Job Description

President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Knollwood – Washington, DC

A Life Plan Community Operated by the Army Distaff Foundation

Search Partner: Korn Ferry

About the Organization:

Knollwood is a nationally respected, mission-driven Life Plan Community located in northwest Washington, DC, and operated by the Army Distaff Foundation. Since 1959, Knollwood has served retired military officers and their families through a full continuum of care: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing, and Memory Support. Rooted in service and supported by a Financial Assistance Fund, Knollwood ensures that no resident leaves due to financial hardship. The organization pairs stability with innovation, offering personalized wellness, hospitality-forward service, and a commitment to aging with dignity.

The Opportunity:

Knollwood is seeking a dynamic, strategic Chief Executive Officer to lead a values-based transformation that elevates resident experience, workforce engagement, and community impact. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO will shape the organization’s future through adaptive leadership, strong fiscal oversight, and next-generation senior living strategy. This is a singular opportunity to lead a culturally significant organization with a proud military legacy and a national reputation for quality. Knollwood is proudly recognized as a 5-Star rated community by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services —a standard of excellence achieved by only a select group of providers nationwide. In addition, U.S. News & World Report has named Knollwood among the Best Nursing Homes for both Long-Term Care and Short-Term Rehabilitation , underscoring our consistent clinical quality and resident outcomes.

Further affirming our commitment to our team, Knollwood is a certified Great Place to Work® for 2025–2026, based on direct feedback from staff across departments. This designation reflects the culture of trust, respect, and purpose we strive to uphold every day—for those who live here and those who serve.

Key Leadership Responsibilities:

• Advance a resident-first culture across the full continuum of care through accountable, personalized, and hospitality-informed service.
• Lead strategic growth initiatives, including technology-enabled care, workforce modernization, and multi-generational program design.
• Ensure long-term financial resilience through disciplined fiscal management, philanthropic strategy, and alternative revenue development.
• Champion workforce excellence by attracting, developing, and retaining a high-performing, mission-aligned leadership team.
• Elevate Knollwood’s external profile through thought leadership, strategic partnerships, and community engagement at the local and national levels.
• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and DC regulatory frameworks, emphasizing transparency, safety, and resident protections.
• Foster a culture of inclusion, ethics, and accountability, aligned with Knollwood’s military and nonprofit roots.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

• Significant executive leadership experience in a Life Plan Community or complex senior services environment; full campus or multi-site responsibility preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in strategic transformation, resident experience design, health care operations, and financial sustainability.
• Track record of integrating innovation in wellness, technology, and intergenerational programming.
• Successfully led an organization through the COVID-19 pandemic
• Deep understanding of nonprofit governance, public policy, and value-based care in aging services.
• Strong relationship-building skills with internal and external stakeholders including donors, legislators, regulators, and resident councils.
• Unwavering integrity and emotional intelligence with a proven ability to lead through complexity and change.
• Military service or demonstrated affinity for military culture is highly valued and desirable.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in health administration, nursing, business, or related field strongly preferred.

Why Lead Knollwood:

• Mission-rich culture honoring military service and national defense through high-quality aging services.
• Unique location adjacent to Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC—offering access, prestige, and natural serenity.
• Organizational stability, robust philanthropy, and full CCRC licensure underpinned by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 5-Star rated skilled nursing team.
• Forward momentum with investments in smart campus technology, hybrid care models, and DEI in aging.
• Board and Foundation support committed to legacy preservation and innovation acceleration.

Search Contact:

This retained search is led by Korn Ferry’s executive search consultants Jon Sammons and Caroline Ellison.

To express interest or nominate a candidate, please contact Korn Ferry at jon.sammons@kornferry.com.

SE#510694552

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