Our client, Options For All (OFA) (optionsforall.org), is an organization that gives individuals with disabilities more options for living their lives to the fullest. Founded in 1985, Options For All (optionsforall.org) serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, helping empower them to become fully-participating members of their communities. The organization serves as many as 1,300 individuals who face the challenges of autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, hearing and vision impairments, learning and intellectual disabilities, and severe behavioral disorders.
OFA seeks to create and support opportunities for these individuals in making choices to live and enjoy life in their communities with dignity and respect. OFA works to achieve positive perceptions in the community and among employers about the value and abilities of these individuals.
Options For All offers its participants programs to enhance life skills, employment, and independence. These include assistance with banking, budgeting, and money management; computer and writing skills; job interview techniques; nutrition, cooking, meal planning, and exercise; and learning personal responsibility such as taking directions and social skills.
The following OFA programs and services have effectively assisted in providing vocational opportunities and affordable housing to individuals with developmental disabilities throughout San Diego, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Riverside counties:
Community Engagement:Participants experience community acceptance and benefits through volunteering, working, and socializing.
Enhanced Community Engagement:Participants who have traditionally not been well-served in day programs receive extra care and attention.
Independent Living Services:Participants are taken through an 8-step process to secure suitable community-based housing and learn life skills including meal preparation, money management, public transportation, and community safety.
Film & Media Studio:Partnering with studios, participants develop the necessary skills to find employment in film & media production.
Options For All Productions:An in-house production company teaches participants the skills they need to become part of a professional film crew.
Supported Employment:Participants, often paired with a Job Coach, gain a sense of purpose, responsibility, and independence through employment or volunteer activities at more than 200 local businesses.
Tailored Day Services:Participants are free to pursue the goals that are most fulfilling to them, with flexible schedules and flexible assistance.
Participants consistently give OFA's services an overall satisfaction rating of 98%.
OFA's staff of approximately 350 are very dedicated to the cause. Approximately 20 of those employees are located at the San Diego headquarters offices. OFA has an annual operating budget of about $20+ million.
POSITION SUMMARY
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has overall strategic and operational responsibility for the Options For All staff, its programs, expansion, and the execution of its mission. The CEO applies deep knowledge of the core programs, operations, and business plans to guide the organization to achieve the strategic plan. This position directly oversees the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief Programs Officer, VP and General Council, VP of Media, and the Executive Assistant.
Specifically, the CEO position requires ensuring programmatic excellence; designing and executing the strategic plan; building a diverse and inclusive Board of Directors; inspiring, supporting, and motivating the staff; developing long-term financial plans; ensuring a flow of funds from donors, foundations, government agencies, and corporations; executing marketing, branding, and development strategies; building partnerships in new markets; and developing a local and national presence.
The CEO must also create and promote a positive, multicultural work environment that supports consistency throughout the organization. This position represents an outstanding opportunity to provide leadership for a successful community organization and develop plans to take the organization to the next level.
Approximately 30% travel will be required.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
It is expected that the Chief Executive Officer will achieve the following in the first year:
In the first quarter…
o Individually meet with the Board members, HQ staff, and external and internal stakeholders (to include government funders) to begin building relationships and an understanding of communication needs
o Visit each of the four satellite locations to meet with staff and regional stakeholders to develop relationships, cohesion, and collaboration
o Becoming deeply familiar with OFA’s history and its present
o Begin an organizational assessment (to include culture and the culture survey, regretted turnover, current programs and their sustainability, funding streams and revenue sources, professional development plans and opportunities, opportunities with the upcoming enhanced rates, etc.)
In the second quarter…
o Provide a report to the Board on the organizational assessment
o Implement a plan to begin addressing the immediate issues from the assessment, to include plans to ensure the continued financial performance Continue the learning process, and fostering the state and regional relationships
o Visit the satellite locations
In the third quarter…
o In conjunction with the Board, begin work on a strategic planning process
o Continue learning, and fostering the state and regional relationships
o Visit the satellite locations
In the fourth quarter…
o Begin implementation of the strategic plan, providing clear strategic direction that cascades throughout the organization, and provide regular reports to the staff and Board.
o Continue the learning, and fostering the state and regional relationships
o Visit the satellite locations
o Will be seen as a responsible steward of the organization’s resources
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (in priority order)
Successful candidates will have the following combination of experience that will allow them to achieve the outcomes noted above:
Ten-plus years of increasingly responsible professional experience
Nonprofit leadership experience
Experience providing services to vulnerable populations (IDD, disabled, senior housing, social services, etc.)
Experience being responsible for multiple sites and over 200 employees
Experience in funding streams provided by the State of California
Demonstrated experience in the strategic planning process and the plan’s implementation
COMPETENCIES (in priority order)
Servant leader
Leads by example
A passion for serving vulnerable communities
Committed to learning the industry
EDUCATION/CREDENTIALS
Successful candidates will have the following education that will allow them to achieve the outcomes noted above:
Graduate degree or work equivalent
CULTURE (in priority order)
The ideal candidate will possess a work style and personality that will create an excellent fit with the organization’s culture and structure:
Passionate about the mission; participant first
Respect
Transparent
Accountable
Outcome-driven
A creative approach
Aligned on what defines success and driven towards it
COMPENSATION AND INTERVIEW PROCESS
The compensation package includes a base salary of $285,000 to $300,000, depending upon experience, plus excellent benefits. The Board does wish the candidate to locate to the southern California area. OFA staff does work in-office.
Pre-screened, selected candidates will be invited to interview in San Diego with the Search Committee on Thursday, March 2, 2023, with second interviews the following morning.
PROCEDURE FOR CANDIDACY
For confidential consideration, at your earliest possible convenience and no later than COB on February 3, 2023, please email your chronological resume — to include description and size of current/prior organizations and responsibilities — and compensation expectations to:
We strongly encourage and welcome applications from all qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, gender identity and expression, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.
