Evert Conner Center for Independent Living
Iowa City, Iowa

  Executive Director Position

Evert Conner Center for Independent Living

Iowa City, Iowa

Executive Director of Non-Profit Organization in Dynamic
University Town

Long established but newly invigorated tax-exempt organization in Iowa City seeks a leader to manage and direct the organization’s efforts to assist people with disabilities in eastern Iowa.

The Evert Conner Center is a Center for Independent Living and is located a short distance from the campus of the University of Iowa.  The Evert Conner Center is committed to assisting individuals with disabilities to maintain control over day-to-day activities and to advocate for themselves to achieve greater independence and full participation in an integrated society.

• Desired skills include budgeting, office management, employee supervision, and fundraising.

• Applicants must have experience or be willing to learn the independent living philosophy.  Strong preference for applicants with college degrees.

• Compensation starting at $42,000 (DOE) plus benefits.

• Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

• Applicants must submit a cover letter and resume.

E-Mail a cover letter and resume to Susan Curtland, Board President, susancurtland@fmtcs.com

OR Send to:

Evert Conner Center
Board of Directors
P.O. Box 15
Iowa City, IA 52244-0015

The Evert Conner Center is an equal opportunity employer. Please refer to the job description below for further information on the Executive Director position. This job ad and job description can also be found on the Iowa SILC website at www.iowasilc.org.  Click on CIL JOBS! in the left hand column of the page, and select Iowa City CIL.

Job Title:  CIL Executive Director

The Executive Director is responsible for the overall operations of the Center including staffing, planning, developing, budgeting, implementing and evaluating Center programs; advocacy and systems change activities; and represents the Center, or delegates such representation on the local, state, and national level.

Duties:

• Reports to the Board of Directors, provides staff support to the Board, and is responsible for implementing the policies and mission adopted by the Board.

• Responsible for hiring, firing, evaluating and supervising staff in a manner consistent with Center Personnel Policies.

• Responsible for ensuring continuing staff development through staff meetings, in-services, workshops, training seminars, and other development and training activities.

• Responsible for management of the Center including planning, programming, development, implementation, and evaluation of Center operations, including staff, volunteers, consultants, computers, properties, etc.; responsible for assuring a quarterly newsletter, as well as up-to-date website and online calendar, brochures, etc.

• Responsible for developing and annually evaluating a long-term strategic plan for the Center, in collaboration with the Board of Directors, which includes plans for funding, programming, outreach, consumer partner surveys, expansion, and advocacy/systems change; assists the Board in setting and meeting fund-raising goals.

• Responsible for evaluating, updating, and ensuring annually, in collaboration with the Board of Directors and its committees, that the Center Personnel Policies, Fiscal Policies, ByLaws, Articles of Incorporation, Insurance Policies, Disaster Preparation Policies, and other policies and contracts are up to date and adequately meet Center needs.

• Provides fiscal oversight to the agency, and submits monthly financial reports to the Board of Directors; communicates staff concerns to the Board.

• Monitors all record keeping, evaluation of statistics, reports, etc.  Submits reports, needs assessments, and annual accomplishments in a timely manner to the Board of Directors and other funding sources as required.

• Promotes expansion of Center services into geographic locations underserved or not yet being served.

• Has overall responsibility for grant writing and grant management, including identification and analysis of potential funding sources including government contracts, fees, foundations, corporations, and individual donors.

• Serves as chief spokesperson for the Center and acts as liaison with consumer partners and community groups, and may delegate those duties as necessary; represents the Center on various community committees; works in concert with other advocacy organizations to further the Center’s goals and objectives.

• Takes an active role in local, state and national disability and independent living organizations; educates legislators regarding issues affecting persons with disabilities.

• Provides direct service to consumer partners of the Center as needed, including information and referral to callers and consumer partners; gives ADA trainings.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree/credentials in appropriate field(s) or equivalent experience required; advanced degree preferred.

• Exceptional human relations skills required.

• Access to reliable transportation and the ability to travel required.

• A minimum of three years management and supervisory experience required.

• Proven record of results and ability to meet deadlines required.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills required.

• Computer proficiency in Word, Excel, other spreadsheets, PowerPoint, Internet searches, e-mail, etc. required; experience with Mitware or equivalent statistics-gathering software preferred.

• Experience in public relations and group presentations/public speaking required.

• Strong project management, administrative, and organizational skills required.

• Knowledge of grants, budgeting and finance; successful experience in developing and monitoring an annual organizational budget required.

• Knowledge of the community and its human service network preferred.

• Skilled facilitator and team builder.

• Ability to be flexible, creative, innovative and responsive.

• Knowledge of disability rights, laws, trends, and accessibility guidelines.  Demonstrated ability to advocate for disability rights and to increase public awareness on disability related issues.

• Knowledge of assistive devices.

• Experience in working with people with disabilities, or first hand experience with a disability.

• Belief in the independent living movement, its philosophy, principles and primary tenets.