The Organization 

About American Association for Respiratory Care 

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is the leading professional association representing respiratory therapists and advancing the profession of respiratory care throughout the United States. Founded in 1947, AARC serves a membership community of more than 41,000 respiratory therapists, educators, researchers, managers, students, and industry leaders dedicated to improving patient outcomes through excellence in respiratory care. For nearly eight decades, the organization has been at the forefront of clinical practice, professional education, advocacy, research dissemination, and workforce development for a profession that plays a critical role across the continuum of healthcare delivery.

Headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, AARC serves as the national voice for respiratory therapists while supporting a broad community of clinicians and healthcare leaders working in acute care hospitals, long-term care settings, rehabilitation facilities, physician practices, home care, sleep medicine, neonatal and pediatric care, emergency response environments, and emerging healthcare delivery models. Through its advocacy initiatives, educational programs, accreditation services, publications, and member engagement activities, AARC works to advance the quality and accessibility of respiratory care while elevating the visibility and impact of the profession within the broader healthcare ecosystem.

Education has long served as the foundation of AARC's value proposition and strategic impact. The Association delivers a comprehensive portfolio of continuing education, professional development, accreditation, conferences, and learning opportunities that support respiratory therapists throughout every stage of their careers. As healthcare delivery continues to evolve, AARC remains focused on ensuring respiratory care professionals have access to the knowledge, competencies, and credentials necessary to meet increasingly complex patient needs.

In addition to education, AARC serves as a powerful advocate for the profession at the federal and state levels. Through legislative engagement, regulatory advocacy, workforce initiatives, and strategic partnerships, the Association works to advance policies that improve patient access to respiratory care services and strengthen the future of the profession. AARC's leadership and volunteer networks play an integral role in shaping the organization's priorities and extending its influence across the healthcare landscape. The Association is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and supported by an extensive leadership structure that includes specialty sections, committees, task forces, a House of Delegates, and a Board of Medical Advisors.

AARC seeks to continue strengthening its role as both a sophisticated membership organization and the leading advocate for the respiratory therapy profession. As healthcare transformation accelerates nationwide, the Association remains dedicated to supporting respiratory therapists, advancing clinical excellence, and ensuring the profession is positioned to meet the healthcare needs of future generations.

The Opportunity

Position: Chief Executive Officer

Location: Addison, TX (Greater Dallas Region)

Reporting Relationship: President, Board of Directors

Website: https://www.aarc.org/ 

Purpose of the Position

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) serves as the organization's chief executive, strategic leader, and primary ambassador, responsible for advancing the mission, strengthening the profession, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of one of the nation's most influential healthcare professional associations. Reporting directly to the President of the Board of Directors, the CEO is charged with leading a complex, member-driven organization that supports more than 41,000 respiratory care professionals through education, advocacy, professional development, accreditation, publications, and thought leadership. The CEO will partner closely with volunteer leaders, staff, members, industry partners, educators, policymakers, and healthcare stakeholders to ensure AARC remains the leading voice for respiratory care and a trusted resource for the profession.

As AARC enters a pivotal period of opportunity and transformation, the CEO will guide the organization through the evolving realities of healthcare delivery, workforce development, technology advancement, and member engagement. This leader will be responsible for strengthening AARC's position as both a financially sustainable enterprise and the premier professional home for respiratory therapists. Working in partnership with the Board of Directors and executive leadership team, the CEO will establish and execute strategies that drive membership growth, enhance the organization's educational offerings, diversify revenue streams, modernize technology infrastructure, elevate advocacy efforts, and reinforce the value of the profession across the healthcare continuum.

The CEO will serve as the primary steward of AARC's culture, people, and organizational effectiveness. This executive will build trust across a diverse network of stakeholders, foster collaboration throughout the organization, and strengthen alignment among staff, volunteer leadership, specialty sections, the House of Delegates, and industry partners. The next CEO will inherit a highly respected organization with a strong foundation in education, accreditation, and member service, while also being entrusted with leading thoughtful change that enhances organizational performance without compromising the culture, relationships, and mission that have fueled AARC's success. The successful candidate will be a visible, transparent, and authentic leader who listens before acting, values partnership, and possesses the strategic vision, operational discipline, and leadership presence necessary to position AARC for continued relevance and impact for decades to come.

