Executive Director

Executive Director

The Executive Director will be expected to actively evaluate how the organization operates and lead efforts to modernize processes, systems, technology, and business practices in ways that improve service, efficiency, accountability, and organizational sustainability. The Executive Director will be expected to take a proactive and entrepreneurial approach to strengthening and diversifying the organization's financial resources rather than relying exclusively on traditional or historical funding sources. The Executive Director will serve as a highly visible and proactive ambassador and will be expected to intentionally expand the organization's presence, relationships, and influence throughout the communities it serves. And finally, the Executive Director should demonstrate a forward-looking approach to organizational leadership and possess the ability to preserve the values and mission of the agency while continually evaluating how the organization can improve.

Organizational Modernization & Continuous Improvement

• Regularly evaluate existing operational and administrative processes to identify inefficiencies, outdated practices, unnecessary manual work, duplication, and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead the modernization and streamlining of organizational processes, policies, workflows, documentation, and internal controls.
• Establish a culture of continuous improvement in which employees are encouraged to identify problems, recommend solutions, and challenge processes that no longer effectively serve the organization or the people it supports.
• Identify opportunities to automate or digitize appropriate administrative processes and reduce dependence on inefficient paper-based or manual systems.
• Evaluate and implement technology solutions that improve communication, scheduling, documentation, financial management, data collection, reporting, employee productivity, service delivery, and organizational oversight.
• Ensure technology investments are practical, secure, accessible, cost-effective, and aligned with the organization's strategic priorities.
• Develop appropriate implementation plans, training, and employee support when introducing new systems, processes, or technology.
• Establish meaningful operational and program metrics and use data to identify trends, measure results, identify opportunities, and guide decision-making.
• Periodically benchmark organizational practices against other successful nonprofit, human services, and IDD organizations to identify opportunities for improvement and innovation.
• Maintain awareness of emerging technology, including responsible applications of artificial intelligence and automation, and evaluate opportunities to use these tools appropriately while protecting confidential and sensitive information.
• Ensure organizational systems and infrastructure evolve as the needs of the people served, employees, funders, regulators, and community change.

Funding Development & Financial Sustainability

• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy to strengthen and diversify the organization's funding base.
• Proactively identify new federal, state, local, foundation, corporate, and private funding opportunities.
• Research and pursue grants that align with the organization's mission, strategic priorities, and capacity.
• Identify opportunities for new programs, services, partnerships, contracts, or other initiatives that could generate sustainable revenue while advancing the mission.
• Develop relationships with foundations, corporations, businesses, government agencies, community organizations, individual donors, and other potential funding partners.
• Strengthen individual giving and donor-development efforts, including cultivating new donors and maintaining relationships with existing supporters.
• Explore sponsorships, planned giving, major gifts, fundraising campaigns, community partnerships, and other appropriate sources of financial support.
• Evaluate potential funding opportunities not simply on the availability of funding, but on mission alignment, long-term sustainability, organizational capacity, and expected community impact.
• Develop compelling funding proposals and clearly communicate the organization's needs, outcomes, accomplishments, and community impact.
• Work with the Board to strengthen Board involvement in fundraising, donor cultivation, community connections, and resource development.
• Monitor changes in Medicaid, government funding, grants, reimbursement structures, and other funding environments that could create either opportunities or financial risks for the organization.
• Establish measurable goals for funding diversification, grant development, donor engagement, and other resource-development activities.

Proactive Community Outreach & Relationship Development

• Develop and execute a proactive community outreach and engagement strategy.
• Build and maintain relationships with individuals and families, businesses, employers, healthcare organizations, educational institutions, government agencies, elected and appointed officials, nonprofit organizations, foundations, civic organizations, and other community partners.
• Regularly seek opportunities to introduce the agency and its mission to individuals and organizations that may not currently know or engage with the organization.
• Increase awareness of available programs and services among individuals with IDD, families, referral sources, and community organizations.
• Develop stronger referral networks and partnerships that connect individuals and families with needed services and resources.
• Seek opportunities for the agency to participate in community events, professional organizations, business groups, collaborative initiatives, public forums, and other activities that increase visibility and strengthen relationships.
• Develop partnerships with local employers and businesses that may create employment, volunteer, sponsorship, funding, or community-inclusion opportunities for individuals served by the agency.
• Maintain relationships with existing community partners while continually developing new relationships and opportunities.
• Proactively communicate organizational successes, outcomes, needs, and stories of impact through appropriate digital, traditional, and community communication channels.
• Strengthen the organization's website, social media, digital communications, and other outreach tools to increase community awareness and engagement.
• Serve as a knowledgeable spokesperson and advocate on issues affecting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
• Maintain an active external presence rather than waiting for community organizations, donors, families, or potential partners to approach the agency.

Innovation & Growth Mindset

The successful Executive Director will:

• Be comfortable asking, "Is there a better way to do this?"
• Respect the organization's history while recognizing that past practices may need to evolve.
• Demonstrate curiosity about emerging practices, technology, funding models, partnerships, and service-delivery approaches.
• Encourage thoughtful innovation and calculated risk-taking consistent with the organization's mission and resources.
• Be willing to make difficult decisions when existing programs, systems, processes, or practices are no longer effective or sustainable.
• Seek input from employees, individuals served, families, Board members, and community stakeholders before implementing significant organizational changes.
• Translate ideas into practical implementation plans with clear ownership, timelines, resources, and measures of success.
• Demonstrate resilience and adaptability when initiatives require adjustment or do not initially achieve the intended result.
• Continually look beyond the organization's current operations to identify what the agency will need to remain relevant, financially sustainable, technologically capable, and impactful in the years ahead.

Minimum Requirements for Position:

• Bachelor's degree and/or 5 years' experience in the Developmentally Disabled field.
• Candidates will have a positive track record of effectively leading a performance and outcome-based organization and its staff.
• Provide example of having developed and operationalized strategies that have taken an organization to the next stage of growth.
• Good record of interaction with family and volunteers.
• Past success working with board of directors with the ability to cultivate relationships with existing board members.
• Successful leadership, administrative, coaching and relationship management experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and persuasive communication with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills.
• Strong financial knowledge.
• Strong marketing, public relations, and team building skills, including the ability to engage in a wide range of stakeholders and cultures.
• Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable and innovative approach to business planning.
• Passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven and self-driven.

Preferred Requirements for Position:

• Experience in working with community, state, federal services and systems which serve our individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Current CPR, First Aid and Physical Intervention Alternatives, or the ability to obtain certification.