How to hire an interim executive director

How to hire an interim executive director, step by step

Here's a step-by-step interim executive director hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your interim executive director job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an interim executive director for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An interim executive director's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, interim executive directors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of interim executive director salaries for various roles:

   Type of Interim Executive Director	Description	Hourly rate
   Interim Executive Director	Top executives devise strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. They plan, direct, and coordinate operational activities of companies and organizations.	$33-93
   Vice President	Vice 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
   President	Presidents are usually the highest-level executives in an organization. They oversee the whole company... Show more	$54-155

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Oversight
   • Non-Profit Organization
   • State Regulations
   • Community Outreach
   • Financial Reports
   • Bed Facility
   • Financial Statements
   • Payroll
   • Strategic Plan
   • Human Resources
   • Healthcare
   • Financial Management
   • Program Development
   • Fund Raising

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage all accounting functions including those necessary for budgeting, financial analysis, property management and payroll for a non-profit.
   • Support revenue-generating activities, including oversight, planning and execution of special events.
   • Develop relationships with all executive level contacts in hospitals to develop sales opportunities to place interim and permanent healthcare leaders.
   • Maximize customer satisfaction in rehabilitation therapy.
   • Plan and coordinate monthly department meetings and various other events, including putting together PowerPoint presentations and print materials as needed.
   • Create correspondence, memos and other critical business documents, including editing existing and/or creating new PowerPoint presentations.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your interim executive director job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An interim executive director can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, interim executive directors' average salary in mississippi is 57% less than in hawaii.
   • Seniority. Entry-level interim executive directors 64% less than senior-level interim executive directors.
   • Certifications. An interim executive director with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an interim executive director's salary.

   Average interim executive director salary

   $117,453yearly

   $56.47 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level interim executive director salary

   $70,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 23, 2025

4. Writing an interim executive director job description

   A job description for an interim executive director role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an interim executive director job description:

   Interim executive director job description example

   Interim NHA/ED Envoy of Staunton
   
   Purpose of Your Job Position
   
   The Executive Director is responsible for management of the facility in a manner which exemplifies Consulate Health Care's standard of operational excellence. The primary purpose of the Executive Director is to direct the day-to-day functions of the facility in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern nursing facilities to ensure that the highest degree of quality care can be provided to our residents at all times.
   
   Job Functions
   
   As Executive Director, you are responsible for day-to-day clinical and administrative activities of the facility, including profit and loss responsibility and ensure compliance with all state and federal regulations. You will provide leadership and direct supervision to all facility staff.
   
   Duties and Responsibilities
   
   Promote the philosophy, mission, and objective of Consulate Health Care within and to customers outside the facility.
   
   * Establish financial and programmatic goals for the facility and conduct an annual evaluation of goal achievement.
   * Monitor Monthly performance of facility in relation to the budget and intervene as needed.
   * Recruit, hire, and provide orientation/training for a sufficient number of qualified staff to carry out facility programs and services.
   * Schedule regular meeting with direct report staff to provide supervision, ensure communication and to monitor facility operations.
   * Conduct and document annual performance evaluations on each direct report staff.
   * Maintain and guide the implementation of facility policies and procedures in compliance with corporate, state, federal, and other regulatory guidelines.
   * Work closely with sales/marketing staff to set strategies for promotion and expansion of the facility's programs/services within the community.
   * Maintain a file for and monitor incident reports.
   * Ensure adequate preparation for, and participate in, regulatory compliance surveys.
   * Satisfaction surveys, turnover, and key indicator reports indicate that Executive Director demonstrates a passion for caring towards employees, residents, families, visitors and the community at large
   * May be trained and assigned to perform the Customer Care Liaison duties as needed.
   
   Job Requirements
   
   * Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in healthcare.
   * Advanced degree in a healthcare related field preferred.
   * Must possess a current, unencumbered Nursing Home Executive Director's (Administrator) license of this State.
   * Must possess proven leadership ability with at least three (3) years as an administrator in either a long-term or subacute care facility.
   * Must possess demonstrated skills related to management, planning, budgeting, marketing and quality improvement.
   
   EEO/MFDV

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right interim executive director for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with interim executive directors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit interim executive directors who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your interim executive director job on Zippia to find and recruit interim executive director candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting interim executive directors requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 interim executive director

   Once you have selected a candidate for the interim executive director position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new interim executive director first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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