Executive Director - NAMI Guilford

NAMI Guilford is a trusted, community-based affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. For more than 40 years, NAMI Guilford has provided education, support, advocacy, and awareness for individuals living with mental health conditions and the families who care for them.

NAMI Guilford’s work is grounded in the belief that mental health is for everyone
. Through peer- and family-centered programs, community education, and collaborative partnerships, the organization reduces stigma, builds understanding, and connects people to hope and help.

NAMI Guilford is entering a pivotal moment in its history. With new funding, growing community demand, and the opening of its first-ever physical space
, the organization is hiring its first full-time Executive Director to lead the next chapter of growth, sustainability, and impact.

NAMI Guilford is opening its first dedicated physical space as a direct result of significant investment from Trillium Health Resources and other partners. This space is intended to serve as a community hub for mental health education, peer support, and connection, expanding NAMI Guilford’s visibility, accessibility, and impact across the county.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, structured as a membership-based network with national, state, and local affiliates. NAMI Guilford is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliated with NAMI National and NAMI North Carolina, operating with its own Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, and funding.

While aligned with national standards and evidence-based NAMI programs, NAMI Guilford County is locally governed and community-driven, allowing it to respond directly to the unique needs of Guilford County. The Executive Director will work within this affiliate model—collaborating with state and national partners while leading local strategies, operations, and community impact.

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The Executive Director (ED) will serve as the chief executive and public face of NAMI Guilford, reporting to a 10-member Board of Directors. The ED will lead a small professional staff of one full-time and one part-time individual and work closely with a strong volunteer base of approximately 40 individuals. Together, they will guide the organization through an important transition—from a long-standing, fully volunteer-driven model to a more structured and sustainable organization with professional staffing working alongside volunteers, diversified funding, and an expanded community presence.

This is a hands-on, highly relational leadership role suited for a seasoned nonprofit leader who is energized by building infrastructure while honoring the grassroots history. The ED will balance strategy and execution, collaboration and accountability, and growth with deep respect for peer and family voices.

• Lead NAMI Guilford through its next phase of organizational development by establishing clear systems, processes, and roles while preserving the heart, values, and peer-centered nature of the organization.
• Partner with the Board of Directors as a strategic thought partner to clarify priorities, strengthen governance practices, and support the transition from a working board to a governing board, with shared accountability for organizational health and direction.
• Build and sustain shared vision and alignment across the Board, staff, volunteers, peers, and community partners.
• Oversee day-to-day operations, including budgeting, financial management, compliance, and risk management, ensuring strong organizational stewardship and sustainability.
• Recruit, supervise, and support a team of two staff, fostering a healthy, mission-driven, and collaborative workplace culture.
• Provide clear leadership and support to volunteers and peers, honoring the unique strengths and dynamics of lived-experience leadership through structure, communication, and appreciation.

• Serve as a visible, trusted spokesperson and ambassador for NAMI Guilford across…