Executive Director - Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council, Denver, CO
Posted: Friday, December 8, 2017
The Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council believes that people with developmental disabilities should fully participate in community life. Men, women, and children should be able to enjoy family life. Children and adolescents should be able to attend their neighborhood general education classroom, as do their siblings. Adults should have the ability to choose which jobs they want. All should choose where they live, have friends, and live as independently as possible.
A Little History
In the early 1970s, Congress decided that it was in the national interest to offer people with developmental disabilities the opportunity to live in typical homes and communities, and to exercise their full rights and responsibilities. It passed the Developmental Disabilities Act which, among other things, established Councils in each State to help plan services and to advocate for the civil and human rights of people with developmental disabilities and their families. The Council is an advocacy group and does not provide direct services as that would be a conflict of interest.
Who We Are & What We Do
The Governor appoints the 24 Coloradans serving on the Council. 60% of members are people with developmental disabilities and their family members. Others are representatives of agencies and groups that work for people with disabilities. Council members are men and women who have exceptional insight into the obstacles that confront people with disabilities throughout their lives. Indeed people with disabilities face a long list of problems and issues when it comes to education, employment, transportation, housing, recreation, and health care. Working as a Council, we continue to discover and promote creative ways that persons with disabilities, families, service agencies, and federal, state and local governments can work together so that people can live independent, fulfilling lives.
Current Challenges Facing the Council
The Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council operates in a challenging and uncertain environment. Among the issues which the Council and new Executive Director will confront together are:
• maintaining a balance between the sometimes conflicting priorities of the Council's multiple
constituencies,
• participating in design of the system that promotes community inclusion of people with developmental
disabilities,
• decreasing the use of seclusion and restraint in all services and supports while promoting positive
behavior support,
• decreasing isolation and segregation of people with intellectual developmental disabilities.
Structure, Funding, and Function
The Executive Director reports to and is supervised by the Chairperson and the Executive Committee of the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council. The Executive Director is responsible for the oversight and coordination of all activities of the organization, including: the organization's status as the designated state agency to receive, disperse, and report federal funds from a formula grant award through the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), Department of Health & Human Services; implementation of the Council's 5-year State Plan as required under the Federal Developmental Disabilities Act; and performance of all duties and responsibilities as stipulated by the Council By-Laws and Policies and Procedures. The Executive Director serves as the lead liaison to all federal, state, and regional agencies and organizations that plan for and/or budget for supports and services for persons with developmental disabilities. Internally, the Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations and performance of the organization that honors the directives of the Council at large.
Specific Areas of Responsibility
I. Policy / Advocacy - The Executive Director is responsible for ensuring the effective development and advocacy of public policy positions of the Council that further the Council's State Plan goals and objectives and/or address the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities. The Executive Director is responsible for engaging the Council, family members, and persons with disabilities in the policy making process as advocates, as the voices of families need to be heard directly. The Executive Director is responsible for ensuring the coordination of all policy and advocacy efforts with AAIDD, state agencies, the Colorado Legislature, Office of the Governor, state and local disability advocacy organizations, and the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD).
Objectives for demonstrating meeting these responsibilities include the following:
• Providing or assuring staff provision of effective legislative education and advocacy activities to support
Council policies before decision-making bodies.
• Providing or assuring staff provision of effective education and advocacy activities at the federal level
either directly, or via the AAIDD and/or NACDD.
• Participating or assuring member/staff participation on select policy-related groups that will further the
goals and objectives of the Council, prioritizing the recruitment of member participation whenever
possible.
II. Program Planning & Implementation - The Executive Director has oversight for the development of the Council's Five Year State Plan and the annual Program Performance Report to AAIDD. The Executive Director ensures that the Council's progress in meeting the State Plan goals and objectives is periodically assessed and that amendments to the State Plan are submitted as necessary. The Executive Director ensures that the Council is consistently and effectively planning and implementing strategies to achieve the goals and objectives of the Five Year State Plan, and that the strategies/initiatives are adequately managed.
Objectives for meeting these responsibilities include the following:
• Ensuring that a system for programmatic and contractual management of Council-funded projects is
implemented and managed in a manner that makes certain that the Council funded projects achieve
their intended outcomes, comply with contractual requirements, and meet the federal obligation and
liquidation schedule.
• Ensuring that a system is implemented that effectively solicits and distills the collective wisdom of the
membership to inform the Council's vision.
• Oversees preparation of the annual Program Performance Report (PPR) in a manner that accurately
presents the Council's work for the past year and is submitted on a timely basis.
• Ensuring that the Council members are sufficiently informed of the progress of the Council-funded
projects and achievement of the State Plan goals and objectives. This information will be provided in a
variety of formats to ensure that it is understandable to all.
• Ensuring that the Council's State Plan is based on thorough planning, reflects the values of the D.D.
Act, and provides direction for the work of the Council.
