President & Chief Executive Officer - Vermont Information Technology Leaders, In

Client: Vermont Information Technology Leaders, Inc. (VITL)

Position Title: President & Chief Executive Officer

Website: https://vitl.net/

Reports to: Board of Directors

Estimated Starting Salary: $225,000 - $250,000 per year depending on experience

Location: VITL operates as a remote-first organization. The ideal candidate will reside in Vermont, with the ability to attend in-person meetings regularly with staff, stakeholders, partners, and customers. Candidates not residing in Vermont are still encouraged to apply. This position requires the candidate to live and work within the United States.

About Us:

Do you want to play a pivotal role in improving how health care is delivered throughout Vermont? VITL is an independent, not-for-profit organization based in Vermont, governed by a board representing the state’s health care community. VITL’s mission is to securely aggregate, standardize, and share the data needed to improve the effectiveness of health care for Vermonters.  The organization was created in 2005 to operate the State’s Health Information Exchange.  VITL collects, matches, and standardizes patient data in real time from health care providers caring for Vermonters to create one longitudinal record for each person in the Vermont Health Information Exchange. 

Across the country, Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) were created to solve the challenges presented by the lack of standardization and connectedness of health data systems used by individuals and organizations that provide care to individuals. HIEs enable the electronic and secure sharing of health data across care providers (e.g. nurses, doctors, pharmacists, emergency medical technicians, and physical therapists). 

The Vermont Health Information Exchange (VHIE), which VITL operates, was created to enable health care providers serving Vermonters to share the health records for their patients to inform more efficient, effective health care.  VITL serves as a hub for health data collection and sharing.  Our team builds connections that collect data from organizations that deliver care, and then works to standardize, match, and transform that data to make data from across organizations more usable and comparable, with the goal of creating a single health record for each Vermonter.

In addition to making the data more available to providers to inform patient care, VITL works with health care partners to make VHIE data available for other purposes. Our partners include private and public payers, care coordinators, the Blueprint for Health, and various programs across the Vermont Department of Health.

Position Overview:

This position presents an opportunity to grow and evolve a key organization in a critical sector of Vermont’s economy with an enormous impact on Vermonters’ health and quality of life. Health care delivery in Vermont continues to go through significant reform since VITL’s founding, moving toward an outcomes-based payment model and focusing on the utilization of technology to positively impact the efficiency and quality of Vermont’s health care delivery system. VITL is at the intersection of these efforts.  

The next President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of VITL must be a visionary and strategic leader who values a culture of innovation, collaboration, and transparency. This individual will be responsible for balancing financial sustainability with the technological resourcing needed to advance VITL’s mission. 

They must demonstrate the ability to lead healthcare innovation by leveraging emerging technologies, industry trends, and evolving health policy reforms. Building on VITL’s recent progress in becoming a trusted partner in aggregating and delivering critical health data, the next CEO will support providers in patient care and care coordination, enable private and public payers, enhance quality improvement programs, and collaborate with the Vermont Department of Health. 

Maintaining this momentum, the next CEO will provide a clear and compelling vision for how VITL can continue to positively impact healthcare statewide in Vermont. 

Essential Job Duties: 

Provide Strategic and Visionary Leadership for VITL

• Lead the development and execution of VITL’s strategic roadmap, including engagement, operations, and technology, ensuring alignment with the needs of the State, stakeholder, and customers. Champion interoperability, the adoption of national healthcare data standards, and VITL’s mission to securely aggregate, standardize, and share data to enhance healthcare outcomes for all Vermonters.
• Engage regularly with funders and stakeholders to deeply understand their goals and priorities. Ensure VITL’s initiatives, resources, and operations remain aligned with those objectives, driving value and accountability across the organization. 

Serve as a Visible Leader Across Vermont’s Healthcare Ecosystem and the National Landscape

• Cultivate and sustain strong relationships with key partners across the Vermont healthcare ecosystem. This includes partners at the State, including Vermont’s Health Information Exchange Steering Committee, Vermont Agency of Human Services and Department of Vermont Health Access, Green Mountain Care Board, Vermont Department of Health, and Vermont Legislature. In addition, the CEO will foster collaboration with leaders and staff at participating organizations such as hospitals, community health centers, independent practices, accountable care organizations, and payers.
• Represent VITL to the public, including with national organizations such as Civitas Networks for Health, HIMSS, etc.
• Advocate for VITL’s work and funding to state legislators and regulatory bodies.  

