Director of JFK Partners - Open Rank

University of Colorado•Aurora, CO

5d•$125,000 - $300,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of JFK Partners leads a nationally recognized center committed to promoting equal opportunity for children, youth, and adults with developmental disabilities. The center brings together service providers, researchers, family members, and people with lived experience. The position is open rank and may be categorized as Associate Professor or Professor based on qualifications and experience. The Director serves as Project Director for the Colorado Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND), funded by HRSA, and the Colorado University Center for Excellence in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (UCEDD), funded by the Administration for Community Living. The LEND Project Director is responsible for all aspects of the program, must commit at least 30% effort, ensure appropriate use of the MCH training grant, attend relevant meetings or designate a representative, and work directly with the MCHB program officer. The UCEDD Project Director oversees and supports interdisciplinary education, research, dissemination, public service, and advocacy across the University of Colorado School of Medicine and community agencies, and informs state and federal legislators. This director reviews recommendations from JFK Partners’ Community Advisory Committee, collaborates with Disability Justice and the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council, ensures appropriate use of ACL funding, attends relevant meetings or designates a representative, and works directly with the UCEDD program officer. The Director is also responsible for reapplying for the LEND and UCEDD grants. The position provides oversight of discipline directors, faculty, and staff; participates in selecting and overseeing fellows and trainees; and supports grant reporting, partnerships, policy and advocacy, disability-related committee work, and efforts to secure extramural funding. The Director contributes to knowledge development related to intellectual and developmental disabilities, special health care needs, health equity, and systems change. For those in clinical disciplines, a minimum of 0.2 cFTE is required. The position is hybrid, with three days per week on campus and additional in-person attendance as needed. The role includes a condition of employment requiring successful completion of a drug test through Children’s Hospital Colorado and willingness and ability to pass a national criminal background check.

Requirements

Terminal degree in medicine, education, public administration, public health, law, economics, social sciences, psychology, or a related field, or currently approved LEND or UCEDD director status.
Extensive experience working with individuals with disabilities and their families, and with disability-focused agencies or organizations.
At least 5 years of experience in programs serving individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities and/or other special health care needs for Associate Professor rank; at least 7 years for Professor rank.
Experience serving as a principal investigator, co-investigator, or grant director.
Ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships.
Excellent communication skills related to administration, strategic vision, and improving understanding of research and issues facing people with disabilities across the lifespan.
Demonstrated ability to affect systems change supporting policy, legislation, service outcomes, equitable access, and quality of life for people with disabilities.
Demonstrated ability to foster a workplace culture valuing collaboration, intellectual curiosity, mentoring, academic freedom, and diverse perspectives.
Understanding of the AUCD network, particularly LEND and UCEDD programs, their roles, purposes, and missions.
Skill and experience in program administration, research, training, outreach, technical assistance, resource development/leverage, and dissemination.
Knowledge and skills related to direct lived experience as a person with a disability and/or family or caregiver experience.
Must successfully pass a drug test through Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Must be willing and able to pass a national criminal background check.

Nice To Haves

Seven or more years of experience in programs serving children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and/or other special health care needs.
Substantial record of research, publications, presentations, and grants administration.
Embodiment of the values of independence, productivity, and community inclusion outlined within the DD Act.
Academic rank of Associate Professor or Professor.

Responsibilities

Lead JFK Partners, a center promoting equal opportunity for people with developmental disabilities and their families.
Serve as LEND Project Director, overseeing all aspects of the program and committing a minimum of 30% effort to the project.
Ensure proper use of the MCH training grant; attend LEND and related meetings or designate a program representative; and work directly with the MCHB program officer.
Serve as UCEDD Project Director, overseeing and supporting interdisciplinary education, research, dissemination, public service, and advocacy.
Review recommendations from JFK Partners’ Community Advisory Committee and collaborate with Disability Justice and the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council.
Ensure proper use of ACL funding; attend AUCD and related UCEDD meetings or designate a representative; and work directly with the UCEDD program officer.
Reapply for the LEND and UCEDD grants.
Oversee discipline directors, other faculty, and staff.
Participate directly in selecting and overseeing fellows and trainees.
Submit grant progress and performance reports on time.
For clinical disciplines, maintain a minimum of 0.2 cFTE.
Interact directly with ACL sister agencies and complete an annual shared project.
Provide input related to disability policy and advocacy, personally or through a designee.
Participate in local, regional, national, and/or international disability-related committees.
Lead and/or participate in efforts to secure incremental extramural funding for the Director’s professional effort and the programs overall.
Contribute to expanding knowledge related to intellectual and developmental disabilities, special health care needs, health equity, and/or systems change.
Support workforce development for professionals in the field and develop and maintain strategic partnerships.
Foster a collaborative workplace through team building, sponsorship of junior colleagues, and respect for employees at all organizational levels.