SEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Chief Executive Officer, Orbis International

Req Number: 3LKO2M
Location: New York, NY
Posted: 5/6/2025
Category: Government/Not-For-Profit : Not-For-Profit
Job Type: Permanent

THE ORGANIZATION
About Orbis International
For over 40 years, Orbis International has worked around the world to prevent blindness and restore sight for people in places where eye care is out of reach, ensuring vision problems don’t make it harder to learn, earn a living, or simply enjoy life.

Our Vision: A world where everyone can access the eye care they need to thrive.

Our Mission: Orbis builds strong and sustainable eye care systems globally that put treatment and prevention within reach.

How We Fulfill our Mission: Orbis uses training and technology to assist under-resourced areas around the world to build sustainable and accessible eye care.

Founded and headquartered in New York City, Orbis is a global nonprofit with a $270M annual budget (approximately $50M in cash expenditure and $220M in gifts in kind) and 325 full-time employees, located across the United States and around the world. We are the only eye care nonprofit delivering sight-saving programming in over 200 countries and territories. Our values of accountability, commitment, innovation, integrity, and equity are the threads that connect our global team across geographies, languages, job functions, and time zones.

Why Vision?
Orbis is working to address a mounting global crisis: millions are losing their sight to preventable and treatable conditions. Globally, 1.1 billion people live with vision loss, and 90% of it is completely avoidable. Yet, despite medical advancements, the number of people affected is projected to soar to 1.7 billion by 2050, a staggering 55% increase. This crisis is not about a lack of solutions—it’s about a lack of access.

Nine out of ten people with vision loss live in low- and middle-income countries, where eye care remains out of reach for many. As populations grow, life expectancy rises, and lifestyle changes cause certain eye conditions to become more widespread, the gap between those who need care and those who can get it is only widening.

Access to eye care does more than save or restore sight; it can unlock new opportunities at school, at work, and it can improve quality of life. In some areas of the world, sight is even a matter of life or death. At Orbis, we believe it’s time to recognize eye care as a fundamental pillar of public health and overall well-being—essential, not optional.

Our Impact
Since our founding, Orbis has conducted tens of millions of eye screenings, performed eye surgeries and laser treatments for hundreds of thousands of patients, and trained hundreds of thousands of eye care professionals. The people Orbis trains go on to provide sight-saving care in their communities and, in many cases, go on to train eye care professionals themselves. In the past decade alone (2014-2023), Orbis-trained professionals and community health care workers have achieved:
  • 12.2 million+ eye screenings and examinations at community outreach events
  • 21.7 million+ eye care visits for patients at Orbis-supported health facilities
  • 621,000+ eye surgeries and laser treatments
  • 424,000+ trainings completed by doctors, other eye care professionals, and community health workers
  • 84 million+ antibiotic doses distributed to treat trachoma, a bacterial infection that can lead to blindness

Orbis’s Approach: Impact that Endures
At Orbis, we don’t simply provide eye care—we build the expertise and foundation needed to ensure it lasts- sustainable and exponential in its effect. We achieve this through:

  • Training: Orbis trains eye care teams—from health workers in rural clinics to eye surgeons in urban centers—so they can save and restore vision in their communities. One of the greatest challenges in global ophthalmology is the lack of an adequately trained workforce, but when eye care teams get the training they need, patients can get the care they deserve.
  • Technology: Orbis develops and scales access to innovative technology that has the power to revolutionize training for eye care professionals and treatment for patients. Too often, the tools with the power to transform lives are least available where the need is greatest.
  • Treatment & Prevention: Orbis puts eye care within reach through programs that serve communities where they are. To make a meaningful impact, quality care must be not only available, but also easily accessible.
  • Teamwork: Orbis works in collaboration with world-leading companies, governments, hospitals, distinguished medical experts, and other NGOs to carry out our mission, ensuring our impact endures long-term and becomes self-sustaining.

How We Deliver on Our Mission
The core pillars of Orbis’s work to build lasting eye care access:
  • Flying Eye Hospital: Orbis’s flagship program, the Flying Eye Hospital, is an ophthalmic teaching hospital on board an aircraft that brings world-class eye care education to eye care professionals worldwide. Accredited to top U.S. hospital standards, it features an operating room, classroom, recovery room, and high-tech simulation center.
  • Country Programs: Orbis’s country programs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America ensure people can access sight-restoring treatment and sight-saving preventive care. We establish vision centers in rural areas, deliver children’s eye health services, administer antibiotics to fight blinding diseases like trachoma, and much more.
  • Cybersight: Orbis’s award-winning telemedicine and e-learning platform, Cybersight, provides free, world-class training to eye care teams in more than 200 countries and territories. Through live and on-demand courses, interactive surgical mentorship, and an artificial intelligence tool for detecting eye diseases, Cybersight extends expert knowledge far beyond where in-person training can reach.
  • Volunteer Faculty: Orbis could not achieve our mission without our global network of more than 450 world-renowned medical volunteers—top experts in their fields—who generously donate their time to train and mentor eye care teams worldwide. Hailing from over 40 countries, these leading ophthalmologists, nurses, anesthesiologists, and biomedical engineers are ensuring providers at all levels have the skills to prevent and treat vision loss.