Provide Operational, Technical, and Financial Oversight to the Organization

• Ensure operational excellence across the organization by driving planning, optimizing business processes, and overseeing the successful execution of key projects and initiatives.
• Lead the continuous development and implementation of a robust technical roadmap that advances VITL’s strategic goals and adheres to evolving national interoperability standards.
• Maintain deep expertise of healthcare interoperability standards (FHIR/HL7), the 21st Century Cures Act, EHR systems, and Health Information Exchange (HIE) technologies. Provide informed guidance on the integration of these technologies to improve system-wide data sharing.
• Oversee the organization’s financial health by ensuring responsible budgeting, sustainable fiscal management, and alignment of resources and strategic priorities.  
• Stay abreast of local and national regulatory, policy, and financial changes that impact VITL’s work and clients and ensure VITL is prepared to adapt or leverage new opportunities.
• Ensure full compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and standards, including HIPAA, patient consent requirements, Information Blocking rules, and NIST security guidelines.
• The CEO will be required to operate comfortably and effectively in an environment of constant change, both within the local ecosystem and at the national level.   

Demonstrate Credible, Transparent, Committed Leadership with Exceptional Communication Skills

• Serve as an accessible, hands-on leader who fosters strong, positive working relationships across the leadership team and staff. Establish and maintain clear goals and performance expectations to drive accountability and organizational excellence.
• Champion a culture of support and empowerment for VITL’s highly skilled and dedicated workforce, investing in their professional growth and development.  

Near-Term Goals for the CEO:

• Strengthen and expand trusted relationships with key stakeholders, partners, and customers across Vermont and at the national level, reinforcing VITL’s role as a strategic partner in health data exchange.
• Maintain and refine a strategic plan for the next 3-5 years, ground in VITL’s strategic framework, to guide the organization’s growth, innovation, and mission delivery.
• Develop and implement a roadmap for long-term financial sustainability and diversification, accounting for evolving funding availability and priorities.
• Establish a strong, collaborative relationship with VITL’s experienced and engaged Board of Directors, supporting their ability to provide effective strategic oversight and governance.
• Engage and build relationships with the VITL leadership team and staff that promotes a culture in inclusion, clarity, and accountability. 

Desired Experience and Qualifications:

• Minimum of 10 years of senior leadership experience within healthcare IT, healthcare, or technology sectors.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred (e.g. MBA, MPH, MS).
• Proven experience in healthcare technology, interoperability standards, modern data architectures, and health information exchange is highly desirable.
• Visionary and strategic leader with the ability to drive innovation in emerging health technologies, digital transformation initiatives, and navigating evolving health reform landscapes.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to execute and willingness to understand the details.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering collaboration and transparency both within the organization and with external partners.
• Successful history of procuring, implementing, and managing complex technical platforms and IT architectures in a dynamic environment.
• Exceptional communicator and relationship-builder, adept at engaging diverse stakeholders and forging strong partnerships.
• Strong advocacy skills, with experience effectively working alongside policymakers, elected officials, and regulatory bodies.
• Experience operating within highly regulated environments (e.g. HIPAA) is preferred. 

Benefits:

We are proud to offer a competitive benefits package designed to support the well-being, financial security, and work-life balance of our team. Key components include: 

• Health Coverage: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Retirement Planning: 401(k) plan with employer matching.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Options for healthcare and dependent care expenses.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Generous PTO, plus 11 paid holidays and 3 additional personal days annually.
• Work-from-Home Support: Annual home office stipend of $1,000 to help cover phone and internet costs.
• Relocation assistance available for candidates out of state. 

Additional:

VITL is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination or harassment of any kind. We are committed to compliance with all applicable fair employment practices laws and a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, gender, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, place of birth, crime victim status, ancestry, physical or mental condition, disability, pregnancy, citizenship or immigration status, status as a veteran, military service or obligation, a positive test result from an HIV-related blood test, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by such laws (“Protected Characteristics”). VITL’s policy of anti-discrimination applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, training, compensation, benefits, advancement, and termination of employment. VITL prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against any employee, applicant, worker, or service provider on the basis of any Protected Characteristic.  

Gallagher, Flynn, & Company, LLP has been retained to conduct this search. Interested candidates may apply by sending a resume and cover letter to Mike Smith, Strategic HR Business Advisor. While we appreciate all interest in this exciting opportunity, only candidates most closely aligned with our search will be contacted.

Disclaimer: What is listed above is representative of the position's responsibilities but is not meant to be an exhaustive list. Responsibilities may change during employment at the company's discretion. Gallagher, Flynn & Company, LLP and our client do not discriminate in employment based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors.