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Senior Executive Officer, Individual and Family Support (SEO) - The Arc, Washington, DC

Posted: Wednesday, March 12, 2014


The Arc, the nation's leading nonprofit advocating on behalf of and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), is seeking an energetic, entrepreneurial, self-motivated and experienced professional to serve as Senior Executive Officer for Individual and Family Support ("SEO").  Working closely with other professional staff on self-managed teams, and tapping knowledge and expertise from throughout The Arc's nationwide network of chapters, The SEO will lead the start-up of a The Arc's Center on Future Planning. 

The initial focus of the Center will be to support the estimated 6-700,000 families in the United States where an adult with I/DD is living with aging family members and there is no plan for the individual's future.   The Center will empower aging caregivers to plan for the future of their adult son/daughter with I/DD, providing families with information, resources, and practical assistance in the following subject areas and more:  person-centered planning, guardianship and supported decision-making, housing/residential options and supports, special needs trust and representative payee services, financial planning, and personal care and independent living supports.

The SEO will also lead, plan and facilitate implementation of an expanding portfolio of programs and services that support people with I/DD and their families in planning for the services and supports they need to be included in their communities throughout their lifetimes.  This will include developing new initiatives that educate employers about the day to day challenges experienced by employees who support and/or care for a loved one with I/DD and engage the business community in devising solutions.   Knowledge of individual and family supports, creativity, entrepreneurship, excellent written and oral communications skills and ten (10) years business or organizational management experience required.  To apply, send letter of interest, resume, names of three references and two writing samples to [email protected].   EOE.  Minorities and persons with disabilities encouraged to apply. 


POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Summary

The Senior Executive Officer (SEO) will help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) secure the services and supports they need to be included in their communities throughout their lifetimes. 

The initial focus of the position will be on the start-up of The Arc's Center on Future Planning, an initiative to serve the estimated 6-700,000 families in the United States where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are living with aging family members and there are no plans for the individuals' futures.  The Center will empower aging caregivers to plan for the future of their adult son/daughter with I/DD, providing families with information, resources, and practical assistance in the following subject areas and more:  person-centered planning, guardianship and supported decision-making, housing/residential options and supports, special needs trust and representative payee services, financial planning, and personal care and independent living supports.

The Center's program components will include:

  1. Online Resource Center - an interactive/user-friendly website geared toward older learners, with robust, vetted content, including but not limited to subject guides and manuals, toolkits, FAQs, reports and white papers. 
  2. Telephone and Online Information and Referral - connecting people to help in their communities.
  3. Resource Database - a searchable, web-based database of sources for local-and state-based information, people, and related organizations. 
  4. Provider Database - a searchable, crowd-sourced review platform and quality rating system for local service providers.  
  5. Locally Delivered Planning Services - Best practices protocols for Chapters of The Arc to use ni providing a full range of future planning services within their local communities.  
  6. National Pooled Special Needs Trust - The Arc will create a master trust and provide operations, legal, financial, investment, and quality management structure and oversight to enable chapters of The Arc to provide beneficiaries with access to a pooled special needs trust.
  7. Trust Company Beneficiary Services - The Arc will develop protocols and business infrastructure to  provide private trust companies with outsource  assistance in servicing existing and future beneficiaries under individual special needs trusts.
  8. Training and Networking - The Arc will develop and provide interactive training and networking online through webinars, discussion boards and email lists, as well as in person through regional and national training events and conferences where families convene.
  9. Outreach and Public Education - The Arc will promote awareness of the new Center, as well of future planning issues and resources, directly and in collaboration with both national and local community partner organizations through their networks, websites and social media.
  10. Volunteer Advocate Network - The Arc will create a nationwide volunteer program, paring self-advocates with volunteers without disabilities to visit people with I/DD in community settings and monitor their satisfaction and quality of life.  

The SEO will also lead, plan and facilitate implementation of an expanding portfolio of individual and family support programs and services for people with I/DD and their families.  This will include developing new initiatives that:  (a) empower people with I/DD and their families as consumers of supports and services with the information and resources needed to make informed decisions and secure the assistance they need, (b) promote and advance self-determination, autonomy and community among people with I/DD, (b) advance and assure quality in programs services and supports, and (c) educate and engage the private sector in supporting employees who are experiencing the day to day challenges of supporting a loved one with I/DD.  

The SEO will work closely with other professional staff of The Arc's national headquarters on self-managed teams, as well as with executives and program staff from throughout The Arc's nationwide network of chapters,  The SEO reports directly to the CEO of The Arc and is a member of the Management Team.

About The Arc

The Arc is the world's largest nonprofit, community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including Down syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy and other diagnoses. The Arc has a network of about 700 chapters across the country promoting and protecting the human rights of people with I/DD and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.  In addition to individual advocacy and public policy efforts at the local, state and national level, The Arc is the largest provider of services and supports for people with I/DD and their families.

Essential Job Functions

  • Provide leadership, strategic direction, program/business design, budget formulation and oversight for all national initiatives relating to individual and family supports and services;
  • Facilitate, and actively participate in, implementation of major program initiatives by self-managed teams;
  • Develop and launch new program initiatives, including research, design, feasibility assessment, business process documentation, launch and ongoing support;
  • Develop and manage relationships with external partners, including state and local chapters of The Arc, clients and customers;
  • Participate in resource development, including identifying, cultivating, developing and sustaining relationships with corporate, foundation and individual donors;
  • Work collaboratively across departments;
  • Participate in Management Team of The Arc, including preparation and monitoring of organizational and project budgets, ongoing planning and evaluation;
  • Orient, train, mentor, support and supervise direct reports; mentor and support staff throughout the organization; and
  • Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

  • Knowledge of individual and family programs, services and supports for people with disabilities, or equivalent.
  • Creative leadership and entrepreneurial instinct
  • Minimum of  ten (10) years progressively responsible business or organizational management experience
  • Masters degree in relevant field  
  • Collegial team player with proven managerial and mentoring skills.
  • Ability to prepare and manage budgets.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment
  • Ability to produce under tight deadlines with multiple priorities.
  • Deep interest in issues and concerns of people with I/DD and their families
  • Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
  • Excellent supervisory, self-development, organizational and project planning and performance
    management skills
  • Working closely with other professional staff on self-managed teams, and tapping knowledge and
    expertise from throughout The Arc's nationwide network of chapters,

 

To apply, send letter of interest, resume, names of three references and two writing samples to [email protected].   EOE.  Minorities and persons with disabilities encouraged to apply.