Are you a nonprofit program leader with a passion for what’s possible for those with intellectual and related disabilities? This may be the ideal opportunity for you!

About the Cooperative for Human Services, Inc.

Founded in 1981 with headquarters in Lexington, MA, the Cooperative for Human Services Inc. (CHS) is a multi-service organization that provides residential services, independent living supports, and guardianship services for people with intellectual and other related disabilities. Their mission is to empower, support, and expand the knowledge, skill, and natural capacities of the people they serve to direct and live full and meaningful lives within their community.

CHS has a mission to fulfill – to ensure that every person with special needs served by them lives a truly happy and fulfilling life and is a respected citizen of the community.

Learn more about this amazing organization at https://cooperativeforhs.org.

About This Opportunity

Reporting to the CEO, the Vice President of Programs and Services has overall strategic and operational responsibility for all CHS residential and individual supports programs and service areas. The Vice President of Programs and Services is responsible for building a strong team, fostering an organizational culture of accountability, strengthening programs and services, and ensuring an impact is made in the communities that CHS serves. The Vice President of Programs and Services will embody and emulate the organization’s mission, vision, and values through daily hands-on engagement with individuals served, employees, and the management team.

The Vice President of Programs and Services will develop a deep knowledge of each functional area’s projects, program operations, and business plans. Initially, the focus will be on the following areas: programmatic leadership and oversight, operational processes and efficiencies, regulatory compliance, service quality excellence.

The Vice President of Programs and Services will demonstrate a consistent quality of problem-solving, communications, attention to detail and creative use of resources. In this role, the incumbent will develop, coach, and retain high performance team members, empowering them to elevate their level of responsibility, span of control, and performance. The Vice President of Programs and Services will provide effective and thoughtful leadership by building strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organization including individuals, families, community partners, volunteers, and Commonwealth entities while continually reinforcing CHS’s mission, vision, and values.

As a member of the senior leadership team, the Vice President of Programs and Services is a key internal liaison between service types, Programs, Finance, Operations, Funder Stakeholders and Employee Relations.

Essential Job Activities and Responsibilities

The Vice President of Programs and Services must be thoroughly committed to the organization’s strategy and mission to support people with disabilities and have a strong desire to provide community service as well as be able to fulfill all of the elements of the responsibilities in this role to the highest standard, while utilizing hands on approach and be able to work well with colleagues in a high energy and collaborative work environment.

They will have the following responsibilities under the direction of the CEO and in collaboration with other senior leadership team members and their staff, including:

Strategic Plan Implementation:

• Contribute to developing the organization’s strategic vision and implement the strategic plan’s components related to Programs and Services.
• Ensure programmatic needs such as staffing, training, space, infrastructure and systems are met to more effectively carry out the CHS mission with a focus on continual quality improvement.

Program Oversight and Operations:

• Strengthen programmatic policies, processes and infrastructure as needed.
• Through effective communication, create clear program goals and drive to completion.
• Lead the organization through its license and re-certification processes with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Program Impact & Evaluation:

• Evaluate programs based upon data collection and analysis to strengthen program service quality, identify trends and organizational gaps, and develop plans that address needs.
• Work closely with the Chief Financial Officer and Director of Clinical Supports in developing the programmatic contracts with the Commonwealth and associated budgets annually and as needed.

Knowledge Management:

• Develop the necessary systems, tools and processes to better support collection, facilitation and dissemination of knowledge generated by each service area to various stakeholder groups.
• Leverage key project outcomes, learnings, and/or enhanced policies for maximum impact to deepen community ties, partnerships and stakeholder relationships.
• Work collaboratively with other Senior Management to develop effective cross-functional initiatives and positive outcomes.
• Remain informed of best practices on administration, programs, organization culture, and capacity building.
• Stay up to date on requirements imposed by Federal and State regulators as it relates to CHS licensure and contracts.

Management:

• Direct reports currently include the Director of Residential Services, Director of Residential & Supported Living, Director of Individual Supports
• Collaborate with the CEO & Director of Human Resources in the development of strategies for successful outcomes ahead of union grievances, negotiations and bargaining.
• Development and management of a strong program team.
• Coach employees to success.

Internal/External Relationships:

• Internally, develop and maintain strong, positive working relationships with employees from all departments within the organization.
• Externally, develop and maintain strong, positive relationships with the individuals served by CHS, their family members/guardians, DDS, service providers, other stakeholders, community members, and others.

Working Conditions

• Varied and flexible to include office conditions (telephone, computer, etc.), external agencies/ businesses, at the location where the individual is receiving services (homes of the person served, etc.); in local community groups, etc.
• Local travel to CHS sites required.

Physical & Mental Requirements

• Ability to deal with a wide range of intellectual problems and practical problems.
• Ability to utilize excellent judgment in developing sound solutions.
• Combination of sitting, standing, and walking.
• Able to lift up to 30 pounds.
• Ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the position with reasonable accommodations considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education & Experience Qualifications

• A minimum of 15 years of non-profit professional /leadership expertise in programs, ideally with organizations serving people with developmental disabilities.
• Graduate Degree in related human services field preferred.
• Prior management experience and demonstrated leadership skills. Strong emotional intelligence and the ability to exercise good judgment, maintain discretion, and confidentiality as needed.
• Self-motivated, results driven, detail oriented, and adaptable. Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, including the ability to influence, engage, motivate, and lead others to new levels of effectiveness and programmatic impact.
• Hands-on approach in successfully leading a variety of strategic initiatives.
• Proven track record of effectively leading performance-based and outcome-based, programs and/or services of varying complexity.
• Knowledge of community-based supports.
• Strong fiscal budget management.
• Successful implementation of regulatory standards and the related licensing process required.
• Valid Massachusetts/Maine/New Hampshire/Rhode Island driver’s license, and clean driving record required.
• Ability to travel to local CHS locations.
• Experience in a union environment is helpful, though not required.
• Demonstrates a high degree of organizational skill and time management for multiple competing priorities.
• Exceptional communication (verbal & written) and presentation skills with the ability to effectively interface with all levels of management, staff, external stakeholders and solution focused problem-solving skills.
• Ability to understand and comply with multiple regulatory requirements.
• Superior project management, organizational, delegation skills.
• Demonstrated commitment and sensitivity to diversity issues. Comfortable working in multicultural environments.
• Proficiency using Google Workspace including (Word, Excel, PowerPoint),

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $175,000-$200,000 and organization vehicle provided.

To Be Considered for This Exciting Opportunity

Cooperative for Human Services has partnered with Cindy Joyce of Pillar Search & HR Consulting on the search for the new Vice President of Programs and Services. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit both a cover letter and resume by email to jobs@pillarsearch.com.