State Director - Georgia, The Arc, Atlanta, GA

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 State Director - Georgia. The State Director will start-up a new state office of The Arc in Georgia. S/he will build and lead a growing, vibrant and effective movement of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), their parents, siblings and family members, and the professionals and organizations that serve them, to promote and protect the civil rights of people with I/DD and to actively support their inclusion and participation in their communities throughout their lifetimes. The State Director will work closely with board and staff leaders, self-advocates, activists and other volunteers from 18 local chapters of The Arc to develop and advance a state-level public policy agenda and to mobilize stakeholders in support of that agenda as well as The Arc's federal Public Policy Agenda. S/he will also foster public awareness about the needs, issues and concerns of people with I/DD and their families, and encourage, assist and support local chapters of The Arc. The State Director will be an employee of The Arc of the United States, Inc. S/he will be responsible for leading and facilitating a self-directed team that include staff from across the national organization that together comprise The Arc Georgia State Office Team, and will be mentored and managed by the CEO of The Arc or his designee. S/he will be guided and supported by a State Advisory Board.

Essential Job Functions

The Director will have a diverse portfolio of responsibilities which include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

• developing and advancing a state-level public policy agenda to advance the rights of people with I/DD and secure the programs, services and supports they need on a daily basis;
• representing The Arc before decision makers and opinion leaders in Georgia, including elected and appointed government officials at the national, state and local level;
• conducting outreach, recruit, organize and mobilize stakeholders in support of that agenda;
• establishing strong, supportive working relationships with volunteer and staff leaders of local chapters of The Arc, including supporting their programmatic and organizational development;
• building trusted relationships with media representatives and serving as a spokesperson for the state office on matters of state and local concern;
• working collaboratively with national office communications staff, generating content for and establishing and maintaining a robust presence for The Arc Georgia in the community, using traditional communications and social media;
• establishing and maintaining strong working relationships with other developmental disabilities organizations, including academics centers, providers, the state DD council, the protection and advocacy agency, parent and self-advocacy organizations;
• working collaboratively with national office chapter organizing and affiliate relations staff to develop and implement strategy to build The Arc movement in Georgia by recruiting new chapters and individual members to join the organization;
• working collaboratively with national office development staff to secure funding to sustain and increase program operations, including assistance with identifying, cultivating and sustaining relationships with individual, foundation and corporate donors, and with proposal development and grant writing;
• working collaboratively with national office chapter leadership and professional development staff to provide ongoing support to strengthen organizational and programmatic performance of local chapters and their leaders;
• working collaboratively with national office program staff to support extension of existing program initiatives into Georgia and participate in the development of new programs and projects;
• working collaboratively with national office financial, human resources and operations staff to secure and manage additional personnel, facilities and resources to expand The Arc Georgia operation; and
• performing other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

A successful candidate for State Director - Georgia will be committed to the mission of The Arc and possess the following qualifications, expertise and experience:

• a Juris Doctorate, Masters in Public Policy, or equivalent in education and experience;
• at least five (5) years of relevant professional experience;
• entrepreneurial instinct, strategic and visionary thinker;
• experience with an organizational start-up highly desired;
• experience advocating before members of the executive and legislative branches of government in Georgia highly preferred;
• experience building coalitions, associations, or federations, and/or with grassroots and community organizing;
• excellent oral and written communications skills, including demonstrated ability to persuasively and effectively communicate public policy concepts and information to diverse audiences;
• experience facilitating group process with committees, work groups, task forces, community groups, or other formal or informal groups;
• deep interest in issues and concerns of people with I/DD and their families;
• knowledge of the system of funding and delivery of human services, generally, and preferably of programs, services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities;
• ability to prioritize and complete work with minimal supervision, manage multiple tasks, set priorities and meet deadlines;
• collegial team player with genuine commitment to working in partnership with colleagues;
• excellent listener, patient, flexible, respectful;
• ability to understand the needs and expectations of both internal and external stakeholders, including funders; and
• excellent mentoring, self-development, organizational and project planning and performance management skills.

Location and Travel

The State Director will be located within commuting distance of the state capital and state agency offices in the Atlanta metropolitan area, initially working from a home office or other temporary location. The State Director, in collaboration with national operations staff, will identify and establish a suitable permanent location for the Georgia State Office consistent with available resources in accordance with plans to be developed. The State Director must have access to means of transportation as needed to travel statewide. Occasional national travel may also be required.

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 665 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.

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.