Posted — 05.18.23

President and Chief Executive Officer

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Avenues to Independence

Location

Park Ridge, IL

Position Summary
	Avenues was founded in 1953 when a group of parents believed things should be different for their sons and daughters with developmental disabilities. They wanted them to be a part of the community, close to home, among family and friends. Today, thanks to their vision, Avenues is a non-profit organization that provides homes, jobs and community living opportunities in the Chicago area for adults with physical, intellectual, and other developmental disabilities, such as Down syndrome, autism, epilepsy and cerebral palsy. It is our goal to provide work and living opportunities enabling those with disabilities to be as independent as possible. Avenues to Independence is seeking a talented and visionary leader who wants to make a difference in the lives and communities of people with disabilities. The successful individual will exhibit a solid business viewpoint tempered by the heart of a social service professional.
Roles & Responsibilities
	Passion for the Mission. The next President/CEO will bring vision and a passion for helping people live their fullest and most independent lives possible. The successful candidate shall demonstrate the ability to articulate a compelling vision and to keep people focused during challenging times as well as to invite new partners into the mission. Collaborator and Relationship Builder. This individual will provide organizational guidance while deeply valuing the input of other teammates to achieve the mission. This person will be open in communication and invite others to express ideas and opinions for the support and success of the Avenues mission. Having the ability to listen and lead with respect for staﬀ, clients and community members alike is essential. Important personal qualities include approachability and the ability to relate to people from all walks of life. Experience and innovation in recruiting and motivating volunteers will be a plus. Leadership. The successful candidate will provide accountability and discipline to all levels of the organization. The appropriate candidate will help teammates grow by encouraging them to take ownership of various initiatives and holding them accountable for the results, while providing proper guidance and support. Donor Relations. The successful candidate will have a strong background in donor relations with a track record of success. This person will provide leadership and participation in fundraising and donor development activities–cultivating, building and maintaining enduring relationships with current and potential public and private funding sources. The person will work to bring new and meaningful donor relationships to Avenues and be able to properly articulate the beneﬁt to the community as well as to the donors. This person will be able to think creatively and strategically with the team to expand the donor base. Strategic Acumen. The CEO will have signiﬁcant experience in strategic planning and guidance to ensure Avenues stays on mission and to help evolve the organization, so it remains successful in an ever-changing environment. Financial and Organizational Prowess. The CEO will have a strong working knowledge of not-for-proﬁt ﬁnancial management in order to provide proper guidance to the team in executing the developed strategy. The candidate will ideally possess knowledge of relevant services and funding mechanisms, and other sources of government and private funding. Communicator. Communication skills are paramount. The candidate we seek will possess the highest level of oral, written, and interpersonal communication abilities to eﬀectively work with a broad range of individuals and organizations including the Board, staﬀ, families, funders, professional colleagues, public oﬃcials, community partners, the media, and of course, clients.
Qualifications
	A bachelor’s degree in social services, or other bachelor’s degree program with social services experience, is required. An advanced degree is a plus.
Additional Information (optional)
	The salary range for the position is $125,000-150,000, commensurate with experience. Avenues offers a comprehensive set of benefits including health, life and disability; 403(b) retirement plan, and generous paid time off. Avenues to Independence seeks a proven, accomplished leader with at least 10 years of demonstrated success, and 5 years in a leadership position in a comparably sized organization. To apply, please send a current resume and letter of introduction to Kittleman & Associates, LLC at: https://apptrkr.com/4167652. For more information about Avenues to Independence, please visit https://avenuestoindependence.org/.