President and Chief Executive Officer Search

FARE is the world’s leading non-governmental organization engaged in food allergy advocacy and the largest private funder of food allergy research. Its mission is to improve the quality of life and the health of individuals with food allergies, and to provide them hope through the promise of new treatments. FARE is transforming the future of food allergy through innovative initiatives that will lead to increased awareness, new and improved treatments and prevention strategies, effective policies and legislation and novel approaches to managing the disease. FARE has turned over $100 million in donor gifts into ground-breaking research and has provided a voice for the community, advocating on its behalf, and offering hope for a better tomorrow. Answering a critical need, FARE is in process to raise $100M+ of a $200M five-year campaign to achieve a critical mass of research and investment in data, advocacy, and education to promote a safer world for those affected. 

History:

In 2012, Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) was formed as the result of a merger between the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) and the Food Allergy Initiative (FAI). The new organization combined FAAN’s expertise as the most trusted source of food allergy information, programs, and resources with FAI’s leadership as the world’s largest private source of funding for food allergy research. Today, FARE is the leading global organization working on behalf of the 85 million Americans and nearly a half billion people worldwide with food allergy and intolerance, including all those at risk for life-threatening anaphylaxis. 

Research:

FARE’s primary research goals are to: accelerate the development of safe, practical therapies through the FDA process to improve the allergic condition and protect individuals with food allergies against life-threatening anaphylaxis; enhance patient access to state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment, including those not reimbursed by insurance; develop a deep understanding of the disease; identify approaches to food allergy prevention; and, ultimately, find a cure. A goal is to replace oral food challenges, in which a patient is fed a food to test whether they will react, and FARE is in the middle of offering a prize for biomarker diagnostics. 

FARE researchers have contributed to major advances in the field, and although there is much to learn, the pace of food allergy research is accelerating every day, and new therapies are on the horizon. The work of FARE-funded investigators continues to provide important data about the mechanisms that underlie food allergy, who gets food allergies and the possible role of such factors as diet, hygiene, geography, and ethnicity; and offers much needed insights toward targeted therapies. These studies provide powerful evidence of the growth and impact of food allergies as well as helping advocates make a compelling case for laws and policies that create safer environments for people with food allergies, and or federal funding for research. The work is conducted through the FARE Clinical Network, a coalition of 50 academic, research and clinical centers supported through a state-of-the-art, secure centralized food allergy patient data platform, a patient registry, a biobank and biorepository and a data coordination center. The goal is to gather data through the clinical network’s biobank and data commons. FARE is continuing to expand its research affiliations around the globe through grants and alliances. 

Advocacy:

FARE’s policy priorities are driven by the food allergy community’s needs. FARE’s advocates work together in local teams to make change happen in Washington, D.C., and across the country. FARE advocates for the care, well-being, and inclusion of children and adults with food allergies, including in schools, restaurants, work, transportation, and through emergency services. FARE’s advocacy efforts are driven by a professional team working with grassroots advocates that help inform and shape policy development. FARE advances food allergy advocacy globally via a greater alignment of national food allergy associations. 

FARE's current and ongoing advocacy priorities address some of the most significant and challenging public policy issues facing the food allergy community. They include: 

• Regulatory engagement
• Research funding
• Implementation of the FASTER Act
• Access to safe and affordable foods
• Improving access to care for underserved communities
• Improving global and national labeling laws and standards

Education:

FARE is the leader in food allergy education and resources to help patients and families at every stage of their food allergy journey, from infancy through adulthood through online training courses, food service certification, college search, webinars, conferences, an app, a marketplace, and a rich online platform which embraces the power of influencers and great communicators.

