Exec. Director

About Us:

Milestones Autism Resources is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of autistic individuals, families, caregivers and professionals by educating, coaching, and connecting them to trusted resources. We seek to create a diverse work culture that closely matches the diversity of our client base. We value a culture of collaboration and professional and personal growth for all team members.

Job Summary:

The ED, in partnership with the Board of Directors, is responsible for the sustainable success of Milestones Autism Resources and provides leadership, vision, and direction. Together, the Board and the ED assure that Milestones Autism Resources maintains a positive image in the community, achieves its mission and vision, and ensures accountability to the diverse stakeholders, including its participants and donors. The ED and the Board jointly develop organizational strategies and policies consistent with the organization's mission and vision.

The Board delegates the responsibility for the management and day-to-day operations to the ED, and the ED can carry out these responsibilities in accordance with the direction and policies established by the Board. The ED provides direction and enables the Board of Directors to carry out its governance functions. The ED is responsible for the effective stewardship of the Milestones resources.

Key Responsibilities:

Mission, policy, and planning:

• Works closely with the management team in the development and implementation of the organization’s strategic plan.
• Articulate the nonprofit’s vision and direction of the organization internally and externally.

Fundraising and financing:

• Oversees the fiscal activities of the organization including budgeting, reporting and reviews
• Works with the CFO and the Finance Committee in developing a realistic annual budget and making financial decisions consistent with the budget as approved by the Board
• Reviews monthly financial statements and provides regular, timely internal financial statements to the Board
• Plays a key role in driving a fund development strategy and fundraising efforts including supporting the Board’s involvement with fundraising
• Cultivates and solicits donors
• Supervises implementation of fundraising plans and policies approved by the Board, including fostering strategic community partnerships and guiding grant, public support and contract strategies
• Plans for adequate cash flow to cover operational needs and approves all expenditures over $1,000

Inspirational leadership:

• Oversees all organizational activities, team members, programs, initiatives, and projects.
• Partners with CFO to assure that all legal, tax, and financial review document are filed as appropriate, and monitors compliance with relevant laws and regulations
• Provides general oversight of all Milestones activities, manages day-to-day operations, and assures a smoothly functioning, efficient organization
• Assures program quality and Milestones stability through implementation of appropriate standards, controls, systems, procedures, and reporting
• Develops a staffing structure that supports the efficient delivery of programs and services, accomplishment of major goals identified in the strategic plan and effective overall management
• Recruits, hires and manages a quality staff and volunteers, including the implementation and ongoing revision of personnel policies
• Oversees the staff performance review process
• Maintains a capital improvement plan to ensure that the Milestones facilities are safe, adequately maintained, and aligned with the needs of the Milestones participants and staff
• Works closely with all legal and fiscal agents on issues pertinent to Milestones’ operations
• Organizes and participates in weekly management team meetings
• Participates in staff and volunteer meetings
• Participates in continuing educational activities for personal and professional growth

Community relations:

• Serves as the chief spokesperson for Milestones, assuring proper representation of Milestones to the community
• Promotes and maintains a positive image for Milestones with the public and the community
• Builds positive relationships with community organizations and healthcare entities
• Collaborates with the CMO in the maintenance of good working relationships with the media and public relations firm
• Represents Milestones by participating in key associations and organizations
• Serves on committees and advisory groups of appropriate community agencies
• Provides presentations in public settings
• Listens to participants, volunteers, donors and the community in order to improve programs and services, and increase community awareness and engagement of Milestones

Governance:

• Works closely with the Chair of the Board to create an agenda for the Board and Executive Committee meetings
• Actively participates in Board meetings
• Serves as staff liaison to the Executive, Board Leadership and Strategic Planning Committees
• Assists in the identification, cultivation and interview of potential Board candidates
• Keeps the Board fully informed of the condition of Milestones and any important factors influencing the sustainable success of the organization
• Helps the Board articulates its own role and accountabilities and that of its committees and members, and works with Board Leadership committee to evaluate Board member performance regularly

Qualifications:

• Education: Master’s Degree in related field preferred or relevant work experience.
• Work Experience: Minimum of 8-10 years in an administrative/managerial role in non-profit setting
• Proven Fundraising experience required
• Experience in budgeting and management of funds
• Minimum of 5 years of supervisory experience
• Proven Board leadership experience

Knowledge, Skills, Traits and Values Required:

• Proven leadership skills that include the following competencies: team-building and personnel management
• Strong interpersonal skills that include: conflict resolution, strong communication skills (written and verbal)
• Knowledge of budgeting and fiscal controls
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills
• Good working knowledge of the healthcare community-at-large
• Honest and trustworthy
• Highly credible
• Engages in visionary/futuristic thinking
• Innovative and entrepreneurial perspective
• Able to speak about the work of Milestones in powerful and inspiring terms
• Strong leadership empathy, and the ability to credibly communicate and engage at all levels – Milestones participants, staff, Board of Directors, medical community, donors, media
• Able to command attention and inspire confidence
• Able to motivate others to follow and give of their time, money, and resources
• Balances the need to delegate with the humility to perform any task needed to operate the organization and support the needs of the participants
• Possesses a considerable degree of personal courage (to act), resourcefulness and ingenuity
• Possesses high level of competency in multi-tasking
• Can connect the use of technology to the mission and vision of Milestones
• Can build and utilize networks
• Balances the ability to understand the local community with national best practices in autism education, culture and supports and non-profit management

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $100,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Ability to Commute:

• Cleveland, OH 44128 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Cleveland, OH 44128: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person