A Unique Opportunity

Positive Impact Health Centers (PIHC) is the largest provider of care for people affected by HIV in Georgia. For more than three decades, PIHC has been a leader in providing comprehensive, patient-centered care and advocating for programs and funding that transform lives. PIHC serves over 11,000 individuals across 21 Georgia counties with a budget of over $200 million, providing nationally recognized gold standard care and results.

PIHC's remarkable growth trajectory—more than 20% year over year for the past decade—reflects both the organization's excellence and the urgent, expanding need to provide care. New medications enable people with HIV to become "undetectable" and live longer, healthier lives. So PIHC’s mission is far from completed: some 20,000 HIV-positive individuals who reside in Georgia are not yet in care. This animates the organization’s passion to bring more individuals into treatment with a current target of growing to 15,000.

PIHC operates with an extraordinary culture that prioritizes people above all else. Staff, patients, volunteers, and partners are seen, heard, and valued. This is an organization where the CEO and COO give their cell phone numbers to clients, where staff strive for team achievements more than individual credit, and where "if you value it, I value it" is more than a saying—it's a way of operating.

This is a time of promise and challenge for PIHC. Founder and CEO Larry Lehman will transition from CEO to an advisory role on November 30, 2026, after 24 years of visionary leadership. Current COO Joey Helton becomes CEO-elect this year, on December 1, 2025; and will step into the CEO role on December 1, 2026. Joey joined PIHC a decade ago and has played an instrumental role in the organization’s growth from $5 million to over $200 million.

The Candidate

Although the COO role requires healthcare operational leadership rather than clinical practice, PIHC seeks a leader who deeply understands HIV care, healthcare systems, and the unique challenges of serving vulnerable populations. The ideal candidate has proven experience managing complex, multi-site operations with budgets of $100 million+ and 100+ employees.

The Board and leadership team are committed to ensuring the COO reflects PIHC’s culture and the community PIHC serves. In addition to passion for PIHC's mission and values, the ideal candidate will bring:

Professional Experience

Healthcare operations leadership

• Multi-site healthcare operations management

• Budget management at $100M+ scale

• Experience with 100+ employee organizations

• Understanding of HIV care, Ryan White Program, insurance navigation, and pharmacy operations

• Knowledge of healthcare quality metrics, patient-centered medical home models, and compliance requirements

• Familiarity with healthcare technology systems (PIHC uses Cerner, Paylocity, and multiple other platforms)

Data-driven management

• Strong analytics and metrics orientation

• Experience building dashboards, KPIs, and accountability systems

• Ability to use data to drive quality improvement

• Track record of meeting deliverables and demonstrating outcomes

• Understanding of productivity and efficiency measures

Organizational development and management

• Proven ability to lead diverse, multi-site teams

• Experience managing department directors and senior leaders

• Track record of restructuring organizations for effectiveness

• Change management and culture-building skills

• Experience with mergers, acquisitions, or integrations

• Talent development, succession planning, and retention strategies

Strategic thinking

• Forward-thinking and forecasting skills

• Ability to "connect the dots" across complex systems

• Strategic planning and implementation experience

• Innovation and problem-solving orientation

• Experience balancing growth with quality

External Engagement Experience

• Networks and relationships within HIV care community in Georgia

• Connections to HIV organizations, partners, and peers nationally

• Understanding of Georgia and Atlanta political landscape

• Advocacy experience or comfort with advocacy role

• Awareness of policy environment affecting HIV care

Technology, Systems, and Process Skills

• Tech-savvy with experience implementing or upgrading healthcare IT systems

• Understanding of workflow optimization

• Experience with integration challenges across multiple platforms

• Data systems and reporting tools knowledge

Personal Characteristics

Leadership presence

• Inspiring, supportive, and empathetic leadership style

• High emotional intelligence and strong listening skills

• Calm by nature and calm under fire

• Emotionally grounded—no yelling, no bullying, no freakouts

• Confidence balanced with humility and low ego

• Collaborative and inclusive approach

Outstanding communication skills

• Strong communicator across all levels and audiences

• Transparent, honest, and frank in communication style

• Comfortable with difficult conversations and holding people accountable

• Able to disagree respectfully

• Skilled at giving honest, compassionate feedback

Values Alignment

• Patient-centered and staff-centered orientation

• Deep commitment to people as the #1 asset

• Comfortable with and committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Respectful of everyone regardless of background or circumstance

• Comfortable working with populations experiencing homelessness, substance use, mental health challenges, and HIV

• Understanding of LGBTQIA communities and issues

• Passionate about health equity and social justice

Cultural Fit

• Team-oriented—focuses on "we" not "I"

• Participatory management style

• Ability to roll up sleeves and work alongside staff

• Open-door approach

• Values-driven decision-making

• Belief that culture is critical to success

• "If you value it, I value it" mindset

Relationship-Building Skills

• Trust-builder internally and externally

• Mentor and coach to others

• Supportive supervisor who helps staff process stress

• Ability to foster collaboration across departments

• Networking skills and relationship development

• Coalition-building orientation

Resilience and adaptability

• Able to pivot and be flexible

• Comfortable with ambiguity and change

• Resilient in face of political and policy challenges

• High positive energy

• Growth mindset

• Innovative and contemplative in approach

For potential consideration or to suggest a prospect, please email: PIHC@BoardWalkConsulting.com or call Kathy Bremer, Patti Kish, or Lysondra Somerville at 404-BoardWalk (404-262-7392).