III. Program Administration - The Executive Director is responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of an operational infrastructure that effectively and efficiently supports and facilitates the Council's work to achieve its State Plan goals and objectives. The Executive Director provides lead staff support to the Chairperson in performing the duties and functions of that position. The Executive Director assures all day-to-day operations within the offices of the organization are in compliance with the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (D.D. Act), Council By-laws, applicable state laws and requirements, and Council Policy and Procedures. The Executive Director assures adequate resources and supports are provided and available, including adequate risk management protection for the Council. The Executive Director assures that all Council members are appropriately supported in order to insure the most effective utilization of their skills, interests, and abilities, and the accomplishment of the Council's State Plan goals and objectives.
Objectives to demonstrate meeting these responsibilities include the following:
• Ensuring the effective management of the Council's financial, business, and office operations; of the
programmatic and contractual management system for Council-funded projects; of the Council's public
policy and advocacy activities; and of the Council's communication, marketing, and public relations
activities.
• Ensuring that the work of the Council and its committees is effectively planned and implemented.
• Providing sound reliable advice and guidance to the Council and its members relative to meeting the
intent and requirements of the DD Act, Council By-Laws, applicable state laws, and Council Policies
and Procedures.
• Providing lead staffing responsibilities for the Executive Committee and full Council meetings and
ensures that the work of these committees and Council is effectively implemented.
• Supporting the governance structure of the Council by working effectively with the Council at large and
its Executive Committee to include the resolution of differences/conflict to optimize working relationships
within and outside of the Council.
IV. Staff Management & Supervision - The Executive Director is responsible for the recruitment and supervision of all Council staff and contractors, as well as assuring timely performance evaluations and support necessary for staff to perform the work of the Council. The Executive Director is responsible for the recommendation of staff/contractor hiring consistent with the Council Policies and Procedures. The Executive Director is responsible for the coordination and effectiveness of all functions of the Council.
Objectives for meeting these responsibilities include the following:
• Ensuring that staff receives the training, support and guidance necessary to effectively perform the
responsibilities of their positions.
• Ensuring the effective performance of staff in carrying out the work of the Council, including ensuring
that the office runs efficiently, with established office hours.
• Ensuring that performance evaluations are completed.
V. Fiscal - The Executive Director assures appropriate oversight in the receipt, disbursement and reporting of all funds, including federal funds through AAIDD and the Federal DD Act.
Objectives for meeting these responsibilities include the following:
• Ensuring that the financial, budgeting, and accounting operations for the Council are managed in a
manner that ensures the Council's compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, Council
Policies and Procedures, and requirements; and that the federal obligation and liquidation schedule is
met.
• Effectively managing the Council's relationship with the Designated State Agency in order to remain in
compliance, while at the same time advocating for the needs of the Council with fiscal, travel and
personnel rules.
General Qualifications
• Experience in independent advocacy provision; preferably individual and system advocacy.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing professionally, effectively, and in a clear and articulate
manner. This includes but is not limited to formulating and articulating in a convincing manner, the goals
and objectives of the Council.
• Broad based educational background; BA/BS, MA/MS, and/or comparable life experience.
• Experience working in an executive capacity.
• Knowledge/experience honoring and engaging the need for persons with disabilities to be in charge of
their own lives. Demonstrated commitment to the principle(s) of Independent Living and self-directed
decision-making (including but not limited to meaningful daily activities, employment, and community
engagement)
• Experience engaging persons with diverse life experiences and perspectives in decision-making and
advocacy activities.
• Ability to exercise leadership internally within the organization and externally on behalf of individuals
with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills that provide the ability to clearly and accurately
interpret government regulations, financial data, and operational needs, and develop viable solutions.
• Ability to closely manage a budget.
• Considerable knowledge of organizational management and experience with personnel supervision.
Additional Expected Qualifications
• Considerable knowledge of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act).
• Strong knowledge of best practices in positive behavior supports, inclusion, and progressive policies.
• Considerable knowledge of the purpose and functions of state Councils on Developmental Disabilities
under the DD Act.
• Considerable knowledge of intellectual and developmental disabilities, including issues and systems that
affect the ability of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live independently and
productively in an integrated community.
• Demonstrated knowledge of transitional complexities present throughout the lifespan of individuals and
their families/guardians (ex. child; child to adult; aging).
• Considerable knowledge and background about advocacy, public policy, state legislation, and the
activities of state agencies which administer the systems and/or advocate for individuals with intellectual
and developmental disabilities.
• Knowledge of system planning and applicable federal laws, rules and regulations, and ability to interpret
and apply this knowledge to the Council's operations and State Plan.
The benefit package includes standard state employee benefits/ PERA
The salary is commensurate with experience.
The position is not yet open officially, this is an informal notice of the opening. Job announcement will follow.
For more information about the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council, please visit our website (www.coddc.org).
The Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.
