President & CEO

Carbondale, CO
Full Time
Ascendigo Autism Services, Inc.
Executive
 
A logo with blue and yellow text Description automatically generated
 

President & CEO

Ascendigo Autism Services, Inc.

Carbondale, Colorado


The Moran Company is pleased to partner with Ascendigo Autism Services, Inc. to recruit the organization’s next President & CEO.

Organizational Overview

Ascendigo Autism Services, Inc. is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that enhances the lives of children and adults living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related intellectual and developmental disabilities. Ascendigo achieves this through a variety of programs - outdoor/sports education, employment supports, life skills instruction, community integration, behavioral therapy in schools, homes, the Ascendigo center, and community and professional trainings. 

Ascendigo is headquartered in Carbondale, Colorado – 45 minutes from Aspen and an hour from Vail Valley. Ascendigo provides programming to nearly 250 individuals with autism locally and nationally, regardless of disability presentation and across the lifespan. Ascendigo's mission is to elevate the spectrum by empowering people, inspiring lives and shattering expectations. This mission is currently supported by 45 full and part-time staff members (with an additional 40 seasonal employees during the summer), a board of 13, a revenue budget of $5.9 million, and an experienced executive leadership team of five.  

This year marks Ascendigo's 20th anniversary as one of the top nonprofits in the greater Aspen community. Ascendigo begins its third decade of service by finishing the buildout of a permanent 14,000 square foot center in Carbondale with customized space for programs and administrative offices (see “capital campaign” at Ascendigo.org)

Ascendigo’s goal is to integrate people with autism into their community across all life domains through teaching meaningful skills and creating joyful, real-life experiences. With a proprietary “Ascendigo Way” values system of practice and an extensive training curriculum, the organization educates both internal and external stakeholders to foster compassionate, person-centered support and connections. View a description of the full array of services at Ascendigo.org.

The Community

In the heart of the incredible Roaring Fork Valley, Carbondale is located at the base of majestic Mt. Sopris, resting in a broad valley defined by the confluence of the Crystal and Roaring Fork Rivers. At 170 miles west of Denver in the heart of Colorado’s central Rocky Mountains, the picturesque town of Carbondale is an outdoor recreation center with a strong arts and music community. The town of 6,500 at 6,200 feet elevation embraces its mining, ranching, skiing, and resort identities.

Position Summary

The President & CEO (CEO) provides leadership, direction, and guidance across all areas of the organization, including paid and volunteer staff and consultants. The CEO is expected to forge strong working relationships with the board of directors and committee members, other staff, consultants, volunteers, and allied organizations with whom interaction is necessary in achieving the goals and objectives outlined. The CEO works to ensure that the Ascendigo mission, vision and core values are upheld. 

Essential Job Functions 

The CEO is expected to lead Ascendigo to the next stage in its development, including reaching its financial objectives. The CEO:
  • Implements policies established by the Board of Directors. 
  • Provides leadership, direction, and guidance of Ascendigo activities.
  • Develops business plans to grow Ascendigo financially and programmatically. 
  • Analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of the organization’s operations and messaging. 
  • Develops and maintains organizational structure and effective personnel.
  • Coordinates major activities (programs and fundraising efforts).
  • Ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, good business practices, and risk management standards.
The Ideal Candidate 

Ascendigo is seeking candidates with a compelling combination of experience and skills that will meet the challenges and opportunities inherent in this position. The ideal candidate is:
  • An enthusiastic, people-oriented and sociable personality who can relate positively to everyone involved – including people served, families, and community - and work to increase the visibility of Ascendigo.
  • A leader of teams, experienced in managing a collaborative, high functioning management team which supports well-being and morale, and who has the ability to engage and expand the Board of Directors to establish strategic plans, raise money, and grow the organization.
  • Experienced with growing multiple and complex revenue streams and reimbursement systems (insurance, public funding, grants, private pay) with budget management plus profit and loss accountability.
  • Experienced in fundraising with a mindset for philanthropy, with a work history that includes successfully generating new revenue through planned fundraising, new donor development, and donor relations.
Required and Preferred Qualifications 
  1. Minimum of ten years of nonprofit executive experience in organizations of comparable size and complexity.
  2. Bachelor’s degree required.
  3. The following are each considered a “plus”: Experience in services to people with disabilities; Master’s Degree; bilingual English/Spanish.
Primary Responsibilities

Board Interaction & Support

The CEO will participate with the Board in developing a vision and strategic plan to guide the organization, will implement the plan and any policies approved by the Board. The CEO will inform the Board of internal and external issues that affect the organization and act as an advisor to the Board on all aspects of the organization's activities. 

Operational Planning & Management

The CEO will oversee day to-day operations and will ensure that the organization meets the expectations of the individuals it serves, their families, donors, and the Board. The executive will ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, and will oversee the evaluation of the organization's programs. The CEO will direct the preparation of and adherence to a comprehensive budget, and provide the Board with financial reports with metrics for assessing performance. 

Client & Community Engagement

The CEO actively interacts with the families Ascendigo serves and the autism community at large to maintain high stakeholder satisfaction and understand our customers’ needs. The CEO should understand the autism population (including family needs), the importance of physical and experiential endeavors to human well-being, the merits of activity-based learning, and the need for community-based settings. The CEO actively fosters partnership with other entities in the community such as employers, schools, other non-profits, and local government, which are vital to executing our mission.

Communications & Revenue Generation

The CEO will drive revenue for the organization through both program revenue and strong experience in nonprofit fundraising. The CEO will have the support of the Board, the Development Committee, and the Chief Development Officer (CDO). The CEO will work with the CDO to identify grant opportunities and implement fundraising plans and events. The CEO leads efforts to obtain funding from grants, health insurance reimbursement, Medicaid, and other government programs as well as private-pay client families. The CEO should bring demonstrated experience and success in attracting and engaging with high-level individual donors. The CEO will approve marketing and communications with the public, potential donors, and other key stakeholders.

Duties in the “Client & Community Engagement” and “Communications & Revenue Generation” areas are expected to require 40% of the CEO’s time. 

Compensation

The annual salary range for this position is $ 175,000 - $200,000. Benefits include:
  • Open PTO - includes leave for vacation, sick time, and bereavement (free to take leave when you require it and upon approval, without accrual or a bank system)
  • 11 paid holidays
  • Health insurance (65% subsidized for employee)
  • Dental and Vision insurance (50% subsidized for employee)
  • 401(k) retirement plan with an employer match of 100% employee contributions for their first 3% and then 50% on 4% and 5% contributions
  • Short and long-term disability and life insurance plans
  • Employee Assistance Plan
 
Statement of Non-Discrimination 

Ascendigo is committed to prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) among our staff and with our clients. Diversity is all the ways in which people differ. It is less about what makes people different and more about understanding, accepting, and valuing those differences. Equity is fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all people. It is about creating fair access, opportunity, and advancement for all people. Inclusion is when a variety of people have power, a voice, and decision-making authority. It is the extent to which various team members, employees and other people feel a sense of belonging and value within a given organizational setting.

Application Process
 
The search for the President & CEO of Ascendigo Autism Services, Inc. is being conducted by The Moran Company. To apply for this position, submit resume and cover letter to Bruce Scott, The Moran Company, through the link below. Interviews will begin on November 22, 2024. Within your cover letter or resume, please be sure to provide a description of your qualifications related to the Position Summary and “ideal candidate” traits.
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