Innovative areas of our work that complement and strengthen our core programming include:
  • Peer-Reviewed Research: Orbis’s original research is regularly published in top-tier peer-reviewed journals, such as The Lancet Global Health and PLOS Medicine. What we learn informs our evidence-based approach to programming and innovation. Our findings also have implications that can strengthen outcomes for others in the eye care sector—and beyond.
  • Artificial Intelligence: Through our in-house AI tool, Cybersight AI, and partnerships with other AI companies, Orbis is transforming eye disease detection, making screenings faster, easier, and more accessible worldwide. By scanning routine images taken during eye exams, the AI can detect sight-threatening conditions like diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma in seconds—no specialist required.
  • Simulation Training: A vital part of Orbis’s education model, simulation training allows eye care teams to safely build skills and confidence before performing real surgeries. Using life-like manikins, artificial eyes, and virtual reality, training participants can refine techniques in a risk-free setting, improving patient outcomes. Orbis has even co-developed a portable, affordable VR training solution for cataract surgery specifically designed for low-resource settings that was featured in a Meta campaign highlighting global health innovation.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Position: Chief Executive Officer
Location: New York, NY
Reporting Relationship: Board of Directors
Website: https://www.orbis.org/

Purpose of the Position
The Chief Executive Officer of Orbis International is responsible for providing vision, inspiration, and leadership to ensure the organization innovates and continues to deliver impactful programs and services to meet the needs of our global community and fulfil our mission. In collaboration with the Board of Directors, senior management, and staff, the CEO will drive the ongoing success and growth of the organization by formulating and executing on strategies for program growth and future eye-health care needs, revenue growth, human resources, and financial operations. The CEO leads and partners with the senior management team to ensure programmatic and fundraising growth, as well as the effective execution of the organization’s strategic plan, fiscal responsibility, and strong, people-centered organizational culture.

The CEO serves as Orbis International’s chief representative and a primary spokesperson, increasing our visibility with donors, media, policymakers, partners, the global health community, and the public, and inspiring our Orbis team. They will play an active leadership role in developing new areas of program growth and sources of revenue for the organization to fund growth by strengthening relationships with existing donors and helping to identify and secure new funding sources in the private and public sectors. The CEO will be a strategic, dynamic, accomplished, high-energy, and creative senior executive with the ability to create a supportive and positive culture, rooted in trust, well-being, and shared purpose, for Orbis staff across the globe.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Vision for Program and Funding Growth, Business Planning & Execution
  • Provide strategic and creative leadership and direction for the continued development of Orbis International and our global country offices and affiliates to build and ensure sustainable programmatic and revenue growth.
  • Shape and execute upon Orbis’s strategic vision and business plan to drive program and revenue growth; drive a collaborative process with the Board of Directors, Orbis' affiliates, Volunteer Faculty and staff. Use performance metrics and quality indicators to guide operational decision-making.

Fundraising

  • Lead the organization in developing and cultivating fruitful and long-term relationships with individual, foundation, corporate, and government donors. Builds and maintains key relationships to ensure funding development strategies are achieved.
  • Cultivate meaningful personal relationships with major donors and is active in the solicitation process. Maintain strong relationships with other financial and in-kind donors who provide critical resources to Orbis International to support our mission.
Brand Awareness, External Relations, & Communications
  • Serve as a primary ambassador and spokesperson of Orbis International to positively influence a global spectrum of external audiences and constituencies, including media outlets, national and international forums, partners, and the public to generate visibility, support, donors, and other resources.
  • Champion and support ongoing initiatives to develop greater brand awareness for Orbis International, especially among constituencies who are unaware of the organization and our impact.
  • Serve as a global thought leader by developing expertise in trends shaping global eye health, related policy discussions, and other topics relevant to Orbis (e.g., technology and innovation).
Talent Management
  • Within approved budgetary parameters, develop an efficient and effective organizational structure to carry out the organization’s strategic plan.
  • Motivate and inspire staff, and foster the development of a unified Orbis team while ensuring an environment of high performance and measurable results.
  • Attract, retain, and develop high-caliber talent. Create an environment where staff are engaged and supported to be able to positively impact objectives.
Innovation and Partnerships
  • Builds, nurtures, and sustains strategic partnerships with Orbis International’s Board, affiliates, country offices, program partners, government agencies, corporate partners, Volunteer Faculty, industry thought leaders, and other NGOs by creating and supporting programs and initiatives in which there is a strong value proposition for mutual benefit. Embraces technology, demonstrates digital savviness, and drives creative opportunities for unique collaboration.

