Announcement Categories: Employment Announcements

Resource Centers on Independent Living
www.reachcils.org

June 16, 2021

Dear Colleagues and Associates,

After thirty-one years of dedicated service to the disability community, Charlotte Stewart, the executive director of REACH, Inc. and the REACH Resource Centers on Independent Living is retiring on December 31, 2021. While we are aware that filling Charlotte’s shoes will be a momentous task, the board of directors is in the process of conducting a national recruitment to locate the next leader for the organization.

With this letter is a job announcement for the executive director position. We would appreciate your assistance in distributing this posting to qualified professionals in the field of disability, who may be interested in applying for the position.

REACH is located in the northern region of Texas and services the counties of Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Denton. The organization meets the standards and indicators defined in the Rehabilitation Act for the operation of centers for independent living.

Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to edapplication@reachcils.org or by mail to Julia Chalker, REACH of Dallas, 8625 King George Drive, Suite 210, Dallas, Texas 75235-2275.

Sincerely,

Julia Chalker

Julia Chalker
President, REACH Board of Directors

REACH of Fort Worth 1000 Macon St., Suite 200, Fort Worth, TX 76102-4527 (817) 870-9082 Voice (817) 877-1622 Fax

REACH of Dallas 8625 King George Dr., Suite 210, Dallas, TX 75235-2275 (214) 630-4796 Voice (214) 630-6390 Fax

REACH of Denton 405 S. Elm Street, Suite 202, Denton, TX 76201-6066 (940) 383-1062 Voice (940) 383-2742 Fax

REACH of Plano 720 E. Park Blvd., Suite 104, Plano, TX 75074-8844 (972) 398-1111 Voice (972) 398-9649 Fax

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
REACH, Inc.
POSITION: Executive Director
CLASSIFICATION: Permanent/Full-time, Exempt
SALARY: $85,000 – $95,000 based upon qualifications and experience
BENEFITS: Medical, Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance paid by employer; vision and dental available at a nominal monthly fee via employee payroll deductions. Paid sick leave and vacation leave; 18 Paid holidays annually, 403b Retirement Plan, and Flexible Spending Account.
LOCATION: North Texas
ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION
REACH, Inc. is seeking a progressive executive, grounded in the independent living movement, who will lead the organization through transition to its next stage of growth and expansion. Founded in 1987, REACH, (Rehabilitation, Education and Advocacy for Citizens with Disabilities (formerly Handicaps) is a North Texas based nonprofit organization that provides services to individuals with disabilities. The mission of REACH, Inc. is to empower people with disabilities to lead self-directed lives and to promote a barrier-free community through public education and advocacy. The organization is governed and staffed by a majority of people with disabilities who bring a wide range of knowledge and experience to their work in assisting consumers. Each year, approximately 1,000 individuals participate in the programs and activities of REACH, Inc. Services are financed through a combination of federal, state, local, and private funds.
The REACH service area includes the north Texas counties of Dallas, Collin, Tarrant, and Denton. This area encompasses 3,650 square miles and is home to 6,600,000 residents including an estimated 1,188,000 with disabilities. The median age of the area is 35 years and the median income is $77,500. REACH maintains offices in each of the four counties.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
SUMMARY
The executive director is responsible for staff development and oversight, service delivery and evaluation, contract and grant compliance, community relations, resource development, and fiscal administration.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Coordinates the logistics for all committee and board meetings and maintains required board documentation including all meeting minutes,
Facilitates development, implementation, and review of the REACH five-year strategic plan,
Oversees daily operations and maintains safe, secure, and suitable work environments at all sites,

Ensures that the programs and services of the agency are consistent with the needs of consumers and the mission of the organization,

Recruits, develops and sustains dedicated staff with the necessary experience and skills to maximize job performance,

Provides direct supervision for assistant directors,

Prepares and submits timely progress reports to funding sources and the REACH Board of Directors,

Oversees the development of an annual budget, reviews monthly financial statements, approves budget revisions, and arranges for annual independent audits,

Acts as official agent for the agency including signing all notes, agreements and other legal documents,

Pursues and manages public funds and contracts and maintains compliance with funder requirements,

Directs implementation of an annual resource development plan with specific activities and targeted amounts,

Cultivates relationships with community leaders and stakeholders to promote systems change and advocacy on issues of importance,

Represents the disability constituency through participation in community groups and events, and

Acts as the chief spokesperson to the press and the community on issues affecting REACH or the disability community.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Baccalaureate Degree from an accredited college or university,
• Minimum of five years executive level experience in managing a board-governed non-profit organization,
• Knowledge of, and commitment to, the Independent Living philosophy,
• Proven ability to develop and monitor services to persons with disabilities,
• Demonstration of excellent communication skills—including listening to others and responding in an effective manner, conveying ideas, thoughts, and facts in writing, developing business documents, and speaking in public,
• Experience in negotiating agreements, contracts, and strategic partnerships,
• Evidence of sound decision-making skills including solving problems involving varied levels of complexity, ambiguity, and risk,
• Knowledge and application of human resource management laws, regulations, policies, and procedures,
• Strong evidence of financial management skills and experience,
• Ability to effectively use computerized data and information management systems, as well as word processing, and accounting software,
• Experience leading an effective and comprehensive fund development strategy that includes multiple approaches such as grant writing, donor solicitation, and coordination of special events.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Personal experience with disabilities,
• Program development and management experience in an Independent Living Center or other disability-related, grass roots organization,
• Bilingual in American Sign Language, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, or other languages frequently used in the REACH service area,
• Evidence of ongoing professional development such as active membership in professional associations, completion of continuing education courses, and certification in related subject matter.

REACH Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring staff who reflect the diversity of the community. Persons with disabilities, women, veterans and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
REACH, Inc. provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status or any other protected category under federal, state and local law.

SUBMISSION PROCESS
Cover letters and resumes should be submitted electronically to Julia Chalker, Board President at edapplication@reachcils.org. Microsoft Word formatting is preferred.
Resumes will be accepted until July 31, 2021. Individuals requiring accommodations during the application process should communicate specific requirements when submitting their cover letters and resumes, or to the chair of the search committee during the interview and selection process.