Executive Director of the Institute on Disabilities

Temple University • Philadelphia, PA

36d • Hybrid

About The Position

Temple University invites nominations and applications for the full-time, twelve-month position of Executive Director of the Institute on Disabilities (IOD), a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) funded by the Administration on Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act. The Executive Director will provide dynamic leadership to strengthen and advance the mission of the IOD.

The Institute on Disabilities provides programs/services, disseminates information and resources, and conducts research and program evaluation in eight core areas: leadership development, assistive technology, inclusive education, disability studies, health equity, criminal justice, employment and policy, all based on a vision of a society where all people are valued and respected, and where all people have the knowledge, opportunity and power to improve their lives and the lives of others. The new IOD Executive Director will bring compatible core values, a record of progressive managerial experience, content excellence in disabilities advocacy, and visionary strategic leadership skills that continue to build on the IOD’s foundation of excellence. In addition to nurturing the current IOD portfolio of projects, services, research, and education, the new IOD Executive Director will have opportunities to expand the IOD’s capacity by
• Building strategic partnerships with diverse Temple University faculty, departments, institutes, and centers of excellence already conducting ground-breaking disability-related investigations to advance research that contributes to system transformation, best practices, and community building for people with disabilities;
• Working with designated Special Education faculty to develop innovative interdisciplinary educational opportunities for future disabilities professionals;
• Developing revenue enhancement and diversification strategies that target market-based contracting opportunities and federal priority areas consistent with the IOD mission;
• Strategically positioning IOD contributions to affect city, state, and national policies related to people with disabilities.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in education, psychology, sociology, public health, disability studies, or other related field and at least 7 years in the field of disability with commensurate experience managing complex projects and activities, along with the supervision of both direct and indirect reports. An equivalent combination of education and lived experience may be considered.
• Extensive knowledge of the field of disabilities, especially local, state and federal, policies and practices
• Evidence of vision and strategic thinking that enables system transformation
• Demonstrated ability in securing and managing grant funded research and programs
• Evidence both of success providing leadership and of the ability to work collaboratively and as part of a team
• Proven understanding of community development and supports, advocacy, and capacity building
• PA Child Abuse Clearance
• PA State Police Criminal Background Check
• FBI Fingerprint Criminal Background Check
• Cash Handling

Nice To Haves

• An earned doctorate (preferred) in education, psychology, sociology, public health or other disability-related discipline.
• 8-10 years’ experience in the field of disability with commensurate experience managing complex projects and activities.
• Experience supervising populations of people with disabilities.
• A personal connection to lived experience with disability.

Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership to propel the IOD to its next level of development
• Understand the organizational landscape and anticipate, articulate, and shape the critical issues and opportunities in the field of disabilities
• Explore and develop entrepreneurial business models of service and research
• Participate in strategic college, university, state, and federal policy activities
• Model an appreciation for the need for preparation, collaboration, planning, communication, and evaluation in the approach to problem solving and program building
• Understand the process of system transformation in supporting progressive policy, legislative, and service outcomes, equitable access and opportunity, and quality of community life for persons with disabilities
• Effectively engage with diverse University and external stakeholders including relevant Commonwealth of Pennsylvania state agencies
• Advance the further development of a robust IOD research enterprise with multiple funding streams
• Embrace entrepreneurial thinking and explore creative revenue enhancement opportunities
• Provide strategic management and oversite to the array of funded projects, and ensure the ethical, sustainable and efficient management of the IOD human and financial resources.
• Manage a complex organization with success measured in well-defined benchmarks and metrics
• Develop annual operating plans that advance strategic intentions
• Recruiting, organize, and manage human resources, including team building and resolving conflict
• Manage and support a team of diverse abilities and fostering a disability-positive environment
• Delegate effectively while remaining focused on strategy and overall goals of Temple University, the CEHD, and the IOD
• Build IOD capacity through expanded content and programmatic expertise, meaningful inter-organizational collaborations, professional development and preparation, team building, and mentoring
• Commit to compliance with institutional and external regulations
• Safeguard fiduciary responsibilities to sponsors, Temple University, the CEHD, and the IOD
• Manage a diverse portfolio of sponsored grants, ensuring full lifecycle compliance from proposal development through closeout
• Coordinate with principal investigators and finance staff to maintain budget integrity, process amendments, and support audits or sponsor reviews
• Identify funding opportunities and oversee grant writing efforts, including narratives, work plans, evaluation approaches, and required supporting documentation
• Design, implement and evaluate policies and programs; document and present evidence of successful system transformation efforts
• Support the advancement of research; understanding of the infrastructure needed to support research.

Benefits

• A hybrid work schedule
• Full medical, dental, vision coverage
• Paid time off
• 11 Paid Holidays
• Tuition remission - eligible employees and their dependents can obtain a degree TUITION FREE
• A generous retirement plan and so much more!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive