The Executive Director will exhibit a keen understanding of the challenges facing North Dakotans with disabilities and their families. The Executive Director will develop and nurture effective relationships between P&A and disability-related entities, as well as with the ND Legislative Assembly and other policymakers. Collaboration with other advocacy organizations is essential to achieve impactful outcomes. The Executive Director will lead staff and stakeholders to respect the governing board’s philosophy of using the lowest level of intervention necessary to achieve positive outcomes while also facilitating a well-trained and experienced team of attorneys to advance litigation, when necessary.
Key Responsibilities of the Executive Director
• Provide visionary, strategic leadership and effective organizational management including program planning, compliance, budget development, and financial oversight.
• Serve as the primary public face of P&A with the disability community, the media, public officials, and the community at large and represent the organization in its various local, state, and federal networks.
• Engage directly with people with disabilities and foster clear communication and trust-building with the broader disability community.
• Set priorities, supervise planning, and pursue creative strategies for addressing future challenges for the disability community and the organization.
• Advocate for and champion full inclusion and equity for the disability community and work to promote understanding about the experiences of North Dakotans with disabilities.
• Cultivate strong working relationships with the governing board and advisory council through effective and responsive engagement with all members.
• Enhance the organization’s capacity to identify, prioritize, address, and evaluate constituent needs and services, responsive to emergent issues.
• Supervise and mentor leadership staff to promote teamwork, creative problem solving, and sustainable outcomes.
• Promote effective, collaborative working relationships with advocacy groups, government officials, public interest and civil rights organizations, other associations serving individuals with disabilities, and the general public.
• Engage fully in the activities of the state legislature, educate legislative policymakers on issues affecting North Dakotans with disabilities, and provide testimony on disability-related issues.
• Motivate staff, oversee personnel decisions, and create a workplace culture of inclusion and cultural competency.
The Ideal Candidate Would Possess
• Demonstrated experience in using systemic advocacy and legal remedies to achieve social change.
• A deep understanding of the breadth of experiences of, and a demonstrated affiliation with, individuals with disabilities.
• An unrelenting voice to advocate with individuals with disabilities and their families.
• A reputation as a consensus-builder and collaborator, and the wisdom to work toward long-standing solutions rather than a temporary “win”.
• Extensive experience in social services, disability rights advocacy, or closely related field.
• Substantial management experience in an organization with a comparable or larger budget, including staff supervision, budget development, financial oversight, and grant and contract compliance.
• A Juris Doctor or an advanced degree in public administration, social work, or another area closely aligned with P&A’s mission.
• Strategic vision, problem solving, planning, and project management skills.
• Creativity, collegiality, inclusivity, flexibility, and capacity to motivate and inspire.
• Coalition-building strengths and demonstrated partnerships with nonprofits, community organizations, and service providers working within disabilities advocacy and social services.
• Ability to listen and judiciously respond to a variety of perspectives, including governing board, staff, clients, policymakers, funders, outside stakeholders, and the public at large.
• Conflict-resolution, negotiation, and mediation skills; patience and a calm demeanor.
• An innovative spirit and a willingness to rock the boat when needed.
• Public relations adeptness and political savvy.
• Excellent writing, analytical, and oral communication skills, and experience effectively communicating with a wide range of audiences.
• Familiarity with North Dakota culture; experience working with ND state agencies and the ND legislative process.
• Advanced knowledge of public policy issues including federal and state laws and regulations applicable to persons with disabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage staff who are geographically dispersed.
• Integrity and fairness working in a complex environment, and seasoned human relations skills.
• Demonstrated experience working with and in diverse populations, including race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, and other social identities.
Application Process
Interested candidates must submit a letter of application explaining their interest in the position and the experience they believe demonstrates their ability to contribute to the future of P&A; a resume; and a list of three professional references including someone who supervised you, someone you supervised, and an additional person. Applicants also are asked to submit a short (1-3 pages) description of an activity they have undertaken involving the rights of persons with disabilities.
Applications should be submitted by March 15, 2021 to Karla Buzick: [email protected]. Questions regarding the application process should be directed to [email protected] or call 701.224.0588.