FARE’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access:

85 million Americans are impacted by potentially life-threatening food allergies and food intolerances, including a disproportionate percentage of people of color. FARE is dedicated to ensuring that every individual in the food allergy community has a seat at the table

FARE has made meaningful and significant changes over the past two years to prioritize Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access (DEIA) to advance conversations and collaboration to ensure that patients of color have seats at the table and their needs are met. The organization has diversified the staff, resulting in 46% female senior leadership team and a full staff comprised of 37% individuals of color. We have elevated the Voice of the Patient to ensure diverse populations are represented. FARE is also driving its role as a research and medical leader in multiple geographies and helping shine a light on food insecurity and issues of safety, access, and choice, particularly during COVID-19.

FARE’s holistic DEIA approach will enable significant impact for the diversity in the food allergy community and is hopeful to create long lasting change that will make all patients safe from risk.

The President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will be an inspirational leader who will make a transformational difference toward improved human health. The CEO will strategically position the organization’s data collection, clinical research, and advancement work to develop an integrated research and drug development program along with clinical, education and investment partners that scale FARE’s work. The CEO will lead the strategic direction and overall management of this multi-faceted organization and will provide executive leadership to FARE staff and volunteers, marshalling their talent and enthusiasm toward finding treatments and a cure for food allergies.

With the support of the Board of Directors, the CEO is tasked with the execution of the Five-Year Strategic Plan (which is entering its 4th year) that empowers the Board, staff, volunteers, and other key constituencies to push forward with life-changing programs and interventions that will dramatically improve the lives of people living with food allergies. The CEO will be a visionary who can build a powerhouse organization through large scale investment and generate revenue that fuels drug discovery, collaboration, and innovation across multiple industries, including pharmaceutical, biotech and food manufacturers, that have the potential to positively impact food allergies and intolerances. The CEO will also be a results-oriented leader who brings strong business leadership acumen to the role driving results to support private capital and industry co-investment in data, building a pre-competitive infrastructure to support research and drug development in atopic diseases.

Primary responsibilities of the CEO include the following:

Leadership:

• Provide inspirational and mission-driven leadership and advocacy that reflects the core values and purpose of FARE.
• Position FARE as a disruptor in the field by building and managing successful and relevant programs to speed medical discoveries and solutions.
• Create, communicate, and realize FARE’s scientific vision through the development of a strategic plan for 2025 and beyond.
• Provide knowledge on scientific, industry, research and food allergy policy advances and thought leadership, promoting the cause and the spirit of innovation throughout the sector.
• Continue to build the organization’s capacity to responsibly manage and focus on exceptional execution of programs and research to find a cure for food allergies.
• Recruit, develop, inspire, and engage a diverse staff to manage and administer the organization’s programs and services in support of the strategic plan, operational goals, and objectives. Foster a culture of collaboration and inclusion within and across the organization, as a champion for DEIA.
• Build upon a performance-driven culture which uses systems and processes that     leverage performance indicators, policies, and procedures to continuously assess and evaluate organizational impact and communicate progress to the   Board.
• Inspire, lead, and engage a wide network of volunteers and stakeholders, as a partner and a champion. Cultivate the support from next generation volunteers to further build the capacity of the organization to achieve desired outcomes.
• Establish priorities and accountabilities for executing a world class scientific research program including partnerships with the FARE Clinical Network (FCN) sites and global affiliates.

Board Relations:

• Cultivate a strong, transparent, and collaborative working relationship with the Board.
• Communicate regularly with the Board in all key governance areas, including strategic planning and execution, financial oversight, and staff leadership.
• Inform the Board of progress and challenges related to achieving the strategic plan.
• Assist the Board in the identification and recruitment of new Board members to ensure great engagement and a diversity of perspectives.

Revenue Generation:

• Expand the portfolio of research and strategic partnerships allowing the organization to achieve its goals by generating revenue and identifying collaborations globally with government, pharmaceutical, medical centers, and other constituencies to inspire innovation and multisectoral solutions to challenges.
• Direct strategic growth and create global relationships and pathways towards a $50M/year operation.
• Enhance fundraising by deepening relationships and building the processes, systems, and structures to support a comprehensive development operation for the long-term. This includes building a network of external partners who are advocates of FARE, and who serve as a pipeline for short- and long-term financial contributions. Specifically, establish targeted fundraising strategies to engage a diverse range of potential donors, including major gift and high net worth donors, grassroots, corporations, strategic partners, foundations, government, and other key constituents.
• Maintain and strengthen ties and communications with long-term supporters through the development of new and innovative initiatives that continue to engage donors.

