CEO/Executive Director

About Balance Inc

Balance Inc. is a nonprofit organization that has been a pillar of support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin for over three decades.

Balance Inc. is dedicated to improving quality of life for adults and children with IDD and does so by providing community-based programs that promote and respond to each person’s goals, dreams, and needs. These programs include:

• Children’s Summer Recreation (a summer camp for kids ages 5-15)
• Social Skills Program (an afterschool program for kids age 5-17)
• Adult Day Program (provides daytime activities for adults with IDD)
• Adult Family Homes (provides housing for adults who need 24/7 assistance)
• Supported Living Program (assists adults with IDD that can live independently)

Not only do we strive to empower each individual to determine the direction of their life, but our community-based programs also enhance our community’s capacity to understand and embrace individuals with special needs.

Balance Inc. envisions a future where individuals with IDD are fully integrated and empowered in their communities. We see a world where these individuals can live independently, foster meaningful relationships, contribute actively to their community, and be supported throughout their journey.

Balance aims to be a trailblazer in inclusive practices, driving innovative solutions and providing unwavering support across lifetimes.

Job Summary: The Executive Director has overall strategic and operational responsibility for Balance’s staff, programs, growth and execution of its mission. They are passionate and credible as an advocate and representative of the organization and the brand.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Strategic Planning
  • Works closely with the Board of Directors in the development of strategic plan as well as associated short and long-term plans.
  • Develop courses of action, goals, and tactics to accomplish strategic plans, as approved by the Board of Directors.
  • Develops courses of action and metrics to measure the successful implementation of the organization’s strategic plan.
  • Leads financial planning and oversight to ensure budgets align with strategic goals and support long-term sustainability.
  • Manages key contracts to ensure strategic alignment, regulatory compliance, and effective organizational outcomes.
  • Reports key issues and performance metrics to the Board on a regular basis.
  • Serves as ex-officio of each Board of Director’s committees.
  • Ensures programs are evaluated on a rigorous and consistent basis.
  • Executes essential restructuring with a focus on the employment or redeployment of people, capital, and other resources in accordance with the organization’s strategic plan.

• Community Presence & Fundraising

• • Creates and sustains fundraising efforts to ensure the organization’s future success and financial security.
  • Acts as an effective spokesperson to the public and uses external presence and relationships to garner new opportunities.
  • Strengthens the brand by communicating program results and successes in the geographic areas served by Balance.
  • Expands fund development by overseeing short and long-term fund development goals to expand the organization’s individual donor and philanthropic outreach.
  • Builds strong relationships with funders, community leaders and elected officials.

• Staff Management & Compliance

• • Leads, coaches, and develops the management team by establishing clear goals and expectations, providing feedback, building upon the strengths of staff.
  • Provides on-going communication with Balance, Inc. staff, around the strategic plan and its alignment with each of their roles and programs.
  • Helps others identify, take ownership of, and succeed in achieving shared goals.
  • Offers opportunities for employee growth.
  • Integrates government regulations with the organization’s business practices to ensure compliance.
  • Assures that all policies and procedures meet government regulations and requirements and reflect best practices.

Organizational Competency

Promoting Mission & Culture

Competency Description:  Acts as a model and champions the unique needs of the diverse participants by determining appropriate programs, responses, and degree of individual advocacy in keeping with Balance’s Mission, Vision, Culture and Organizational objectives.  Uses the company vision, mission, culture, values, and value proposition to achieve desired results and to guide day-to-day activities.

Positional Competencies

Leadership

Competency Description: Brings perspective to challenges and issues, simultaneously focuses on short and long-term strategies/goals/actions. Helps others identify, take ownership of, and succeed in achieving shared goals. Models behaviors that staff can follow. Inspires, motivates, recognizes, and rewards positive behaviors in support of the organization’s long-term sustainability.

Financial Acumen

Competency Description: Demonstrates strong financial leadership by effectively managing budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes. Uses financial data to inform strategic decisions, ensure fiscal responsibility, and support the organization’s long-term sustainability.

Communication

Competency Description:  Provides timely and effective communication while clearly organizing and expressing information and ideas to meet the needs of the organization. Communicates with tact and sensitivity to internal and external audiences based on content and context. Adjusts messaging to the audience to line with their experience, background, and expectations.

Integrity

Competency Description: Maintains a high degree of honesty and judgment at all times.

Accountability

Competency Description:   Holds self and others accountable for meeting personal and business goals aligned with the organization’s strategic business objectives by monitoring plans, focusing on results, and measuring outcomes.

Quality

Competency Description:   Demonstrates strong commitment to quality programs and data-driven program evaluations. Actively creates mechanisms and channels to facilitate contributions to quality improvements.

Relationship Management

Competency Description: Develops and maintains positive supportive relationships with staff, participants, parents and guardians, community members, care management and other outside / third parties. Consistently treats others with respect, accomplishing objectives through networking and collaboration, valuing and involving people of diverse backgrounds and experience.  Works with others to resolve challenges and solve disagreements—always reaching a win-win solution and maintaining productive relationships.

Influence & Presence

Competency Description:  Displays a presence and positive image that establishes and maintains credibility.  Has the ability to win support and gain cooperation.

Time Management

Competency Description: Identifies, prioritizes and balances tasks and activities, and exercises discipline to maintain focus, reduce interruptions, avoid procrastination, and persist in execution.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Human/Social Services, or related field required.  Master’s degree preferred.

Certifications and/or Licenses:  None required.

Relevant Experience & Training:

• Preferred minimum of 10 years of senior leadership experience, preferably in a non-profit setting.
• Preferred minimum of 10 years financial/budget management and oversight including experience working with government funding.
• Demonstrated ability to coach a diverse staff, manage, and develop high-performing teams.
• Proven ability to develop, implement and achieve strategies that grow an organization while ensuring financial stability.
• Past working experience with a diverse board of directors with the ability to cultivate board member relationships.
• Demonstrated marketing, public relations, and annual fund and endowment development experience with the ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and cultures.
• Experience overseeing a successful fund development program preferred, including state, federal and private funding sources.
• 100% Onsite
• Full-time role with expectations for coverage during core business hours and flexibility required as necessary to accommodate business needs.

Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in a professional, creative, open office environment with business casual attire. Hours of work will generally be during regular business hours. There are occasions where extra effort will be required to meet client expectations.
• Travel—Travel is required within primarily SE Wisconsin. Periodic travel to surrounding areas in and out of state may be required for conferences, meetings, etc.

Physical and Other Requirements: 

• Must frequently lift and/or move 10 to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Work requires sitting, standing, walking, crouching and driving.
• Complete a background disclosure form and meet all requirements to pass criminal background checks.
• Pass initial and periodic drug screens and maintain a drug-free lifestyle.

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this job/classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.  Balance, Inc. is an equal employment opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or and other characteristic protected by law.