United Ability, a comprehensive disability service provider and United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) affiliate in Birmingham, Alabama, has been creating opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to live full, meaningful lives since 1948. We deliver innovative services and therapies across the lifespan—early intervention, integrated early childhood education, primary healthcare, therapies, employment, adult services, community integration, and assistive technology—serving more than 5,200 individuals annually. Our mission is to provide innovative services connecting people with disabilities to their communities and empowering individuals to live full and meaningful lives.
We are currently seeking candidates to join our team as Chief Executive Officer
The CEO will liaison effectively with national, state. regional and local organizations and influence the contributions of diverse groups of directors, donors, volunteers, and community groups. The CEO works with the Board of Directors to assist in defining priorities and to build and develop teamwork between the agency and community volunteer leaders. The CEO will work with the Executive Team to continually refine and offer guidance in the implementation of the strategic growth plan to expand and position United Ability as a leader in services and programs for persons with a disability.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Public Policy and Advocacy
- Assume leadership for increasing public awareness and understanding of the nature of challenges of individuals with disabilities and their families through public speaking, presentations, and interactions with the community on a local, regional and national level.
- Participate in community planning for individuals with disabilities through membership in appropriate professional organizations, inter-agency committees, and state councils.
- Develop and maintain working relationships with local, regional and national government officials, department heads, agency administrators, and other key service providers and policy makers.
- Advocate on behalf of individuals with disabilities and their families at the local, state and national levels.
- Ensure appropriate communication, as the key spokesperson of the organization, of strategic goals and objectives to community and corporate groups and other stakeholders.
- Identify and develop, as defined in the strategic plan, new partnerships with business and community leaders.
Managing Internal and External Relationships
- Cultivate existing relationships with funders to secure and expand recurring revenue streams.
- In conjunction with Development, create opportunities to forge strategic partnerships with other providers, funders and partners.
- Establish and maintain working relationships with local, state and government agencies.
- Provide guidance to staff regarding the impact of legislative, regulatory, or judicial policies on the delivery of services.
Development, Public Relations & Communications
- Ensure appropriate communication, as the key spokesperson of the organization, of strategic goals and objectives to community and corporate groups and other stakeholders.
- Identify and develop new partnerships with business and community leaders as aligned with the strategic plan.
- Support fundraising efforts including capital campaign, special events, major gifts and corporate and personal individual solicitations.
- Provide leadership in developing fundraising plans with staff and the Board of Directors.
- Provide support and work with the Board of Directors and Chief Development Officer in raising funds for the agency.
Board Relations and Communications
- Partners with the Board in maintaining and promoting the vision and mission of the agency in achieving goals and objectives of the strategic plan.
- Present a clear picture of problems confronting the Board of Directors and outline possible solutions to problems, indicating advantages and/or disadvantages.
- Evaluate recommendations and changes in Board-approved policy on the basis of their effect on current policies and/or services.
- Work with Board Chair to ensure effective and efficient Board committee structure and operation.
Organizational Development
- In alignment with strategic plan, identify and cultivate partner organizations locally, regionally and nationally for mutual program benefit.
- In alignment with strategic plan, identify and evaluate opportunities for organizational growth, including potential collaborations, mergers and acquisitions.
- Work with the Human Resources Committee and the Board of Directors in developing a succession plan for Executive Team members.
Leadership and Management
- Develop high quality business strategies and plans ensuring their alignment with short-term and long-term objectives.
- Lead and motivate subordinates to advance employee engagement to develop a high performing managerial team.
- In conjunction with the Leadership Team and the Board of Directors, communicate, and implement the organization's vision, mission, and overall direction.
- Review, understand and implement the strategic plan that guides the direction of the business or organization.
- Oversee all operations and business activities to ensure they produce the desired results and are consistent with the overall strategy and mission.
- Make high-quality investing decisions to advance the business and increase revenue.
- Enforce adherence to legal guidelines and in-house policies to maintain the company’s legality and business ethics.
- Review financial and non-financial reports to devise solutions or improvements.
- Analyze problematic situations and occurrences and provide solutions to ensure company survival and growth.
Qualifications, Background, Education and Experience:
- 10+ years of experience and a track record in strategic leadership of an organization.
- Bachelor’s degree required, MBA, MPA, JD or related advanced degree strongly preferred.
- A financially savvy and politically astute leader with the ability to set clear priorities, delegate and guide investment in people and systems; keep analytic, organization and problem-solving skills, which support and enable sound decision making.
- Excellent coalition building skills with an ability to communicate and work effectively with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
- A persuasive leader able to achieve consensus amongst differing opinions.
- Significant board development fundraising, marketing branding and fiscal management experience.
- Unwavering commitment to quality programs and data-driven program evaluation.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent public speaking skills to be an outgoing spokesperson, relationship builder and fundraiser.
- Experience in identifying and developing profitable strategies and implementing vision.
- Strong understanding of finance and performance management principles.
- In-depth knowledge of governance and general management best practices.
- Passionate and accountable with integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed.
- A valid driver’s license is required.
Please note that this job description is not designed to provide a comprehensive list of all activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Job duties may change at any time and without prior notice. New job duties may be added as needed.
Reasonable Accommodations:
Please also note that reasonable accommodation may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the position's essential functions.
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
