Vice President of Program Operations
Employment Type : Full-Time
Position Description Overview
Easterseals offers a unique opportunity for a highly motivated and accomplished professional to join its team as Vice President of Program Operations. The successful candidate will have experience designing, executing, and assessing programs from conceptualization through pilot and large-scale implementation. The ideal candidate will have strong communication, project management and operation skills with an ability to manage multiple, competing deadlines under stringent deadlines.
Overview of Easterseals
Since 1919, Easter Seals has been serving the community providing help, hope and answers for our neighbors challenged by physical, mental, or emotional health issues.
Easter Seals was founded after Ohio businessman Edgar Allen lost his son in a streetcar accident. The lack of adequate medical services available to save his son prompted Allen to sell his business and begin a fundraising campaign to build a hospital in his hometown of Elyria, Ohio. Through this new hospital, Allen was surprised to learn that children with disabilities were often hidden from public view. Inspired by this discovery, in 1919 Allen founded what became known as the National Society for Crippled Children, the first organization of its kind. In 1934 the organization began using Easter “seals” as a fundraising campaign and these grew so popular that in 1967 the organization formally adopted the name Easter Seals. Easter Seals is non-sectarian and serves all people in the community. Easter Seals provides services through a network of affiliates that are organized to meet the needs of the local community.
Easterseals DC MD VA (www.eseal.org) is the affiliate serving Washington DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. We deliver exceptional services through a network of 10 sites and in-home care, and we provide behavioral health, Adult Medical Day Care, Early Child Development and Education, Therapy, Respite, and Workforce Development services where participants and their families find support, hope, medical care, and enjoyable activities. In addition to serving the overall community, our programs place an emphasis on the special needs of wounded warriors, veterans, active-duty military, and their families. We are an independent 501(c)3 with a local board of directors focused on solving critical issues in our community so that all our neighbors thrive.
Our unique and dedicated staff of over 200 professionals includes specialists in education, therapy, senior services, social work, assistive technology, nursing, and related professions. In addition, as a part of the Easterseals, Inc. international network, we can draw on the resources of almost 25,000 professionals to ensure we remain at the cutting edge of service delivery.
Position Summary
The Vice President of Program Operations will report to the Senior Vice President for Programs. He/she will provide operational oversight of the adult day centers and child development centers. As such, we seek someone who will excel at roles and responsibilities including but not limited to:
- Managing the Senior Director of Adult and Senior Services, the Senior Director of Child Development Operations, and the Director of the Head Start Program.
- Working in close collaboration with the Senior Vice President of Programs, the Senior Directors and Development staff to design, plan, staff, market, launch and access/scale pilot programs.
- Maintaining oversight of program evaluation efforts for the centers.
- Contributing to fundraising efforts, proposal writing, reporting and content creation.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- Recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and training management-level staff in the department.
- Overseeing the daily workflow of the adult medical day centers and child development centers.
- Providing constructive and timely performance evaluations.
- Handling discipline and termination of employees in accordance with company policy.
Duties/Responsibilities
- Establish, implement and communicate the strategic direction of the adult medical day centers and child development centers.
- Maintain oversight and provide guidance to these staff around financial management, facilities, and other operational matters. Coordinate annual budget planning, execution and monthly monitoring policies, processes, and procedures for the centers.
- Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and meet company goals while supplying expertise and guidance on operations, projects, and systems.
- Collaborate with other divisions and departments to carry out the organization’s goals and objectives.
- Identify, recommend, and implement new processes, technologies, and systems to improve and streamline processes and use of resources and materials for the adult medical day centers and child development centers.
- Ensure that decisions and project plans such as those for staffing, development, organization, material efficiency, hardware acquisitions, and facilities for the adult medical day centers and child development centers are in line with the organizations business plan and vision.
- Establish, communicate, and implement operations-related policies, practices, standards, and security measures to ensure effective and consistent support and execution.
- Review and approve cost-control reports, cost estimates, and staffing requirements for projects.
- Review and monitor adult medical day center and child development center budgets for accuracy and performance.
- Present periodic performance reports and metrics to senior leadership and others as appropriate.
- Identify training needs and ensure proper training is developed and provided.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Critical Competencies for Success
- Exceptional Communicator: Demonstrated success establishing relationships with customers, members of the community, the Board, and team members at all levels of an organization.
- Team Builder: Demonstrated ability to leverage the strengths of diverse teams (both internal and external), coach, mentor, and hold team accountable to achieve results.
- Exceptional Project Manager: Ability to manage multiple projects and activities on time and on budget.
- Strategic Thinking: Proven capacity to listen actively and synthesize multiple pieces of disparate information into a coherent vision that aligns with the organization’s strategy and move it to successful operationalization.
- Multitasker: Ability to juggle multiple opportunities to drive results on several important projects simultaneously.
- Ability to Succeed in a Not-for-Profit Environment: Demonstrated experience working successfully within a highly collaborative and collegial organization. Comfort rolling up one’s sleeves and engaging in day-to-day operations. Passion for and commitment to Easterseals DC MD VA’s mission.
- Political Savvy: Can maneuver through complex situations effectively. Plans appropriately to seize potential opportunities and avoid potential conflicts in service of realizing overarching goals.
The Vice President for Program Operations must also share these Core Values which are an integral component our success:
- Respect: We respect each other. We value the uniqueness and dignity of everyone and appreciate the strength of diversity and inclusion.
- Responsibility: We share a sense of responsibility for doing things right, being good stewards and being accountable for our actions.
- Integrity: We conduct business ethically with a commitment to moral integrity and we expect people to hold a high moral standard. We communicate openly, honestly, and directly.
- Innovation: We embrace new ideas, take measured risks, and find better ways to help more people.
- Care: We show compassion for others and continue to live our mission each day.
Required Skills and Abilities
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong supervisory and leadership skills.
- Extensive knowledge of the principles, procedures, and best practices in the industry.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
Education and Experience
- Education: Bachelor of Science degree required; advanced degree ideal
- A minimum of 10 years of experience managing staff, programs, and projects (from program design to financial management, compliance, and reporting), including three years in upper management required.
- Demonstrated experience in financial management
- Experience working with diverse audiences with and without disabilities including adults, children, families, and communities from various backgrounds
- Excellent organization, written and oral communication skills; ability to digest and distill complex subjects into clear messages
- Ability to multitask and respond to multiple and/or competing priorities
Physical Requirements
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Willingness and capacity to travel across the region.
- Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
Easterseals policy is to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants and employees regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, status as a special disabled veteran, or any other protected criteria as established by federal, state, or local laws. Employment decisions at Easterseals are based solely upon relevant criteria, including an individual’s capabilities, qualifications, training, experience and suitability.