CVI President
The Center for the Visually Impaired, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia (“CVI”) is seeking an entrepreneurial chief executive to continue and expand its record as one of the leading vision rehabilitation organizations in the country. The current President has announced her retirement effective June 30, 2013, after eleven years of extraordinary leadership evidenced by growth in services, development of new programs and enterprises, and a sound financial footing. The Board of Trustees seeks an experienced and visionary senior executive to work with an engaged Board and committed staff to take the organization to the next level of excellence in service to its mission and financial self-sufficiency.
THE ORGANIZATION:
The mission of CVI is to empower people impacted by vision loss to live with independence and dignity. For fifty years, the organization has grown its services in support of this mission. It now provides training and educational programs for people of all ages with vision loss: tiny babies and their parents and school-age children born with little or no vision, adults with newly acquired vision loss from diabetic retinopathy and other diseases or accidents, and seniors with vision loss from age-related causes such as macular degeneration. A highly trained staff works with families to enable them to raise their special children; with adults to learn how to move through the world independently, gauge the extent and type of their vision loss, and build the skills they need for satisfying jobs and independent living; and with seniors to live safely in their own homes, using the aids and devices they need to continue to be active members of their families and communities.
Services are provided principally in the Midtown Atlanta building purchased by CVI and renovated for its purposes in 2002, with some services being provided in off-site locations. The Midtown building is also home to CVI’s non-profit VisAbility Store, which opened in 2008, and provides a location where the public can try out accessible technology, low vision aids, toys and games, and assistive devices for all ages before purchasing them.
In 2011, CVI started a new enterprise, ClearAnswer, a contact center which trains and provides employment to people with vision loss. ClearAnswer is located on the fourth floor of the CVI building and is already ahead of its business plan in obtaining and servicing contracts with corporations and non-profit organizations.
Both the VisAbility Store and ClearAnswer are part of CVI, although their financial transactions are also reported separately. Both enterprises report ultimately to the President and have Board committees that review their goals and operations.
CVI’s Board of Trustees is currently composed of 31 members, and meets four times a year. The principal work of the Board is done in committees, some of which are the Executive, Program Services, Finance, Audit, Human Resources, Marketing and Fundraising Committees. Staff members work closely with the committees, which enables the committees’ work to be strategically focused.
CVI has more than 60 employees, including full and part-time staff, and an organizational chart is attached. The 2013 annual budget is $5,636,483 for the fiscal year which began July 1, 2012.
Nearly two-thirds of the annual budget is reflective of gifts and grants from individuals, businesses, foundations and organizations through direct fund raising, United Way support and endowment income.
Click here for the CVI organizational chart.
THE POSITION:
The next President of CVI will lead the organization through a transition from reliance on government contract funding and large United Way grants to greater financial self-sufficiency through ClearAnswer contracts and endowment growth. The endowment, which is held by the Center for the Visually Impaired Foundation, is currently approximately $5 million. After a recent study by an outside consultant, the Boards of both CVI and the Foundation have determined that it is essential to grow the endowment significantly in order to continue to fund current programs and add new ones. In order to accomplish these goals, the new President will need to have substantial experience in effective fund-raising for capital, planned giving and endowment campaigns.
Some of CVI’s current programs, such as ClearAnswer, are still in the start-up phase and require knowledgeable management oversight. In addition, as a new strategic plan is developed and new programs envisioned, the President will need to bring business acumen and skill to implement new and visionary programs effectively.
In short, the Board is seeking a fund raiser, a visionary and an effective manager of professional staff, who is also experienced in working effectively with non-profit Boards with engaged and committed volunteers.
REPORTS TO: Board of Trustees, through its Executive Committee
DUTIES: Responsible for overall fiscal and program management and
financial development of the Center for the Visually Impaired to support its mission: empowering people impacted by vision loss to live with independence and dignity.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Be a credible, compelling advocate.
The President will be a powerful advocate for the opportunities for vision rehabilitation. He or she will be an effective communicator in the community to represent CVI with media, organizations, donors, partners and potential clients.
2. Increase support for the Mission.
Take the leadership role in developing and diversifying the financial resources available to the Center to carry out its mission. This role requires close interaction with, and the ability to use the strengths of, the CVI Board of Trustees and the CVI Foundation Board of Trustees, the Senior Vice President, Vice President for Development and Vice President for Business Development.
3. Exhibit exceptional relationship and collaborative skills.
Work with the Board Chairs and the Board Development Committee to recruit and develop the Boards of Trustees and seek ways to engage all members of the Boards in meeting the mission of the Center. Provide staffing for Board committees.
4. Act as the Center’s primary spokesperson.
Represent and advocate for the Center in all appropriate forums including relations with media, foundations, United Way, the Georgia General Assembly, state agencies, donors and other groups representing the Center’s client constituency.
5. Be a strong manager of people and the business.
Provide responsible leadership and overall day-to-day management of the Center. With Trustees and staff members, create a strategic plan with ambitious goals and measurable objectives that are reviewed annually.
Recommend policies to the Boards of Trustees and its committees and establish procedures to implement policies when adopted. With the Board Chairs, plan meetings of the Boards and the Executive Committee. Report all significant activities to the Boards of Trustees.
Have the authority to hire, promote and terminate personnel, consistent with personnel policies as established by the Board of Trustees and on the basis of equal opportunity employers, without discrimination based on age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, race or ethnicity. Ensure that all employees receive annual performance evaluations.
Be responsible and accountable for operating within the budget approved by the Board of Trustees in conformance with AICPA accounting principles and practices for 501(c)(3) organizations.
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
Responsibility for and documented success in:
1. Fund raising from private and public sources
a. Annual giving
b. Capital campaigns
c. Planned giving
d. Government contracts or grants
2. High-level hiring and supervisory experience in non-profit organizations
3. Working with non-profit boards at the governance level
4. Recruiting, cultivating and working with high-level volunteers
5. Strategic operational planning and performance development and management
6. Working effectively with consultants
7. Basics of budget planning, oversight, and ability to articulate to staff, volunteers
and potential donors
8. Building community partnerships and collaborations
Additional experience preferred:
1. Leading a business enterprise
2. Supervisory experience in a rehabilitation organization
3. Knowledge of Atlanta philanthropic community—individuals, foundations, corporations
4. Financial expertise for preparing budgets, reporting requirements, audit processes
5. Political process and advocacy experience
6. Respect for scientific vision research to inform and update rehabilitation
programs
7. Knowledge of Atlanta businesses, nonprofit, political and medical resources
8. Personal experience in living with a disability
9. Experience working in a governmentally regulated environment
PERSONAL SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES:
1. Optimistic and forward thinking
2. Ability to develop creative approaches and options for current and future work
and to respond quickly to opportunities or crises
3. Highly motivated to establish effective services for and meet the changing
needs of people with vision loss in Georgia
4. Enjoy working and being with people with disabilities
5. Strong oral and written communications
6. Discretion, confidentiality and honesty
Salary will be competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
To apply, send an e-mail with a cover letter detailing your qualifications and your salary requirements, together with your resume to CVIPresidentSearch@gmail.com. You are requested to submit all documents in one pdf file.
Resumes will be considered until the position is filled.
* Equal Opportunity Employer / Drug Free Workplace *
