Remote, POSITION SUMMARY

SHAPE America - the Society of Health and Physical Educators - seeks an accomplished, strategic, and collaborative executive to serve as its next Chief Executive Officer. The CEO is the organization's senior staff leader and primary public representative, with responsibility for advancing SHAPE America's mission, leading a fully virtual national staff team, ensuring strong financial and operational performance, and partnering closely with the Board of Directors and the organization's broad volunteer leadership community.

This is a significant leadership opportunity at a pivotal time for health and physical education. SHAPE America has a strong national platform, newly revised National Physical Education Standards and National Health Education Standards, a respected National Convention & Expo, influential professional journals, and a nationwide network of members, advocates, partners, and more than 50 state affiliate organizations.

ABOUT SHAPE AMERICA

Founded in 1885, SHAPE America is the national voice for more than 200,000 health and physical education professionals across the United States. The organization defines excellence in school-based health and physical education and provides educators with standards, professional development, research, publications, advocacy, and resources that strengthen practice and improve student health and well-being.

Mission: To advance professional practice and promote research related to health and physical education, physical activity, dance, and sport.

Vision: A nation where all children are prepared to lead healthy, physically active lives.

SHAPE America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with approximately 20 employees and a comprehensive volunteer leadership structure. The organization operates fully virtually, with staff and volunteer leaders located across the country.

THE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY

The next CEO will build on SHAPE America's strong foundation while executing the Board-approved 2026-2029 Strategic Direction. The organization's priorities center on advocacy, community, knowledge and practice, and sustainability. The CEO will be expected to strengthen SHAPE America's national influence, deepen member and affiliate engagement, expand professional development and standards implementation, diversify revenue, and position the organization for continued long-term relevance and impact.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide strategic leadership and direction in alignment with SHAPE America's mission, vision, and Board-approved strategic priorities.

Partner effectively with the Board of Directors and Executive Committee to establish and implement long-range goals, strategies, plans, and policies.

Serve as chief spokesperson and external representative to members, state affiliates, partner organizations, government agencies, media, funders, and the public.

Advance SHAPE America's advocacy agenda at the federal and state levels and build strategic relationships across education, public health, government, and the private sector.

Oversee financial management, budgeting, organizational sustainability, and forward-looking financial planning.

Diversify and grow revenue through partnerships, sponsorships, grants, products, services, publications, professional development, and other non-dues opportunities.

Lead, develop, and retain a high-performing, geographically distributed staff team; oversee hiring, supervision, performance management, compensation, and organizational culture.

Strengthen member value, engagement, professional development, leadership development, and communications.

Support and collaborate with SHAPE America's volunteer leadership structure, including the Board, committees, councils, special interest groups, state affiliates, and other constituent bodies.

Ensure compliance with applicable legal, regulatory, governance, and nonprofit requirements while maintaining high standards of transparency and accountability.

PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT CEO

Strengthen SHAPE America's position as the leading and unifying national voice for health and physical education.

Grow and retain membership while increasing engagement across K-12 educators, higher education, future professionals, coaches, adaptive physical educators, and allied professionals.

Expand advocacy and policy influence while navigating a complex and evolving education and public health environment.

Increase high-value professional development, digital learning, standards-based tools, and leadership development opportunities.

Build and diversify strategic partnerships and revenue streams to support long-term financial sustainability.

Cultivate a strong, collaborative, transparent organizational culture in which staff, members, volunteers, and affiliates feel heard and connected.

Drive national alignment with and implementation of SHAPE America's revised National Physical Education Standards and National Health Education Standards.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

SHAPE America seeks a proven nonprofit or association executive who combines strategic vision with operational discipline and the interpersonal skill to lead through influence. The strongest candidates will be credible external ambassadors, sophisticated Board partners, strong financial stewards, and collaborative leaders who understand the central role of members, volunteers, staff, and partnerships in a national association.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Proven executive leadership experience in a nonprofit, professional association, education organization, or other mission-driven environment.

Strong financial acumen and demonstrated experience managing complex organizational budgets, financial planning, and revenue diversification.

Demonstrated success in strategic planning, organizational growth, and leading change.

• Experience cultivating partnerships, sponsorships, grants, fundraising relationships, and other revenue opportunities.

Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking, advocacy, media relations, and external representation.

Strong experience working with volunteer boards, committees, and complex governance structures.

Ability to lead and motivate a distributed professional staff team and foster a high-performing, collaborative culture.

Understanding of membership associations and the importance of member value, volunteer engagement, and affiliate relationships.

• Knowledge of public education and/or health and physical education is preferred; direct content expertise is not required if the candidate demonstrates a genuine commitment to SHAPE America's mission and the ability to learn the field.

Bachelor's degree required; a master's degree or higher in a relevant field is strongly preferred.

Significant progressive senior leadership experience; prior CEO or Executive Director experience is preferred.

LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES

Strategic, collaborative, and politically astute.

An exceptional listener who builds trust across differing perspectives.

High integrity, transparency, and sound judgment.

Personable, energetic, visible, and comfortable serving as the public face of the organization.

Diplomatic and tactful, with the courage to make difficult decisions while maintaining relationships.

A servant leader who empowers staff and volunteers rather than relying on command-and-control leadership.

Passionate about SHAPE America's mission and the role of health and physical education in improving the lives of children and communities.

LOCATION AND TRAVEL

SHAPE America is a fully virtual organization with no central headquarters office. The CEO may be based anywhere in the United States. Regular travel is expected for Board meetings, the National Convention & Expo, state affiliate engagement, advocacy activities, partner meetings, and other stakeholder events.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

SHAPE America will offer a competitive executive compensation and benefits package designed to attract an outstanding candidate. Final compensation will reflect the selected candidate's experience and qualifications.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

SHAPE America is an equal opportunity organization. Employment decisions are made without unlawful discrimination on the basis of any protected characteristic, and the organization encourages qualified candidates of all backgrounds to apply.

HOW TO APPLY

Sterling Martin/ZRG is conducting this national executive search on behalf of SHAPE America. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit a resume and a letter of interest describing their qualifications and alignment with SHAPE America's mission. All inquiries and expressions of interest will be treated confidentially.

Apply Now

For confidential inquiries, contact David Martin at dmartin@smartinsearch.com or Krista DeRose at kderose@smartinsearch.com.