Reach Out and Read Chief Executive Officer

About Reach Out and Read

In deep partnership with a network of clinicians, Reach Out and Read leverages the near-universal reach of the pediatric well-child visit. It uses children’s books and shared reading to support parents and caregivers in strengthening healthy relationships with their infants and young children from birth through 5 years old.

Reach Out and Read works directly with pediatric care providers to share the lifelong benefits of parents reading aloud with their children daily. And that guidance is sorely needed: Only a third (37 percent) of U.S. babies — and barely a quarter (27 percent) of those in low-income households — are read to every day.

Nurturing, language-rich interactions like shared reading give young children a foundation for success — building early language and literacy skills; teaching curiosity, patience, and empathy; and creating deep bonds between parents and their children. By integrating our evidence-based model into pediatric care and providing the tools and encouragement families need to read aloud together, we can transform pediatric care practices, foster healthy families and communities, and give children of all backgrounds and means a better start to life.

Born 35 years ago in Boston, Reach Out and Read is the only national pediatric literacy model endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, that reaches 4.6 million children across every state in the country through 39,000 medical providers. The nonprofit recently set a strategic goal to double its impact by 2030, to serve 10 million young children — 50 percent of all U.S. children from birth to 5.

The Impact:

• Reach Out and Read program sites are located in 6,500 clinics, safety net hospitals, medical systems, and other healthcare settings in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

• Reach Out and Read serves 4.6 million children and their families annually.

• More than 7.7 million new, developmentally appropriate books are integrated into well-child visits with families annually.

• 39,000 clinicians currently participate in Reach Out and Read

• Our peer-reviewed body of evidence demonstrates that Reach Out and Read parents are two-and-a-half times more likely to read regularly to their children, and that children experiencing Reach Out and Read show enhanced language development.

To learn more about Reach Out and Read, visit www.reachoutandread.org.

The Opportunity

As Chief Executive Officer (CEO), you will lead Reach Out and Read through a transformational period by implementing our ambitious strategic plan - developed collaboratively by staff and board members. This comprehensive plan charts our path to serving 10 million children by 2030, marking a significant expansion of our impact. Your leadership will focus on executing this strategy, building and inspiring a high-performing, inclusive team, driving sustainable fundraising growth, and advancing our organizational vision.

Reach Out and Read is uniquely positioned as a vital partner in pediatric primary care, working alongside its longstanding network of committed clinicians to integrate early literacy into healthcare, strengthen parent-child bonds, and promote lifelong learning. Our nationwide clinical network has evolved into diverse operational models - including programs directly under Reach Out and Read Inc., independent 501(c)(3) affiliates, institutional partnerships, and AAP chapter collaborations - reflecting our grassroots growth and regional healthcare variations. With a strong strategic plan, the next CEO will focus on executing this vision with precision and impact. This includes ensuring the program scales with fidelity, integrates seamlessly into healthcare systems, and sustains long-term success through strategic partnerships, fundraising, and efficient operations.

We seek an experienced and collaborative executive to serve as CEO. The CEO must be an inspiring and effective communicator capable of building and nurturing strong relationships internally and externally. This includes overseeing Reach Out and Read's leadership team and affiliate and program partners, as well as partnering with the Board of Directors while cultivating relationships with key regional and national funders to ensure financial stability and growth.

The ideal candidate will be a results-driven leader with a track record of successfully guiding national organizations of similar size, complexity, and trajectory. A key component of this role will be fostering partnerships across diverse communities