Chief Growth Officer

Chief Growth Officer, Dwyer Workforce Development

Overview

Who we are :

Dwyer Workforce Development (DWD) is a national nonprofit redefining what’s possible in workforce development for healthcare. With bold vision, entrepreneurial leadership, and measurable results, we’re building a new model—one that delivers lasting impact at scale.

Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, DWD has already served over 8,000 scholars with extraordinary results :

• 81% complete their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training
• 86% launch meaningful healthcare careers

And we’re just getting started. By 2030, our goal is to reach 100,000 total Dwyer Scholars.

We don’t just train—we change lives. What sets DWD apart is our integrated model : comprehensive case management, wraparound services, and long-term support across a growing national footprint. We’re lean, nimble, well-resourced, and building a generational movement to address America’s healthcare staffing crisis.

We operate with the urgency and ambition of a high-growth startup, backed by a strong financial foundation and a leadership team committed to excellence, equity, and systems-level change.

The Market Opportunity

The United States is facing a healthcare workforce crisis of unprecedented scale. With an aging population, increased demand for frontline caregivers, and persistent barriers to entry for underserved communities, the gap between healthcare workforce needs and available talent continues to widen.

Dwyer Workforce Development is uniquely positioned to address this challenge. Through a data driven, outcomes-focused model that integrates comprehensive training, wraparound case management, and long-term career support, DWD is closing critical workforce gaps while creating life-changing opportunities for individuals.

The organization’s early success—supporting over 8,000 scholars with industry-leading graduation and job placement outcomes—demonstrates both the efficacy and scalability of its approach. With operations already active in seven states and a vision to reach 100,000 scholars by 2030, DWD is entering a pivotal phase of national expansion.

The next CGO will play a critical role in enabling this growth, helping to strengthen operational systems, scale infrastructure, and position DWD as a national leader in solving one of the most urgent talent challenges in the U.S. economy.

Position Objective

Position Objective

DWD is seeking a Chief Growth Officer who will operate and lead the internal engine of the organization and translate our strategy and roadmap into scaled, sustainable, and replicable execution similar to the scope of a COO. This is a hands-on, high-impact leadership role responsible for overseeing, scaling and elevating the daily operations, talent strategy, systems, and cross-functional performance of a 40+ person organization expected to grow dramatically. The CGO will be the operational architect and executional force that helps DWD mature its infrastructure and prepare to scale nationally—with a goal of growing from 8,000 to 100,000 Dwyer scholars served by 2030. This is not a figurehead or back-office role—this person will be on the ground, shoulder-to-shoulder with a committed team, accountable for driving results with rigor and compassion.

Key job responsibilities

Organizational Leadership & Strategic Execution

Serve as a trusted thought partner to the CEO and senior leadership team to operationalize DWD’s vision and strategic priorities

Develop and execute an actionable operational roadmap that aligns with the organization’s growth plan, including staffing, systems, structure, and processes to support national expansion

Establish clear metrics, reporting frameworks, and accountability mechanisms to ensure consistent execution and performance across all functions

Operational Oversight & Infrastructure Development

Oversee and continuously improve day-to-day operations across all departments to ensure consistency, quality, efficiency, and scalability

Implement and institutionalize systems, policies, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to support a high-performance, distributed organization

Drive cross-functional alignment, streamline workflows, and promote operational excellence throughout the organization

Create and deliver a best in class operational road-map for the organization

Team Leadership & Talent Strategy

Directly manage and mentor a team of department heads across key functions including case management, programs, training, partnerships, operations, and development

Build a high-performing leadership bench and instill a culture of collaboration, accountability, and results

Formalize hiring processes and partner with the external HR provider to strengthen talent acquisition, onboarding, and performance management practices

Culture, Communication & Change Management

Foster a culture of transparency, clarity, and trust. Ensure consistent internal communication and alignment on goals, priorities, and progress

Lead by example with high emotional intelligence, modeling inclusive, supportive, and mission-driven leadership

Support organizational change by introducing structure and clarity without disrupting the entrepreneurial energy of the team

Technology & Systems Enablement

Identify and implement solutions that improve service delivery, data tracking, workflow automation, and program scalability

Partner with internal leaders and external advisors to modernize DWD’s tech stack in alignment with operational goals and scholar outcomes

Growth Planning & National Expansion

Guide operational planning for expansion into new states and markets. Develop frameworks to assess readiness, resource needs, and infrastructure requirements

Optimize delivery models to ensure consistency and quality as DWD scales its scholar footprint from 8,000 to 100,000 by 2030

Play a critical role in aligning national partnership development, funding strategy, and capacity building with operational execution

Education, Experience & Other Qualifications

Proven executive-level operations leadership experience , ideally within a high-growth, service-oriented organization

Demonstrated success rapidly scaling an organization from a location (multi state), employee, and revenue perspective including leading through structural and cultural change

Experience designing and implementing scalable systems, processes, and SOPs across multiple departments or sites

Strong track record of translating strategy into execution, including building operational roadmaps and performance frameworks

Experience managing and building cross-functional and high performing teams, with direct oversight of multiple departments (e.g., programs, operations, HR, partnerships, training)

A leadership style rooted in accountability, clarity, and collaboration, with examples of setting expectations, building team culture, and addressing underperformance

Familiarity with outcomes-based models, workforce or education systems, or healthcare-related operations is strongly preferred

Experience working with or around boards, investors, or funders; private equity or mission-driven for-profit experience a plus

Technologically fluent : comfortable leveraging systems and tools to enable scale, data visibility, and efficiency

Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred

Leadership Attributes

Strategic Execution & Operational Rigor : Demonstrated ability to translate organizational vision into scalable systems, infrastructure, and processes. Brings a proven track record of leading complex service organizations through periods of accelerated growth and transformation

Growth-Stage Leadership Experience : Experience navigating the challenges of scaling an organization. Understands the operational, cultural, and structural shifts required to maintain excellence at scale

People-Centric with High Accountability Standards : Balances empathy and accountability. Skilled in building and developing high-performing teams, setting clear expectations, and cultivating a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth

Entrepreneurial and Solutions-Oriented : Possesses a builder’s mindset, with a passion for operational excellence. Comfortable in ambiguity and adept at designing systems, structures, and teams to support organizational goals

Mission-Driven and Culturally Aligned : Deeply aligned with DWD’s commitment to equity, access, and outcomes. Brings a collaborative, humble leadership style that fits a purpose-driven, fast-moving culture

Technologically Fluent : Familiar with leveraging technology to improve organizational efficiency, scalability, and data-informed decision-making. Not a technologist by trade, but a champion for tech-enabled growth

Clear, Effective Communicator : Strong written and verbal communication skills. Able to deliver clear direction and feedback while fostering trust, psychological safety, and shared accountability across teams

Compensation & Benefits

The Chief Growth Officer will receive a competitive compensation package, including a base salary, performance-based bonus they will help ideate and create, and a full benefits package.

Base Salary : $200,000-$230,000 Bonus $30-$45K

Travel & Location Expectations

The DWD’s team is in the office 3 or 4 days a week in-person. Typically, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with occasional quarterly national and company wide team meetings. Given the priority to build a high performing culture and team and to actively engage and lead the internal organization to drive scale and transformational change the in office requirement might tend to be more than the average. Office located in Baltimore, Maryland.

Contact

Michelle Clay

Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist

Stanton Chase

410-718-8293

m.clay@stantonchase.com

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