From a governance perspective, the CEO will work closely with the Board of Directors to ensure strong organizational stewardship, effective execution of strategic priorities, sound financial management, and clear accountability against performance objectives. This leader will provide continuity across changing volunteer leadership cycles while maintaining a steadfast focus on AARC's mission, strategic future, and commitment to serving respiratory therapists and the patients whose lives depend upon their expertise.  

Key Responsibilities

The Chief Executive Officer will provide visionary, mission-driven, and disciplined leadership for AARC, ensuring the organization remains the premier professional association for respiratory care while operating as a high-performing, financially sustainable enterprise. In partnership with the Board of Directors, volunteer leaders, and executive leadership team, the CEO will guide the organization's strategic direction, strengthen its educational and advocacy impact, foster a culture of collaboration and accountability, and position AARC for continued growth and relevance within an evolving healthcare landscape.  

Executive Leadership

• Lead the development and execution of AARC's strategic vision, ensuring organizational priorities align with the evolving needs of respiratory therapists, healthcare systems, educators, students, and industry partners.

• Translate mission, strategy, and market opportunities into measurable outcomes that strengthen member value, organizational relevance, and professional impact.

• Anticipate emerging trends affecting healthcare delivery, professional education, workforce development, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and other technologies to proactively position AARC for future success.

• Balance innovation, growth, and operational discipline while preserving the mission-driven culture and organizational strengths that have historically defined AARC.

• Foster alignment across staff, volunteer leadership, specialty sections, committees, and governance bodies around common priorities and enterprise objectives.

Governance, Volunteer Leadership and Board Partnership

• Partner closely with the Board of Directors to support effective governance, strategic oversight, fiduciary responsibility, and organizational accountability, while maintaining distinction between the Board’s governance role and the CEO responsibility for operational leadership and performance.

• Foster productive, transparent relationships with volunteer leaders, the House of Delegates, specialty sections, committees, and advisory groups.

• Develop and strengthen member value proposition that drives acquisition, engagement, retention, loyalty, and connection to AARC across career stages, care settings, and interests.

• Provide timely and comprehensive information to the Board regarding organizational performance, financial health, strategic opportunities, and emerging risks.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to volunteer leadership while ensuring continuity and effective execution across changing governance cycles.

• Champion initiatives that will strengthen member recruitment, engagement, retention, and overall market penetration.

Financial Stewardship and Revenue Diversification

• Ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the organization through disciplined fiscal management, strategic investment, and operational excellence.

• Develop and implement strategies that diversify revenue streams across membership, education, meetings, sponsorships, partnerships, products, and other growth opportunities.

• Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, and performance management processes that support strategic priorities and prudent stewardship of resources.

• Establish clear performance measures and accountability systems that support sustainable organizational growth and operational effectiveness.

Culture and Talent Development

• Lead, inspire, and retain a high-performing executive leadership team and professional staff committed to excellence, innovation, and service.

• Foster a culture of trust, transparency, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement across the organization.

• Strengthen organizational alignment by breaking down silos, improving cross-functional collaboration, and ensuring staff are empowered to contribute to strategic outcomes.

• Promote professional growth, succession planning, and leadership development to ensure the long-term strength and stability of the organization.

• Champion data-informed decision-making and continuous process improvement across all areas of the enterprise.

Advocacy, External Engagement, and Industry Leadership

• Alongside the President, serve as a spokesperson and ambassador for AARC, representing the organization with members, healthcare leaders, industry partners, policymakers, educators, and regulatory stakeholders.

• Advance AARC's advocacy priorities and strengthen its influence on legislative, regulatory, and professional issues impacting respiratory care and healthcare delivery.

• Build and cultivate strategic partnerships that enhance the organization's reach, visibility, member value proposition, and long-term sustainability.

• Elevate AARC's national presence and reinforce its position as the leading voice for respiratory care through thought leadership, relationship building, and industry engagement.

• Advance initiatives that strengthen the respiratory care workforce and position the profession for the future, evolving models of care, career paths, new technologies, and opportunities to elevate the visibility, credibility, and impact of the profession throughout the healthcare ecosystem.

The Candidate

Experience and Professional Qualifications

AARC seeks a dynamic, mission-driven executive to lead one of the nation's largest and most influential healthcare professional associations during a period of significant opportunity and transformation. The next Chief Executive Officer will inherit an organization with a strong reputation, an engaged membership base of more than 41,000 professionals, a respected education enterprise, and a critical role in advancing the future of respiratory care. As healthcare delivery, workforce demands, educational models, and professional expectations continue to evolve, the CEO will be expected to guide AARC with a balance of strategic vision, operational discipline, financial acumen, and collaborative leadership. The successful candidate will understand how to operate a sophisticated membership organization while simultaneously serving as a visible champion for the profession and the individuals it represents.

