POSITION DESCRIPTION
October 2015
Albertina Kerr
Chief Executive Officer
One of the nation’s most respected organizations serving people living with
developmental disabilities and mental health challenges, seeks an ambitious
executive to assure delivery of best-in-class services and sustainable growth.
Albertina Kerr (www.albertinakerr.org) has been providing services to children, families and
adults since 1907. Founded as the Portland Commons Mission for Homeless Men and Returning
Prisoners, the organization quickly expanded to serve women and children. Throughout its 108
year history, Albertina Kerr has provided a continually evolving, best-in-class suite of services
that has at times included supportive housing and residential treatment arrangements, services
for single mothers, health maintenance and independent living services, job training, and foster
care and adoption services. In short, Albertina Kerr has always attempted to serve those that
others could or would not, and gone where the need was greatest.
In the process of serving those with the greatest need, the organization became an innovator
and leader in delivering community-integrated services for children, youth and adults living with
developmental disabilities and mental health challenges. As the organization increasingly
focused on these particular clients, there has been a careful transition of Albertina Kerr’s
traditional suite of services. This transition has unfolded over the last two decades to ensure
that every person is properly served and supported.
Today, Albertina Kerr is Oregon’s leading provider of programs and services to children and
adults with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges. Albertina Kerr is at the
center of a community that stands together to create a truly inclusive society with no barriers…
a community where people who face these kinds of disabilities and challenges are embraced
and empowered. At Albertina Kerr, volunteers and staff reach out to the most vulnerable and
receive in return love, smiles, appreciation and life-lessons that can only be taught by those
living a different kind of experience. The gift of Albertina Kerr is a gift for all.
ALBERTINA KERR, ITS CLIENTS AND SERVICES
Albertina Kerr annually serves over 2,700 people in need, and gratefully accepts the help of
volunteers who contribute more than 65,000 hours of various kinds of support. The
organization’s operating budget is just over $47m, with less than 10% of the total budget
dedicated to funding the organization’s infrastructure. About 90% of funding is through
government entities paying for direct services, with the balance generated by private payers,
contributions and income-generating operations.
This is a staff-led organization with an egalitarian culture of respect and consultation that
nevertheless can act decisively. Over 860 staff represents a huge range of skills, and include
care-providers with diverse qualifications, doctors, nurses, mental health clinicians, allied health
professionals, social workers, and a comprehensive array of business and administrative
professionals. Albertina Kerr is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and manages more than 75
facilities, including group homes, residential treatment facilities, clinics, and day programs
throughout Greater Portland and Salem. Major facilities include its historic headquarters, its
Gresham campus for children’s mental health, approximately 55 neighborhood group homes for
people with disabilities, and a specialty pediatrics clinic, and real estate holdings are roughly
valued at $22.8 million. The organization is guided by a governing Board of Directors of 15, a
Foundation Board of Trustees for its associated fundraising foundation of 17, and an Executive
Committee of seven.
A full range of services for those living with developmental disabilities and mental health
challenges is offered by Albertina Kerr.
The Youth and Family Services division provides services for children and youth with mental
health and behavioral challenges, along with support for their families, including:
•
Crisis Psychiatric Care (Subacute) provides short-term residential care (usually less than
two weeks) and 24-hour access to mental health professionals for children experiencing
urgent mental health crises.
•
Family Resource Center provides support, answers to questions, and a gathering place
for activities and events for families raising a child with mental health and behavioral
challenges.
•
Intensive Community-Based Treatment services for children ages 3 to 17 at risk of being
unable to stay in their home or in school due to mental health challenges.
•
Kerr Early Childhood Outpatient Services provides assistance for pre-school children with
behavioral challenges, and their families, with a focus on skills development to promote
the child's success and safety, preparing them to enter kindergarten ready to learn in
their local community schools.
•
Outpatient Mental Health Services for children, youth, and their families provided in
community settings, including homes, schools and other locations.
The Children's Developmental Health Services division provides specialized, team-based
developmental care focused on diagnosis and treatment of childhood developmental delays and
disabilities in an outpatient clinic. Albertina Kerr has one of the largest teams of Developmental
Behavioral Pediatricians in the Northwest, and they are complemented by specialized allied
health professionals and social workers focused on supporting these children and families.
The Developmental Disabilities Services division supports adults and children with
intellectual and developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, and
epilepsy. Services include:
•
Community Inclusion gives people with developmental disabilities the opportunity to
participate in the workforce, join in activities and pursue hobbies that enrich their lives,
leading to increased independence and community involvement.
•
Adult Group Homes are neighborhood homes for one to five adults offering 24-hour
support and individual growth opportunities to adults with developmental disabilities.
•
Supported Living provides adults with developmental disabilities a support system to
enable them to create their own living situation based on their needs and goals.
•
Youth Group Homes are neighborhood homes for one to five young people providing
around-the-clock support and life skills training for youth ages 7 to 18 with
developmental disabilities and mental health challenges.
Services are not static, nor is Albertina Kerr interested in chasing fads or service options that
are financially unsustainable. The CEO is expected to be dedicated to providing long-term
quality support for clients and families, without being wedded to past approaches and
structures that could be changed and improved. A key to the CEO’s success will be the ability
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to balance the need for stability with innovative change, along with a style that productively
engages the energies of the Albertina Kerr Board, staff, volunteers, families, constituents and
clients.
