Chief Executive Officer, Project Genesis, Inc.

Posted: January 31, 2012
Location: Willimantic, Conn.

The Organization

Founded in 1991, Project Genesis (PG) is organized as a nonprofit 501(c) 3 whose mission is “dedicated to providing individualized support and training which empower people with disabilities to successfully meet their needs, achieve their desires and enjoy the full range of life experiences within their communities.”

Project Genesis’s vision for the future includes the following:

• Be the provider of choice to individuals with disabilities
• Expand its reach to service new populations, enter into new collaborations and expand its service territory while continuing to provide the highest caliber of services for which the agency is known
• Continue to be the best place of employment for its staff through meaningful work and continual learning opportunities

Widely respected for professional excellence and integrity, PG, the award-winning agency, has been recognized for superior service provision by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Service’s Acquired Brain Injury Program and by Families United for Children’s Mental Health, Inc.

The agency’s programs include: Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) contributing 71%, Special Education School Services (SESS) contributing 24% and Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS) contributing 5 % to the agency’s total $5.2 million revenue in 2011. Managing growth with agility and operating in the black, the agency more than doubled consumers served from 100 in 2000 to 273 in 2010. PG’s employees increased from a staff of 29 in 2000 to 170 today where management is full time while 62% of the field workers are full time. A 7-member board of directors, with diverse professional skills and presence in the community, provides fiduciary oversight and governance leadership to the agency.

The widely respected founding chief executive officer (CEO) of 20 years will be retiring mid-2012. As part of the current strategic plan, leadership succession work has begun. A leadership transition team, chaired by a board member with senior management staff participating, is in place.

The Opportunity

The CEO will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for PG’s long term planning and direction, as well as finance, staff, programs and governmental relationship management, all guided by the agency’s mission and vision.

The CEO will be instrumental in leading, building, expanding and managing PG’s overall operational effectiveness as well as community outreach, program enhancement and new project/initiative development.

S/he will initially develop a deep knowledge of the field, the agency’s core programs, operations and strategic/business planning while immersing himself/herself into the PG institutional culture.

The CEO reports directly to the board president and is accountable to the board of directors.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities

Day-to-Day Operations: 50%

The CEO will be a detail oriented, hands-on manager with an open door policy who ensures the efficient and effective functioning of the busy agency. Working with the chief operating officer, the CEO’s day-to-day administrative duties will include:

• Operations management/ oversight (office and HR management, information technology, procurement, insurance and legal issues, organization reporting and monitoring)
• Working with the chief financial officer (to be hired) to provide financial management and/or oversight (financial management, budgeting, financial operations, analysis, reporting, income/expense tracking, billing and expense oversight)
• Working with human resource (staffing structure, staff recruitment/ orientation/ development/ management, personnel policy and process development and budgeting)
• Engaging in program development and management (oversee and be available as a resource to senior and program managers)

Governmental Agencies and Community Outreach, Development and Advocacy: 20%

The CEO will be the public face, ambassador and advocate for the agency in front of all relevant constituencies on a local, regional and national level. The CEO will research and closely track legislative changes, programmatic and funding opportunities as well as assume a strong advocacy role on behalf of PG’s cause and served consumers. Working with the board president, and as part of the annual CEO work plan, the CEO will develop and pursue collaborative and partnership opportunities as strategic components of the agency’s growth trajectory.

Business and Marketing Development and Implementation: 10%

Working with the board and appropriate committees, consultants and staff, the CEO will help lead and continue the strategic planning of PG’s physical space expansion as well as market and program expansion beyond northeastern Connecticut. The CEO will evaluate the agency’s branding and lead the development of a marketing communications plan.

Board: 20%

The CEO will:

• Assist and support the board president and the nominating committee in board development, recruitment and orientation
• Support the president and board in bringing the current strategic plan to its successful conclusion, then leading the development and implementation of PG’s next strategic planning cycle
• Serve as ex-officio of each committee and help engage the board and committee members in the work of the agency
• Be the staff liaison, strengthen and provide staff support to all committees on an as needed basis

The Ideal Candidate

Experience

• Minimum of a B.A.; M.B.A. strongly preferred
• 10 or more years’ experience in a management position with increasing responsibilities working in human services preferred
• Strong finance, management, operations experience with demonstrable and quantifiable results

Skills

• Strong leadership, social entrepreneurial thinking and implementation skills
• Proven ability, sensitivity, and empathy in order to navigate in a high-touch, service-dominated environment
• Versatile, adaptable and effective in governmental, political, human services, business and educational environments 
• Ability to work collaboratively with the board to carry out the board’s vision 
• Personal credibility to win the professional respect and trust of the board, staff, governmental and community leaders and partners as well as the general public; ability to sustain, train and motivate the PG staff
• Attention to detail, ability to engage as a hands-on operations manager; demonstrate ability to learn and oversee the full range of PG’s functions and programs
• Thorough understanding of PG’s governmental funding support processes and relationship
• Excellent collaboration and partnership skills with strong community team player instincts
• Outstanding written and verbal communications skills; ability to articulate PG’s mission, vision and programs to stakeholders and to the public

Values

• Be a multi-tasking team player with strong, hands-on work ethic; enthusiastic and flexible 
• Be a self-starter, solution and detail oriented, highly organized
• Be an individual of unquestioned integrity

This is a full-time position offering competitive salary and benefits commensurate with skill and experience.

Submission of Candidacy

This search is being conducted by Third Sector New England’s Executive Transition Program with Transition Consultant Dorothy Chen-Courtin. To apply, please click here.

Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Only online applications will be accepted.

Please include curriculum vitae, 3 references, and cover letter addressing qualifications for the position; compensation requirements, where you learned of the position and any other relevant information (such as published articles). All applications will be acknowledged. No phone calls please.

Application materials will be accepted until final candidate is selected.