Fiscal Management:

• Ensure the organization is financially sound to meet short- and long-term financial obligations and commitments and invest in critical programs and services identified in the strategic plan.
• Present the Board with an annual budget that is aligned to the strategic plan, for review and approval. Communicate regularly with the Board regarding the financial health of the organization.

External Relations and Advocacy:

• Strengthen and extend FARE’s brand equity nationally; develop and execute a proactive brand building and public relations strategy that supports the organization’s public awareness, education, and advocacy initiatives. Utilize social media to communicate and virtually connect with individuals and families, policymakers, researchers, healthcare providers, and other key stakeholders, both nationally and internationally.
• Build global relationships that support research and investment in data which support alignment with scientific priorities and vision established by FARE.
• Enthusiastically support an environment that inspires, engages, and leverages constituents and volunteers to build the Voice of the Patient by promoting and   expanding the organization’s presence among the public and key constituency groups.
• Serve as a principal spokesperson in all venues, including with the media, government and regulatory agencies, researchers, healthcare providers and practitioners, educators, business leaders, and the public.
• Anticipate and proactively identify and address the public policy issues affecting FARE at both the Federal and state levels.
• Orchestrate the development of a strategic communications plan that will position FARE among policymakers as the premier organization that researches food allergies and helps individuals and families manage the disease.
• Embrace FARE’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access commitments. 

The successful candidate will have a minimum of 15 years of senior leadership experience. They will be passionate about FARE’s mission, serving as a credible voice within the public health, medical, and scientific communities, and providing strong strategic leadership, sound financial performance, exceptional execution, and success in leading mission-driven cultures. The candidate will have served in executive leadership positions with significant people management responsibility, leading teams through periods of change and transformation and working effectively with a Board of Directors, other volunteers, and leaders in health, business, and government. Familiarity with the FDA’s clinical trial and approval process is a plus. The CEO will possess high integrity, ethical standards, and a reputation for fairness and transparency.

Other key attributes include the following: 

• Astute and visionary leader with the ability to establish and execute upon clear priorities; experience in delegating and guiding investments in people and systems; superior organizational leadership skills to motivate and inspire  staff, volunteers, donors, and other key partners to achieve the organization’s goals and objectives.
• Compelling speaker and communicator who exudes passion and gravitas with a track record of coalescing and motivating other organizations and individuals.
• An ability to communicate and translate complex public health, medical, and scientific research into policy recommendations and public awareness/fundraising campaigns.
• Proven ability to secure partnerships such as with pharmaceutical, governmental, corporate and other entities.
• Proven track record as a leader and manager of interdisciplinary teams of professional staff; ability to motivate and inspire others through influence, example, and management of objectives.
• Experience working with Boards to support strong governance and accountability mechanisms; an ability to leverage board members’ experiences, wisdom, and perspectives to achieve organizational success.
• Excellent coalition-building skills, with an ability to communicate and work effectively and partner with a variety of internal and external stakeholders globally
• A persuasive negotiator who can achieve consensus and maximize decision quality with a bias for action.
• Brand building experience; understands how to craft, disseminate, and activate strategic messaging to promote an organization’s mission, brand, and visibility.
• Experience in organizational capacity building through revenue generation and fundraising; ideally has overseen the building of a multi-tiered revenue generating strategy that ensures a sustainable pipeline of funds to support the organization’s operations and expansion strategy.
• Strong financial acumen with experience in short/long-term budgetary planning that support strategic and operational plans.
• An ability to lead by example, with transparency, integrity, and humility.
• A personal connection and passion for the FARE mission is a strong plus.

An Advanced Degree is required.