The Gateway Foundation (Gateway) has partnered with WittKieffer to seek a dynamic, innovative and inspirational President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the largest national nonprofit provider committed to reducing substance use disorder (SUD) and co-occurring mental health problems through effective and efficient treatment programs. This executive has an opportunity to change the trajectory of many lives and ensure the highest level of treatment services are provided, leading one of the country's most sophisticated and complex nonprofit organizations that is dedicated to providing healing and hope to individuals, families and communities affected by SUD and co-occurring mental health problems.  In simplest terms, the why of Gateway's work is to save lives.

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Gateway Foundation provides life-saving SUD treatment to over 36,000 individuals a year in eight states for the last 54 years. During that time, it has only been led by two CEOs, demonstrating a history of leadership stability. Gateway has a strong balance sheet, employing 1,400 workers with $110 million in operating revenue, over $131 million in assets, $32 million in cash reserves, and $56 million in investments.

Gateway is organized into two major divisions: the Community Division and the Corrections Division. The Community Division has steadily earned a base of community and government support that enabled them to expand its reach across the state of Illinois since the ‘70s. Drawing from science and research-based models, Gateway practices innovative and specialized treatment modalities with their approach to care being built around their patients, adapting to their needs such as dual diagnosis, trauma, and family services. Over the last five decades, Gateway has opened a series of programs that have allowed it to offer the full continuum of care stretching from north to south in Illinois serving adolescents and/or adults in community-based settings throughout the state. The Corrections Division has continued to grow and currently consists of 78 treatment and service locations in seven states – Delaware, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Texas, and Wyoming. The Division’s growth is due, in large part, to the high-quality treatment and support they provide and a number of national recognitions for the outcomes demonstrated by their work. Since 2016, the Corrections Division has expanded services in 3 additional states and served over 118,000 clients in their correctional programs.

With a passion for and commitment to the highest quality of care for patients and their families, the Gateway CEO will embrace and personify the mission, values, and collaborative culture of Gateway. The new CEO will be responsible for leading all aspects of Gateway as the organization works to be the nation's leading treatment provider, helping to create access to affordable, high-quality healthcare for substance misuse and mental health treatment for all who need it. This executive leadership position requires a dynamic, collaborative, visible, energetic, and seasoned professional with extensive healthcare experience who appreciates the unique needs of a complex addiction treatment and recovery provider and has empathy for those who are in recovery or are struggling for recovery.

Prior experience as a CEO or an executive with extensive board interaction is preferred. Candidates must have a strong and successful track record in operations and strategic planning. Experience with multiple sites, healthcare delivery, and philanthropy will all be beneficial. We seek individuals with strong emotional and social intelligence who have demonstrated an ability to connect with individuals in a meaningful way at all levels of an organization. Additionally, because of the visibility and national prominence of this position, the ideal candidate will have a capacity for effective public advocacy and will have demonstrated success as a spokesperson to donors, the public, news media, political leaders, and related audiences. This is a career-defining role for an executive committed to excellence and innovation in the addiction treatment and recovery industry. 

Confidential inquiries, nominations, and expressions of interest can be submitted to the WittKieffer Candidate Portal by clicking here. For additional questions, please contact the consultants supporting this search, Jim King and Sarah Zielke, through the office of Trey Wilson, via email at twilson@wittkieffer.com.

Gateway Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets.