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Executive Director - Friendship Home, Inc., Norwell, MA

Posted: Friday, September 23, 2016


Organization Overview

Friendship Home enriches the lives of adults with developmental disabilities and their families by providing quality respite care and support services in a safe and caring environment. It also seeks to improve the lives of everyone by advocating for meaningful inclusion in the community.

Friendship Home was co-founded in 1999 by Wilma Goodhue and Joan Mullare, mothers of adult children with developmental disabilities, who envisioned a Home with a Heart where families with loved ones with developmental disabilities could access respectful and quality care for them. Respite offers families who provide care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, an opportunity to take a break for a few hours, a weekend or a week to rest, reenergize, and attend to things that they are unable to otherwise accomplish while caring for their loved one. Equally important, it gives our members a chance to become more independent, meet new friends, and nurture relationships.

Friendship Home also provides opportunities for our members to gain confidence, self-esteem, and contribute their talents to their communities. In all aspects of its mission, our Home with a Heart is committed to creating an environment of warmth, love, enthusiasm, and a sense of community that is an important part of who we are.

Today, Friendship Home serves more than 200 Massachusetts families and operates with a $2.1M budget, generated by state contracts as well as private pay and donations; a dedicated and talented staff team of 50; and the leadership of a 14-member Board of Directors. In addition, Friendship Home is supported by a robust group of volunteers and community partners, known as our Circle of Friends, who provide support in all areas of the organization.

 Friendship Home offers a variety of programs and services, including:

  • Home Away from Home overnight respite center, which provides 24-hour care for up to 10 guests on weekends and weeklong stays
  • Social Recreation, including weekly Friendship Club meetings, monthly theme parties, and weekend outings, where members gather to socialize and build friendships with peers
  • Bridges to Work, which enables members to build the skills necessary to attain and retain meaningful employment and currently supports individuals working with 30 employment partners in the community
  • Agency with Choice, which qualifies Friendship Home to provide families with an increased level of self-determination when they assume shared responsibility with Friendship Home for the hiring and management of the employee who provides services to their loved one  

Position Summary

Friendship Home is seeking a dynamic, energetic, relationship-oriented and strategic leader to guide and grow the organization, ensuring its continued impact in the community while navigating a complex and evolving regulatory environment. Working with the staff and Board, the Executive Director will be accountable for establishing a vision for the future of Friendship Home and for implementing strategies to achieve that vision, while ensuring the agency maintains its caring and participant-centered culture. With a commitment to collaboration and transparency, the Executive Director will draw on superb interpersonal skills in order to act as the chief advocate and external face of Friendship Home.  S/he will serve as the primary ambassador to all stakeholders including families, partners, donors, and government agency funders. S/he will offer a broad array of organizational leadership skills, including the ability to partner effectively with staff leaders across all functional areas; ensure programmatic excellence; oversee the organization's financial stability and growth; and create an effective talent strategy that empowers and maximizes the staff.

Key Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with staff and the Board on implementing strategic plans and developing an effective business model with mission-aligned opportunities for growth
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, support and commitment to participant-centered care across all interactions with internal and external stakeholders
  • Energize staff across the organization, providing effective support to ensure that team members meet and exceed performance goals and that their successes are recognized
  • Serve as Friendship Home's lead ambassador, effectively communicating our vision in a compelling and warm manner that inspires current and potential donors, partners and supporters, as well as the individuals and families who are at the core of Friendship Home's community
  • Partner with the Development Director and Development Committee to create effective fundraising plans and cultivate key donor relationships  
  • Collaborate with the Senior Program Director to ensure the delivery of high-quality, participant-centered programs and services
  • Identify available state and federal funding sources to sustain and grow program development and service delivery, maintain strong relationships with government funders, and ensure compliance with all regulations, contracts, and audit standards
  • Work with the Finance Director and Board to oversee Friendship Home's financial health and growth strategy
  • Act as a professional resource to the Board, encouraging ongoing involvement, Board development, and effective Board governance practices

Qualifications

  • Visionary and inspirational leader who believes passionately in the mission of Friendship Home models a strong sense of accountability
  • 10+ years of progressive responsibility in senior management roles, with prior experience developing and implementing organizational or departmental strategies and managing teams and activities across multiple functional areas
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills and experience in building relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including funders, donors, families, and partners
  • Ability to value, understand, and empathize with the myriad of challenges that Friendship Home participants and their families face
  • Compelling communication style with outstanding oral, written, presentation, and public speaking skills
  • Diplomatic influencer who is able to engage a wide range of internal and external stakeholders around a common goal
  • Experience in human services environments, preferably with a population with developmental disabilities, and exposure to managing operations, relationships, contracts, and compliance with federal and state agencies
  • Strong staff leadership skills, with supervisory experience that demonstrates the ability to mentor and coach staff toward success in their roles
  • Superior professional judgment and discretion required to manage risk and sensitive information
  • Sound financial management capabilities, including experience developing and managing budgets
  • Experience in working effectively with a Board of Directors
  • Bachelor's degree required

To Apply 

Please upload a resume and thoughtful cover letter, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position and stating how you heard about this opportunity, both in Word format, addressed to the Search Committee at http://commongoodcareers.force.com/careers/ts2__Register?jobId=a0K1600000gcN85&tSource=

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.


Friendship Home offers a competitive salary and benefits, commensurate with experience and skills.
Friendship Home is an equal opportunity employer.


About Commongood Careers
Friendship Home has partnered with Commongood Careers to conduct the search for an Executive Director. Commongood Careers is a mission-driven search firm that supports the hiring needs of high-impact nonprofits. With an approach that leverages robust talent networks, recruitment and search management expertise, and a deep understanding of our clients' missions and cultures, we help organizations secure the talent they need to create greater social impact. Since our founding in 2005, Commongood Careers has led more than 700 searches at 275 organizations in 33 states, making us one of the most experienced and dedicated nonprofit search firms in the country. Learn more about nonprofit job opportunities at Commongood Careers.