CORE RESPONSIBILITIES: The President & CEO provides leadership, direction, and guidance across all areas of the organization. This individual has oversight across the entire organization, including paid and volunteer staff and consultants and is expected to forge strong working relationships with the Board of Directors, board committee members, all staff, consultants, volunteers, and allied organizations with whom interaction is necessary in achieving the goals and objectives outlined. The President & CEO works to ensure that the Ascendigo mission, vision and core values are upheld. The specifics of the President & CEO's duties may be modified by the Board of Directors as they see fit to ensure the viability of Ascendigo and fulfillment of its mission. The mission may be modified by the Board as part of its strategic planning effort, in which the President & CEO is expected to play a critical role. The President & CEO is expected to lead Ascendigo to the next stage in its development, including reaching its financial objectives.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DUTIES

• Implement policies established by the Board of Directors
• Provide leadership, direction, and guidance of Ascendigo activities
• Grow current business plans to increase Ascendigo’s finance and programming
• Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of programmatical operations
• Develop and maintain effective and successful organizational structure and personnel
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, best practices, and risk management standards

BOARD INTERACTION & SUPPORT DUTIES

• Maintain regular interaction with the Board, Executive Committee, Board Members, and their chairs
• Make every effort to attend all Board and Committee meetings
• Coordinate with the Board in developing a vision and strategic plan to guide the organization
• Implement the goals and objectives contained with an approved strategic plan and corresponding policies approved by the Board
• Identify, assess, and inform the Board of internal and external issues that affect the organization and act as a professional advisor to the Board on all aspects of the organization’s activities
• Provide Board support by working with directors in preparing meeting agendas and supporting materials and by helping to recruit additional volunteer leadership for the board and committees

OPERATIONAL PLANNING & MANAGEMENT DUTIES

• Manage oversight over the organization, including year-round and seasonal, interns, volunteers, and professional consultants.
• Ensure that the operation of the organization meets the expectations of the individuals it serves, their families, donors, and the Board.
• Oversee efficient and effective day-to-day operations and maintain superior relationships and contract negotiation with key vendors/partners.
• Review existing policies and procedures and recommend changes to the Board where appropriate as well as implementing policies and procedures.
• Ensure that Ascendigo meets all regulatory, certification and licensing requirements, and best practice standards for nonprofits.
• Follow the policies and procedures of the organization, prioritizing safety and risk management and adequate insurance policies.
• In coordination with program staff, oversee the development, planning, implementation, and evaluation of the organization’s programs and services.
• Ensure Ascendigo’s programs and services contribute to the mission and reflect the priorities of the Board and strategic plan.
• Closely monitor program delivery to maintain or improve quality, as well as create new programs to better serve our target population.
• In coordination with the CFO, prepare a comprehensive budget and ensure that expenditures are within the authority delegated by the Board per budget or special approvals.
• Follow sound bookkeeping and accounting procedures, including monitoring monthly cash flow.
• In collaboration with the Board Treasurer, provide the Board with comprehensive, regular reports on revenues and expenditures, and provide metrics for assessing financial performance.

CUSTOMER & COMMUNITY RELATIONS

• Interaction with the families we serve and the autism community at large.
• Create and maintain strong and growing program enrollments for high stakeholder satisfaction and ongoing viability.
• Understand Ascendigo’s customers and their needs to maintain program quality as well as to develop innovative new programs and services.
• Understand the autism population, including family needs, the importance of physical and experiential endeavors to human well-being, the merits of activity-based learning, and the need to community-based settings.
• Keep current on developments relevant to Ascendigo, including the fields of autism, disabilities, sports/outdoor recreation, camp, and nonprofits.
• Attend workshops, conferences, training seminars, online courses, achieve certain certifications, and interface with experts in these fields.

COMMUNICATIONS & REVENUE GENERATION

• In coordination with the Board, Fundraising Committee Chair, and Chief Development Officer, secure adequate funding for the operation and programs of Ascendigo.
• Research funding sources, grant opportunities, creation and implementation of fundraising plans, recruiting fundraising committee members, and evaluating our current fundraising events.
• Travel to meet potential donors may be required.
• Outreach to potential client families and relevant professionals to facilitate enrollments
• Obtain funding from non-private pay sources, such as grants, health insurance reimbursement, Medicaid, and other government programs.
• In coordination with the CDO, expand Ascendigo’s in-kind and discounted donations.
• Oversee marketing and communications, including to the public, potential donors, potential employees, and other key stakeholders.
• Ensure outreach activities provide optimal messaging of our achievements, goals and best operating practices to increase our donor and enrollment base.

REPORTING & PERFORMANCE

• The President & CEO reports to the Board of Directors, with regular interaction with the Board Chair and Executive Committee.
• The President & CEO’s work will require most of the time to be spent in the office, although a portion of time should be dedicated to observing programing, to ensure first-hand knowledge of the services Ascendigo provides.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in related field
• Minimum 10 years of executive experience in organizations of comparable size and complexity
• Knowledge of the field of autism as it pertains to adults.
• Flexibility to travel for occasional professional development and resident activities
• Personal smartphone with texting capacity
• Clean background check with no felonies or flags
• Valid driver’s license

PREFERRED SKILLS

• Master’s degree in related field
• Bi-lingual, Spanish & English
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite

DESTINATION ASCENDIGO: Ascendigo’s mission is to elevate the spectrum by empowering people, inspiring lives, and shattering expectations. We apply this mission to both the people we serve and the people we work with.

Ascendigo is a nonprofit organization that enhances the lives of children and adults living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through therapeutic recreation, employment, community integration, education, and an array of behavioral health services. We are head-quartered in Carbondale, CO.

The ASCENDIGO PROMISE to our employees is to provide meaning and purpose in the work we do. We support high performance through thoughtful onboarding and training and acting with integrity. We offer 360° compensation with a path to financial security, personal well-being and fulfillment, and housing assistance.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: our employees are committed and passionate about the Ascendigo mission of holistic, active, community-based, independent, and person-centered life and believe in the dignity and potential of our clients. Ascendigo is committed to a culture of R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

• R-Recognize the inherent worth of your coworkers.
• E- Eliminate derogatory words and phrases.
• S- Speak with people- not at them- or about them.
• P-Protect the culture of your organization- report and support!
• E- Empathize- consider what it is like in others’ situations.
• C-Consider your impact on others before speaking and apologize when you make a mistake.
• T- Treat everyone with integrity, dignity, and respect.