and sick time, paid parental leave, and 11 paid holidays.

CHS is actively recruiting a diverse pool of candidates for this position.

Anticipated base salary of $180,000 or above, commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus potential bonus opportunity. Benefits include medical, dental, life, short and long-term disability insurance, a flexible spending plan, 403(b) retirement plan with generous match, accrued vacation and sick time, paid parental leave, and 11 paid holidays.