The ideal candidate will bring a demonstrated record of senior executive leadership within a professional association, healthcare organization, membership society, certifying body, educational organization, nonprofit enterprise, or similarly complex stakeholder-driven environment. This leader will possess the ability to navigate governance structures, align diverse constituencies around common priorities, and translate strategic objectives into measurable organizational outcomes. Equally important, the successful executive will be a trusted relationship builder who values transparency, collaboration, and authenticity while creating a culture of accountability, innovation, and high performance. AARC values the importance of a leader who listens before acting, approaches change thoughtfully, and builds trust across staff, members, volunteers, and Board communities.

The next CEO must also appreciate the unique responsibility of leading an organization that serves as both a business enterprise and the national voice of a profession. Success will require balancing financial sustainability, revenue diversification, membership growth, and operational modernization with a steadfast commitment to advancing respiratory care, supporting professional excellence, and delivering exceptional value to members. 

Candidates should possess many of the following qualifications and characteristics:

• Progressive executive leadership experience within a professional association, membership organization, healthcare organization, nonprofit enterprise, educational institution, certifying body, or similarly complex stakeholder-driven organization.

• Demonstrated success partnering closely with a Board of Directors and navigating volunteer governance environments characterized by multiple constituencies and competing priorities.

• Strong business and financial acumen, including experience overseeing budgeting, forecasting, resource allocation, revenue generation, and long-term organizational sustainability.

• Proven record of developing and executing strategic plans that drive growth, operational effectiveness, organizational relevance, and stakeholder engagement.

• Experience leading membership-based organizations, including initiatives related to member recruitment, retention, engagement, and value creation preferred.

• Demonstrated success identifying and developing diversified revenue streams, including education, events, sponsorships, partnerships, publications, certifications, or other mission-aligned business opportunities.

• Track record of leading organizational change, modernization initiatives, and technology-enabled transformation while preserving organizational culture and stakeholder trust.

• Strong operational leadership skills with the ability to establish measurable goals, drive accountability, and achieve enterprise-wide results.

• Experience working within healthcare, allied health, clinical education, workforce development, professional credentialing, accreditation, or related sectors is preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to serve as an effective spokesperson, relationship builder, and ambassador with members, elected leaders, industry partners, healthcare executives, regulators, educators, and other external stakeholders.

• Exceptional communication, listening, and interpersonal skills, coupled with a transparent and collaborative leadership style.

• Proven ability to build, mentor, and retain high-performing teams while fostering a culture of trust, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• High emotional intelligence, sound judgment, personal humility, and an authentic commitment to servant leadership.

• Ability to successfully balance strategic thinking with execution, leading through influence while maintaining a strong sense of organizational stewardship and accountability.

• Demonstrated commitment to a long-term leadership opportunity and the patience to listen, assess, align, and build momentum before implementing significant organizational change.

• Knowledge of respiratory care is not required; however, candidates should demonstrate a genuine interest in healthcare, professional advancement, workforce issues, clinical education, and the future of the respiratory therapy profession.

Key Relationships

AARC Executive Leadership Team

• Chief Financial Officer

• Senior Vice President, Government Affairs

• Vice President, Information Technology

• Vice President, Business Development and Sponsorships

• Vice President, Education and Accreditation

• Vice President, Marketing and Communications

• Vice President, Meetings and Events

• Vice President, Membership and Customer Care

• Managing Editor, Respiratory Care

• Editor in Chief, Respiratory Care

• Senior Director, Governance and Strategic Initiatives, HOD Liaison

Education 

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is required.

• An advanced degree in business administration, healthcare administration, public health, nonprofit management, association management, education, or a related discipline is preferred.

• Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation or similar professional credential is considered advantageous.

Compensation

• The estimated base compensation will be $300k - $350k. AARC offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Application

• Interested and qualified candidates are welcome to submit an application to AARCCEO@KornFerry.com. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The American Association for Respiratory Care is an equal opportunity employer and committed to diversity and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, sexual orientation, protected Veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics

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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis. Artificial Intelligence tools may be used in connection with the recruitment process for this position.