CEO

Job Description

Job Description

St. Gerard Center for Autism Job Description

Chief Executive Officer

Job Overview : The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides strategic and operational leadership to guide St. Gerard Center for Autism (SGCA) in achieving its mission and long-term organizational goals. Working in partnership with the Board of Directors and leadership team, the CEO oversees the organization’s operational, financial, administrative, and organizational functions to support high-quality services, staff leadership, operational effectiveness, and long-term sustainability.

The CEO collaborates closely with leadership staff, Board members, development leadership, and key organizational partners to support strong internal operations, financial accountability, organizational stability, strategic priorities, and long-term sustainability. This position is responsible for fostering a healthy organizational culture, implementing strategic priorities, supporting organizational sustainability, and representing the organization professionally within the community and broader service environment.

Reports To: Board of Directors

Supervisory Responsibilities: CFO, CCO, Revenue Cycle Manager, Director of HR, Office Manager, and Director of Client and Family Services

Work Schedule: This position requires flexibility to meet organizational, operational, community, and staff leadership needs, including occasional evening and weekend responsibilities.

Employee Classification: Full-Time, Salary, exempt

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in nonprofit leadership, business, healthcare administration, behavioral health, education, organizational leadership, or related field preferred.

• Minimum 7-10 years of progressive senior leadership experience within nonprofit, healthcare, behavioral health, autism services, or related service environments.

• Demonstrated experience leading organizational operations, financial oversight, staff leadership, and multi-department operational management.

• Experience working collaboratively with Boards of Directors, leadership teams, consultants, community partners, and organizational stakeholders.

• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, strategic planning, and decision-making skills.

• Demonstrated ability to lead through organizational growth, operational transition, restructuring, or change management initiatives preferred.

• Experience supporting organizational sustainability through operational oversight, financial accountability, and strategic resource management preferred.

• Familiarity with autism services, ABA operations, Medicaid and insurance-funded services, payer systems, or related clinical service environments preferred.

• Experience fostering organizational culture, accountability, collaboration, and operational consistency across teams and departments preferred.

Essential Responsibilities: The primary duties of the position include:

Organizational Leadership & Strategic Oversight:

• Leads the organization’s operational, administrative, and strategic functions in alignment with SGCA’s mission, organizational priorities, and long-term sustainability goals.
• Implements strategic initiatives, operational improvements, and organizational priorities in collaboration with the Board of Directors and leadership team.
• Ensures organizational systems, staffing structures, operational processes, and internal communication practices support effective service delivery, accountability, and operational consistency.
• Ensures organizational expectations, operational practices, and internal communication standards are implemented consistently across departments and teams.
• Oversees organizational performance through operational dashboards, key performance indicators (KPIs), financial reporting, and data-informed decision-making.
• Promotes organizational accountability, leadership alignment, professionalism, and continuous improvement across departments and teams.
• Supports organizational readiness related to audits, accreditation requirements, payer expectations, regulatory processes, and operational reviews.

Financial Management and Sustainability:

• Oversees organizational financial operations in collaboration with the CFO, Finance Committee, and leadership team to support financial accountability and long-term sustainability.
• Leads annual budgeting, operational planning, staffing alignment, and resource management efforts in support of organizational priorities and financial performance.
• Monitors financial, operational, and revenue cycle performance to identify risks, trends, operational priorities, and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensures appropriate financial oversight, operational controls, compliance review processes, and accountability measures are maintained throughout the organization.
• Collaborates with leadership staff and financial partners to align operational decision-making with organizational sustainability and strategic goals.

Board Relations:

• Serves as the primary operational liaison to the Board of Directors and Finance Committee.
• Provides regular organizational, operational, financial, and strategic updates to the Board to support informed governance and decision-making.
• Collaborates with the Board regarding organizational priorities, strategic planning, operational risks, and long-term sustainability initiatives.
• Supports Board effectiveness through transparent communication, organizational reporting, and implementation of Board-approved initiatives.

External Relationships & Strategic Partnerships:

• Represents SGCA professionally with community partners, organizational stakeholders, external agencies, referral partners, and service providers.
• Develops and supports collaborative partnerships that strengthen organizational visibility, community engagement, referral relationships, and operational effectiveness.
• Collaborates with development leadership, Board members, and organizational partners to support strategic initiatives, fundraising efforts, and community relationships.
• Communicates organizational priorities, operational initiatives, and strategic goals effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

Leadership & Organizational Culture :

• Provides leadership, direction, accountability, and support to organizational leadership staff and administrative departments.
• Establishes clear organizational expectations, operational priorities, communication standards, and leadership accountability across departments.
• Supports leadership development, employee engagement, retention efforts, and organizational stability in collaboration with Human Resources and leadership staff.
• Leads organizational change management, restructuring initiatives, and operational alignment efforts as appropriate.
• Fosters a professional, collaborative, mission-driven organizational culture that supports high-quality services, operational effectiveness, and long-term sustainability.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Performs additional leadership responsibilities, strategic initiatives, and organizational duties as appropriate to support SGCA’s mission and operational needs.

Benefits

• Health insurance, employer pays 90%
• Retirement 403(b) with matching contributions
• Paid time off & Holidays
• Vision and Dental insurance
• Life Insurance
• Accident, Cancer, Critical Illness, and Short-Term Disability insurance

Compensation

Salary range: $115,000-$125,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.