Summary
Description
Executive Director Job Description
Job Title: Executive Director
About DRI:
Congress created a nationwide Protection and Advocacy System for People with Developmental Disabilities in the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 1975. Today, there is a protection and advocacy system operating in every state and territory of the United States, in Washington D.C., and for Native Americans. Congress has expanded the authority of the Protection and Advocacy Systems to serve all disabilities. Disability Rights Idaho is Idaho’s designated Protection and Advocacy System for people with disabilities.
In 1977, Co-Ad, Inc. was established as the Protection and Advocacy System to carry out this new federal mandate in the State of Idaho. In 2009, Co-Ad, Inc., a.k.a. Comprehensive Advocacy, Inc., changed its name to Disability Rights Idaho.
Mission: Educate, advocate, investigate, and litigate to protect and advance the rights of Idahoans with disabilities.
Core Values and Associated Behaviors: DRI respectfully promotes the human and civil rights of individuals with disabilities. In doing so, DRI staff are expected to incorporate DRI’s core values of integrity, quality, dignity of risk, teamwork, and inclusivity through the following associated behaviors:
Integrity
- We are accountable for our actions, accountable to clients & each other.
- We are bound by the Idaho Rules of Professional Conduct & Rules of Civility.
- We are honest, truthful & transparent in our interactions.
- We comply with all confidentiality provisions in our grants & ethics rules.
- We are respectful in our interactions & act with humility.
Quality
- We act professionally & respectfully in our internal teams, with clients & with partners.
- We provide quality services for our clients. We are relentless in our pursuit of results.
- We are responsible for interactions inside the agency & in the community.
- We do the research & have expert knowledge of laws & issues that impact our clients.
- We are responsible for our work product.
Dignity of Risk
- We ask clients for what outcomes they want.
- We provide client choice/self-determination.
- We apply a client-driven approach to all advocacy services.
- We ask clients for their most preferred terms & language, & we use those terms & language in our notes & interactions.
- We assist persons with disabilities to access programs that they qualify for, allow them maximum independence & integration into their community of choice.
Teamwork
- We understand how our work fits the overall agency & team goals.
- We offer to help before being asked (pitch in).
- We humbly ask for help when we need it.
- We give 100% effort.
- We show up & do what we say we are going to do.
- We treat our coworkers with respect & honor each other’s individuality.
- We have a positive outlook.
Inclusivity
- We value diversity – honoring people’s history & experiences.
- We seek to eliminate cultural & linguistic biases.
- We are respectful of & acknowledge past trauma.
- We recognize intersectionality of disability, i.e., race, gender identity, culture, age, sexual identity, sexual orientation & socio- economic status.
- We are compassionate, empathetic & non-judgmental when working with or on behalf of people with disabilities.
Job Summary:
The Executive Director (ED) is charged with leading a dynamic team of professionals to accomplish DRI’s mission to educate, advocate, investigate, and litigate to protect and advance the rights of Idahoans with disabilities.
The ED is responsible for the strategic leadership and organizational direction of DRI, ensuring high-performing service programs, sustainable fundraising, and effective business operations. Areas of responsibility include management and administration, fiscal oversight, personnel leadership, Board relations, and public relations and representation. This is a full-time position, hired by and directly accountable to the DRI Board of Directors. This position is classified as salaried and exempt. The DRI Board sets the salary for this position in the $105,000 – $125,000 range. DRI offers a competitive benefits package that includes free health, vision, dental, as well as $2,000 HRA for employees and 3% contribution to IRA.
Position:
Executive Director
Reports to:
Board of Directors
Employment status:
Regular Full-Time Exempt Position
Salary range:
Determined by DRI's Board of Directors.
Responsible for:
The Executive Director is responsible for the management and oversight of DRIs services and includes aspects of management, administrative financial, and public relations.
Principle Duties and Responsibilities:
Management
- Serves as the Chief Executive Officer and establishes and practices DRI values within the organization’s culture.
- Provide Organizational Oversight: Oversee employee recruitment, onboarding, training and retention of qualified staff.
- Establish and maintain a system for employee evaluation.
- Participate in and present staff training and community education workshops.
- Provide opportunities for staff, board, public, and constituent input into the goals and objectives.
- Directly supervise the Legal, Finance, Advocacy, and Operations Directors.
Administrative Responsibilities
- Develop recommended draft policies or recommended changes to existing corporation policies for Board of Directors approval.
- Attend all Board of Directors meetings, PAIMI Advisory Council meetings, and assist in agenda development while acting as a liaison between Board, PAC, and staff.
- Ensure all reports are completed and filed on time and that the Board of Directors has access to all reports upon request.
- Ensures the corporation complies with each grants’ requirements.
- Ensure the Legal Director maintains casework standards set forth in the Casework Policy Manual, manages Client Trust account, and Idaho rules of professional conduct.
- Execute annual Planning activities and ensure Program Responsibilities are carried out.
- Develop the annual Priorities, Goals, and Case Acceptance criteria and reports progress to grantors and the Board of Directors.
- Assertively develop engaging relationships with Federal and State funding sources, and administrative agencies such as community partners and the DD network, and other stakeholders.
- Actively coordinate with NDRN and Board for DRI administrative policy improvement and identify areas for continual learning.
Financial
- Lead the organization's revenue diversification and fundraising strategy, including cultivating philanthropic partnerships and expanding non- federal funding sources to support long-term sustainability.
- Oversee the preparation of an annual operating budget to present to the Board of Directors for approval.
- Ensure the maintenance of all fiscal and program records according to procedures required for State, Federal, and corporation audits.
- Responsible for the fiscal integrity of DRI, to include submission to the Board of a proposed annual budget and monthly financial statements, which accurately reflect the financial condition of the organization.
Public Relations
- Ensure and encourage the communication of DRI's Mission and Values, and activities to the public, government bodies, board, and staff in a manner that motivates them to support organizational operations, goals, and objectives (e.g. website, social media, outreach, press, etc.).
- Demonstrate an ability to evaluate and interpret legislation, regulations, public policy, and emerging trends affecting individuals with disabilities. Guide organizational policy strategy, advocacy priorities, and stakeholder engagement efforts. Effectively influence policy discussions and advance systemic change consistent with DRI’s mission.
- Collaborate with partners for the promotion of local, state, and national best practice services for citizens with disabilities.
- Represent DRI to state and national advocacy groups and encourage board and staff participation.
- Ensure DRI membership in professional organizations, consumer organizations, interdepartmental and/or interagency committees. Serve as media spokesperson for DRI.
- Willingness and ability to travel throughout Idaho and occasionally attend national conferences and meetings.
Minimum Qualifications:
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Advanced degree in Public Administration, or other relevant academic degree or comparable experience in running a non-profit.
- Five years' experience in advocacy for persons with disability.
- Proven experience and skill in public speaking and communications.
- Experience in development and fundraising.
- Proven management expertise, including but not limited to knowledge of accounting, budgeting and financial control, personnel functions, organizational development, and planning process.
- Proven leadership and the ability to model DRI’s values and mission, train personnel, delegate responsibility, supervise, and evaluate staff performance.
- Proven interpersonal skills, and ability to work inclusively with diverse populations.
- Proven flexibility, energy, stamina, and a sense of humor.
- Able to pass tier 2 level security clearance with the Social Security Administration.
Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Experience grant writing and fundraising.
- Manage social media and web presence.
- Enthusiasm for advocacy work.
- Flexibility in dealing with staff issues. Ability to balance the needs of the individual with the needs of the organization.
- Ability to actively listen to a variety of perspectives, including board, staff, funders, and outside stakeholders.
- Multilingual including ASL.
