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How to hire an executive director/chief executive officer

Executive director/chief executive officer hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring executive directors/chief executive officer in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire an executive director/chief executive officer is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new executive director/chief executive officer to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire an executive director/chief executive officer, step by step

To hire an executive director/chief executive officer, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire an executive director/chief executive officer, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step executive director/chief executive officer hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write an executive director/chief executive officer job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new executive director/chief executive officer
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an executive director/chief executive officer do?

An executive director/chief executive officer is an executive who is in-charged in the management of a company's overall operations and growth. The position is decided by the company's board and its shareholders. The executive's primary responsibilities include making major corporate decisions and managing company resources. The role of a chief executive officer varies depending on the size of the company, its culture, and corporate structure. Also, the position requires good interpersonal, leadership, analytical, and management skills to accomplish such responsibilities.

Learn more about the specifics of what an executive director/chief executive officer does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring an executive director/chief executive officer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an executive director/chief executive officer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an executive director/chief executive officer that fits the bill.

    Here's a comparison of executive director/chief executive officer salaries for various roles:

    Type of Executive Director/Chief Executive OfficerDescriptionHourly rate
    Executive Director/Chief Executive OfficerTop executives devise strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. They plan, direct, and coordinate operational activities of companies and organizations.$37-111
    PresidentPresidents are usually the highest-level executives in an organization. They oversee the whole company... Show more$54-155
    Vice PresidentVice presidents are usually considered the second-in-command in the organization, depending on the organization structure. They take over when the president is unavailable to fulfill duties... Show more$51-112
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Financial Management
    • Regulatory Compliance
    • Business Strategy
    • Mental Health
    • Non-Profit Organization
    • Oversight
    • Strategic Plan
    • Business Development
    • Human Resources
    • Business Plan
    • Program Development
    • Substance Abuse
    • Staff Development
    • Strategic Partnerships
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage grant funding process, from RFP development to bidders' conferences to proposal reviews and grant awards.
    • Lead the facility in implementing person-centered care/hospitality philosophy, electronic medical records, maximization of Medicare reimbursement, and alternative therapies.
    • Obtain Medicaid certification for expansion of outpatient services.
    • Carry out public relation activities for the corporation, including marketing of physical rehabilitation services to area hospitals and referral sources.
    • Key contributor in the development, implementation and optimization of RFP policies and procedures.
    • Pass ISO re-certification audit without findings.
    More executive director/chief executive officer duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your executive director/chief executive officer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An executive director/chief executive officer salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for an executive director/chief executive officer in Idaho may be lower than in California, and an entry-level executive director/chief executive officer usually earns less than a senior-level executive director/chief executive officer. Additionally, an executive director/chief executive officer with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average executive director/chief executive officer salary

    $133,699yearly

    $64.28 hourly rate

    Entry-level executive director/chief executive officer salary
    $77,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 31, 2025

    Average executive director/chief executive officer salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$182,486$88
    2New York$135,534$65
    3District of Columbia$135,261$65
    4Illinois$129,696$62
    5Arizona$127,790$61
    6Massachusetts$127,085$61
    7Washington$116,519$56
    8Ohio$112,594$54
    9Michigan$112,249$54
    10Florida$106,626$51
    11Colorado$106,132$51
    12North Carolina$103,267$50
    13Minnesota$99,469$48

    Average executive director/chief executive officer salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Open Society Foundations$179,235$86.17
    2Nuveen Investments$171,034$82.236
    3SUNY Adirondack$170,248$81.85
    4Bristol-Myers Squibb$169,871$81.67185
    5Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan$160,953$77.385
    6Ilitch Holdings$156,855$75.411
    7Korn Ferry$154,670$74.362
    8Aetna$153,109$73.61
    9UnitedHealth Group$151,820$72.99194
    10S'well$148,981$71.63
    11Heckscher Museum of Art$146,320$70.35
    12Smart and Associates LLP$139,311$66.98
    13Samsara$138,113$66.40103
    14Dow Jones$132,784$63.846
    15Global Energy Services Inc$128,759$61.90
    16Uniphore$128,338$61.70
    17YMCA$128,234$61.654
    18California State University$119,372$57.3996
    19AGB$108,450$52.14
    20San Francisco Symphony$100,521$48.33
  4. Writing an executive director/chief executive officer job description

    A good executive director/chief executive officer job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an executive director/chief executive officer job description:

    Executive director/chief executive officer job description example

    Northwestern Community Services Board

    Executive Director / CEO

    The Executive Director is directly accountable and responsible for the overall success of the entire NWCSB operation to include budgeting, strategic planning, program evaluation, contracting, financial management, human resources, employee benefits, risk management, management information systems, training, EEO management, licensure, accreditation and all clinical services.

    The Executive Director is employed under an annually renewable contract with
    a 15- member Board of Directors and is evaluated annually by the Board.

    The Executive Director will be responsible for all aspects of managing 270 staff throughout Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah, Page and Warren Counties and the City of Winchester with an annual budget of $23 million plus.

    An applicant must have an undergraduate degree in social work, psychology, rehabilitation counseling, or another human services-related field or in business, public, hospital, or healthcare administration or another management-related field. Comparable related experience may substitute for education and considerable experience in leading public or private organizations with functions and responsibilities that are similar or comparable to NWCSB is required.

    Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of human services and health services administration, business administration, or government program administration, human resources management, information technology, and financial management, including budgeting, resource allocation, monitoring, and auditing is required. Some knowledge of mental health, developmental, and substance use disorder programs and services delivery is required.

    The preferred candidate will have a graduate degree in one of the fields listed above and extensive experience in leading public or private organizations with functions and responsibilities that are similar or comparable to NWCSB and reporting directly to a governing board. Considerable knowledge of mental health, developmental, and substance use disorder services and the ability to provide clinical or programmatic oversight of these services is also preferred.

    The salary for this position is commensurate with qualifications and experience. NWCSB provides an attractive benefits package.

    NWCSB is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace committed to workforce diversity.

    DEADLINE TO APPLY: November 01, 2022


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  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find executive directors/chief executive officer for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your executive director/chief executive officer job on Zippia to find and recruit executive director/chief executive officer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit executive directors/chief executive officer, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new executive director/chief executive officer

    Once you've decided on a perfect executive director/chief executive officer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire an executive director/chief executive officer?

Recruiting executive directors/chief executive officer involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

Executive directors/chief executive officer earn a median yearly salary is $133,699 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find executive directors/chief executive officer for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $37 and $111.

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