BASIC FUNCTION
The Chief Executive Officer will lead Albertina Kerr by enhancing the organization’s financial
strength, administrative and services infrastructure, and through the acquisition and retention
of top talent, while providing best-in-class services to its clients. The CEO will lead a highly
motivated self-directed team, build relationships with public and private agencies and partners,
and increase the beneficial impact of Albertina Kerr’s programs on the community. He/she will
be the chief advocate and fundraiser for the organization, its programs and operations, with an
ability to speak prominently and passionately about Albertina Kerr, its clients and families.
Specific responsibilities include:
LEADERSHIP & VISION
•
Explore opportunities for growth and new programs; focus on strengthening and
creating new partnerships/relationships that support Albertina Kerr; understand the
unique circumstances and health/social service needs of individuals and families being
served;
•
In partnership with the Board, provide vision and strategic planning, ensuring that the
concerns of staff, the Board, individuals and families being supported in communities
served are taken into account;
•
Maintain an organizational climate that attracts, retains, and motivates a multi-cultural,
diverse, high-quality staff and Board.
FUNDRAISING, COMMUNICATIONS AND VISIBILITY
•
Enhance and strengthen development revenue; evolve fundraising strategy that includes
staff and Board roles and responsibilities;
•
Personally drive individual and institutional major gift solicitations and planned giving
solicitations from individuals;
•
Conduct public speaking and community outreach with the goal of building increased
funding and other kinds of support for the organization;
•
Expand the public’s understanding of Albertina Kerr’s work; ensure that the mission and
values are clearly and effectively conveyed through its communications materials;
•
Serve as an empathic advocate and knowledgeable spokesperson on issues related to
the quality of life and services for children, youth and adults with disabilities and mental
health conditions and their families.
PROGRAM SERVICES
•
Maintain the high quality, cost-effectiveness and high leverage of Albertina Kerr’s
programs and services;
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•
Continually evaluate existing programs and seek ways to improve efficiency without
compromising quality of care; define the impact that Albertina Kerr can have in
addressing unmet needs and gaps in service;
•
Provide for Albertina Kerr’s ongoing thought leadership in the field, ensuring that staff
are trained in the newest approaches to serving the disabled and those with mental
health conditions; be aware of the use of assistive technologies and on-line resources
for families and volunteers; remain current with trends in the field;
•
Continue to foster a strong service orientation that is innovative, compassionate and
professional.
GENERAL MANAGEMENT, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
•
Ensure that day-to-day operations and programs are professionally and efficiently
organized and administered; ensure proper administration of contracts, including
compliance with relevant employment laws and other legal requirements;
•
Oversee recruiting, retention, motivation and evaluation of staff; facilitate a sense of
ownership and accountability by the leadership team;
•
Maintain the organization’s fiscal health; ensure that the organization adheres to a
sustainable financial plan based on a Board-approved annual budget; ensure that
financial performance positively tracks budget and operating plans; foster an
atmosphere of transparency and accountability in matters relating to the organization’s
financial condition.
BOARD RELATIONS
•
Become familiar with, and follow Albertina Kerr Governance Policies; develop,
recommend and implement policies, program goals and objectives; provide ongoing
communication to the Board on critical matters related to Albertina Kerr;
•
With the Board Chair and Executive Committee, coordinate the efforts of regular and ad
hoc committees; develop Board meeting agendas, schedules, retreats and other
activities with the Executive Committee; ensure that all committees achieve objectives;
encourage Board members’ appropriate involvement in Albertina Kerr’s range of
activities;
•
Assist the Board in identifying and recruiting new Board members whose talents,
backgrounds, commitment and interests are congruent with the needs and mission of
Albertina Kerr.
QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS
The CEO will be an experienced leader possessing the following key qualifications and
characteristics:
•
A mission-driven individual with a belief in and commitment to Albertina Kerr’s mission;
sensitive to (and personally committed to) addressing the needs of children, adults and
families who live with disabilities and mental health conditions;
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•
Proven senior-level managerial and operational experience, problem solving, and
financial experience as an executive in the nonprofit sector; different kinds of executive
experience in similarly sized public or private sector organizations is advantageous;
•
Experience in evolving an organization while safeguarding the quality of services;
demonstrated ability to build and align essential resources including fundraising support,
administrative infrastructure, and talent acquisition; demonstrated track record of
implementing growth strategies that include mergers, organic growth, focused
programmatic changes and new services; a history of managing different types of
organizational change would be advantageous;
•
A track record in attracting financial support from individuals, government sources,
foundations and businesses; outstanding oral and written communication skills, including
excellent public speaking skills for formal and extemporaneous presentations;
•
Proven ability working effectively with representatives, advocates and professionals with
different backgrounds and from a variety of communities; experienced facilitator and
catalyst for new ideas; leader/influencer;
•
Decisive and resourceful, with the organizational sensitivity to gain the support and
confidence of the Board and staff at all levels; a team builder, confident and competent,
with strong skills in management and leadership; one who trusts and empowers the
leadership team; understands the subtleties of recruiting, motivating, directing and
retaining a diverse group of personalities with different work styles and cultural
heritage;
•
A grounded visionary and lifelong-learner who can see the real-world needs of disabled
individuals and families based on data and trends, and shape programs that are
effective, highly leveraged and sustainable;
•
An individual with outstanding human qualities; one who is straightforward, shares
information easily, listens as well as offers advice, and respects the abilities of others;
someone who imparts trust and integrity, and guides others in a similar vein;
• An individual possessing a sense of humor, able to maintain balance and perspective.
For more information please contact:
David Santore
(310)943-9355 or [email protected]
Mark Oppenheim
(415)762-2640 or [email protected]
m/Oppenheim Associates
425 Market Street, Suite 1020
San Francisco, CA 94105
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