Programs
  • Provide strategic leadership to staff regarding the design and development of Orbis’s programmatic strategy, including investigating potential new areas of interest and implementing approved programs.
  • Work with senior staff to ensure programmatic excellence and maximum impact are achieved by establishing operational benchmarks, setting timelines, obtaining required resources, and evaluating effectiveness.
  • Ensure programs are designed, implemented, monitored, and reported accurately, making the best use of funds for programs that clearly fulfill the mission of Orbis.
Financial Management, Resources & Investment
  • Together with the Board's Finance Committee and the CFAO, develop plans that maximize the financial strength of the organization without adversely affecting other criteria of success. Communicate the key performance levers and manage these measures to rationalize programs. Oversee the implementation of budgets and monitor progress and changes related to budgets.
  • In conjunction with the Board’s Finance Committee and the CFAO, develop strategies and policies to achieve superior investment performance and grow overall earnings each year. Execute consistently against annual operating goals.
  • In conjunction with the Executive Leadership Team, efficiently manage financial and people resources and ensure effective and transparent financial and other key metrics reporting to the board and other interested constituents.
Governance & Board Relations
  • Effectively partner with the Board to provide the necessary visionary and strategic leadership and oversight for Orbis International to grow and fulfill our mission.
  • Serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors, prepare agendas and materials for all Board meetings, and attend all Board and Committee meetings.
  • Assist with Board recruitment and engage Board members in Orbis International’s mission.

Compliance
  • Ensure that Orbis establishes and operates under policies and procedures to guide efficient operations.
  • Ensure that Orbis complies with all accounting, regulatory, legal, and government requirements, and reports the organization’s activities in a timely manner to the Board.

THE CANDIDATE
Professional Experience, Qualifications & Competencies
  • 10-15 years of proven executive management and leadership with a strong business and financial acumen in a complex, multi-stakeholder organization. A deep commitment to the overall mission of Orbis International and its programs. Passion and respect for global eye care issues. Ability to quickly become conversant in the organization’s work and to communicate with all relevant constituencies.
  • Proven success in developing and executing a strategic plan for program and revenue growth, and coalescing stakeholders around shared goals.
  • Fundraising experience at the highest levels; proven success generating meaningful revenue and cultivating new relationships to build a diversified donor and investor strategy, with the ability to communicate a compelling vision for investing in Orbis International.
  • Demonstrated experience working successfully with major donors, corporations and foundations, including government and other bilateral and multilateral funders.
  • Proven ability to serve as a principal spokesperson and brand ambassador, including with media, in global forums, and among the general public.
  • Ability to build bridges and create innovative relationships with Orbis' affiliates, country offices, Volunteer Faculty, strategic partners, donors, corporations, foundations, government and community leaders about the impact of Orbis International’s work.
  • Experience, knowledge, and passion of the international development and health sector. Demonstrated ability and success in working with nonprofit organizations, corporations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and across geographies.
  • Successful track record of recruiting, retaining, inspiring, motivating, and leading a cohesive and collaborative global team in fostering an environment of collaboration, accountability, trust, and integrity. Excellent people management and motivating skills.
  • Demonstrated growth mindset with ability to create and maintain standards of high performance and accountability, and foster innovation, continuous learning, and improvement.
  • Exceptional board relations and management experience; an understanding of how to energize influential leaders, leverage the collective power of the organization, and engage the Board in resource mobilization efforts.
  • Demonstrated experience managing a multi-source budget of similar scale and complexity to Orbis International. Financial savviness and a proven track record of successfully managing a significant and sustainable financial and operating model, in partnership with a board committee and investment advisors, that will allow Orbis International to grow and prosper.
  • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills. Confident and effective at communicating across all levels of the organization, presenting to Boards, and other diverse external constituencies.
  • Demonstrated experience acting as a global citizen with an international perspective and the maturity to be culturally sensitive, and to collaborate with and motivate people of many different cultures and backgrounds.
  • Extraordinary judgment, integrity and the highest ethical standards, embodying the spirit and mission of Orbis.
  • Experience in and knowledge of effective crisis-management techniques, emergency-preparedness best practices, and risk management.
  • Excellent analytical, abstract-reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Strong listening skills, empathy, patience, and the ability to lead through influence and by example.
  • Ability to innovate; has redefined businesses through novel ideas/partnerships to build new capabilities, products, or business models. Has a clear vision of how to leverage technological advancements for the benefit of Orbis’s mission.
EDUCATION / CERTIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree is required. Advanced degree (e.g., MBA, MPH or MD) is preferred but not required.

COMPENSATION
Estimated salary: $400,000 – $500,000. A competitive benefits package will be offered.

PROCEDURE FOR CANDIDACY
Orbis International has retained Korn Ferry to lead this search. Screening will begin in April 2025 and continue until an appointment is made. Applications (including resume or CV and a cover letter addressing interest), nominations, and inquiries should be submitted electronically to orbis_ceo@kornferry.com or sophia.carr@kornferry.com.

Orbis International is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome diversity in our workforce and encourage all qualified applicants to apply who reflect the five Orbis values of accountability, commitment, innovation, integrity, and equity.

******

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.

APPLY NOW