Executive Director

Position Summary

Blue Zones is working collaboratively with many local community leaders and partners to make healthy choices easier and to measurably improve the well-being of the population of the local community. This effort involves business, government, universities, schools, community organizations, and individuals joining to support an integrated approach to improve the well-being of the community by optimizing living environments and policies. Through this collaboration and movement, residents in the community will naturally adopt healthy behaviors, improve their well-being, and live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. As well-being improves, employers begin to experience lower health care cost trends and higher productivity, driving new economic development while making each community an even more desirable place to live, work, and play.

This position will be accountable for implementation of the Blue Zones Project® in the local community, driving positive change in People, Places and Policy.

Essential Functions

• Overall accountability for Community Blueprint development, execution and achievement of goals, objectives and outcomes.
• Recruit and manage a team of community staff that work with local community leaders and partners to implement permanent changes to the environment, policy, social networks, and programs that drive wellbeing improvement.
• Provide effective leadership for diverse staff and volunteers that creates an authentic Blue Zones Project culture and drives successful outcomes.
• Create and maintain excellent relationships with sponsors and key stakeholders.
• Facilitate achievement of program and business goals by leveraging relationships with representatives of the government, nonprofit organizations, civic groups and businesses, as well as with senior leaders of Sponsor partners.
• Accountable for operations and financial success of the project.
• Develop and implement short and longterm strategy and business plans through ongoing analysis and interpretation of the various indexes and datasets to monitor project impact; translate complex data insights into actionable programmatic adjustments, ensuring project initiatives directly align with the project’s core value proposition and longterm wellbeing ROI.
• Ensure marketing channels are fully utilized to publicize the local Blue Zones Project initiatives and support ongoing business development efforts.

Specific Skills / Attributes

• Account Management able to build and maintain relationships with Sponsors as well as across government, businesses, and community organizations.
• A handson leader and coach who can motivate teams to successfully achieve project goals and objectives.
• Strong operational skills.
• Ability to leverage validated wellbeing and organizational performance data to identify trends, adapt strategies in real time, and translate insights into clear business value, connecting wellbeing outcomes to measurable organizational impact and ROI.
• Ability to effectively manage key stakeholder relationships by aligning expectations with project goals and objectives, proactively communicating project metrics, milestones, and risks ensuring key stakeholders remain informed and engaged throughout the project timeline and delivery lifecycle.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including professional presentations, strong oneonone interpersonal communication, detailed written reporting, and clear, effective email and phone correspondence.
• Able to communicate effectively as a project spokesperson with local, regional and national organizations.

Results oriented - understands what results are important and focuses resources to achieve them.

• Adept at financial planning and successful budget management.
• Experience working in multidisciplinary, multicultural, and multisectoral partnerships.
• Inspiring, influencing, collaborative, and responsible.
• Problemsolving and critical thinking abilities
• Proficient in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Canva and other business applications
• Energized by the Blue Zones mission to empower everyone, everywhere to live better, longer.

Required Qualifications

• 10 years of experience as a leader in operations, as a community organizer and/or managing complex community initiatives or campaigns with diverse volunteer resources. A blend of forprofit and government or nonprofit experience is a plus.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Life Sciences, Political Science, Healthcare, Healthcare Administration or Business or related field; OR equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
• Resident of the local project community and/or deep local knowledge and engagement with the local community.
• Available to work weekends, early mornings and evenings as needed for events and community activities.
• Ability to work onsite in the local project office.
• Valid driver’s license and proof of current auto insurance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in related field of study
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Prior training in diversity, equity and inclusion.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Ability to remain in a stationary position, often sitting, for extended periods of time.
• Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment on a regular basis.
• Ability to move about inside the office to access files, equipment, and attend meetings.
• Ability to attend and participate in events, which may include walking and/or standing for extended periods.
• Ability to lift and transport items up to 20 pounds, such as event materials or equipment.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both in person and virtually.
• Ability to travel occasionally to offsite meetings or events as required.

About Blue Zones LLC

Blue Zones is a well-being transformation company that partners with communities, organizations, and individuals to make healthy choices easier. Today, we work in more than 70 communities and with thousands of organizations, reaching millions of people nationwide and helping them live better, longer. We create lasting change by supporting sustainable improvements in the built environment, food systems, and social connections. Our work helps communities reduce healthcare costs, improve productivity, access funding, and ultimately enjoy a higher quality of life. When you join Blue Zones, you become part of a purpose-driven team bringing innovative leaders together to spark meaningful change. Together, we're leading a movement to improve well-being at scale — one that benefits not just communities, but the friends, families, and neighbors who call it home.