SUMMARY: The Executive Director of the Nonprofit functions as the Chief Executive Officer of the corporation. In this capacity the incumbent is responsible for implementation of policies set by the Board of Directors as well as annual goals and objectives, and financial, program, and administrative management of the corporation. Guidance and direction is provided by the Chairman of the Board and President, and by the Board and its Executive Committee.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITES: Responsible for supervision of all assigned staff. Responsibilities include interviewing, recommendation for hiring and training employees; planning, assigning and directing of work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

QUALIFCATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Attainment of an MBA or other equivalent advanced degree in a related field and seven years of increasingly responsible administrative experience, at least five of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, financial reports, legal documents, technical procedures, or governmental regulations; write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals; efficiently respond to questions from membership, staff and members of the community; communicate effectively in both written and oral form; and, effectively present information to membership, top management, public group, and/or board of directors.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; exhibit independent judgment in the development, implementation and evaluation of plans, procedures and policies; and interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

OTHER KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the principles and techniques of research grant administration, contract administration and negotiation, hospital administration, community organization, fiscal and organizational management, principles and practices of marketing and public relations.

Ability to plan, direct and coordinate activities; negotiate and administer contracts; work with health care providers, commercial vendors, government agencies, community groups and other organizations as necessary; communicate effectively in both written and oral forms; exhibit independent judgment in the development, implementation and evaluation of plans, procedures and policies.

The Executive Director provides leadership and overall management direction to:

• ensure that medical researchers are provided with appropriate support systems and responsive, quality service in the areas of human resources, purchasing, accounting, and related administrative functions.
• develop and implement new marketing strategies and programs to ensure the growth and stability of the organization.
• promote Nonprofit as premier research organization to the U.S. government, pharmaceutical companies and other current and prospective sources of research revenues.
• ensure compliance and support of Board directives and Agency charter.

1. Development and Growth. Develops and provides leadership for the implementation of new marketing strategies and organizational units to meet the Board's growth objectives of 25% annually (e.g. developing a site management organization to implement very large research contracts at the VA or elsewhere and assisting researchers to identify available research funds,)

2. Board Functions. Recruits new Board members with the skills needed to further the goals of Nonprofit. Facilitates the work of the Board and its committees by developing resource materials, providing appropriate information, and reports and assisting committee chairpersons as necessary.

Provides advice and counsel to the Board to assist in setting policies and monitoring the performance of Nonprofit. Recommends new policies, programs, and action plans consonant with the vision of the organization; executes all policies/decisions of the Board.

3. Management Functions.

• Identifies areas requiring planning; develops and recommends goals, objectives and action plans for the approval of the Board.
• Monitors and evaluates all services provided to research staff and reports progress to the Board and committees; makes recommendations for change as needed.
• Coordinates Nonprofit’s business activities with those of the VA for mutual benefits; acts as a primary contact for the VA to resolve problems.
• Oversees the development of budgets for submission to the Board; ensures compliance with approved budgets; proposes revisions as necessary.
• Provides for the appropriate control and accountability of all funds, physical assets and other property.
• Protects Nonprofit's legal interests and maintains its operations within the law; retains 'and works with outside counsel to obtain opinions or handle claims and litigation.
• Oversees the human resources function to ensure optimum staffing and utilization of competent staff, recommending policy changes to benefits, compensation, employment, training and other areas as appropriate.
• Performs managerial duties for administrative staff including interviewing/hiring applicants for employment; assigning and reviewing progress of assignments; managing performance and recommending salary increases; and developing higher levels of expertise in staff members by encouraging further education, participation in work-related seminars and providing learning opportunities within the organization.

Reviews current practices and methods and initiates development of new ones as necessary to reduce costs, encourage growth and improve efficiency.

4. Communications

• Establishes and maintains an effective system of communications throughout Nonprofit, the VA and the research community to build and maintain a positive image (e.g. newsletter, informational seminars, participation in industry conferences/marketing activities).
• Represents Nonprofit in its business relationships with the research community, VA and other government agencies, the media, community organizations, suppliers, competitors, professional organizations and similar groups.

1. Assumes related responsibilities as appropriate or assigned by the Board.

The incumbent in this position supervises from 10 to 15 employees.

3. To perform effectively in this position, the incumbent must have:

• in-depth knowledge of the management process, especially as it applies to growth and long-term planning
• marketing and promotional skills
• financial/accounting skills to manage an organization budget of up to $10 million annually
• effective leadership and organizational skills
• effective oral and written communications skills
• ability to plan organization-wide activities (setting objectives, developing strategies, budgeting, developing policies and procedures, and organizing the functions necessary to accomplish the activities)
• skills in staffing effectively; selecting, training and developing employees; directing employees toward desired objectives; delegating, motivating, resolving problems; and controlling the functions (developing performance standards, measuring results, taking corrective action and rewarding employees as appropriate)

Typically, these skills and knowledge are the result of a combination of formal education in business, non-profit management, marketing, finance or related area, and several years of experience in increasingly responsible management positions. Prior experience in the biomedical research or a related function would be useful.

The incumbent must perform this job safely, without endangering the health or safety of him/herself or others.

Cc: Employee
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The incumbent is expected to demonstrate these competencies in performance that can be measured and result in positive outcomes. These core competencies represent effective administration of Nonprofit and its programs as well as fulfillment of its missions.

Communication: Communicates effectively with multiple audiences using a variety of formats. Examples include: written communications to members, depositors, staff and other stakeholders that clearly outline the situation and action items; verbal presentations and briefings to the research and education managers, the Board of Directors and other parties; presenting at local meetings and to outside groups regarding a variety of issues affecting the research and education nonprofit corporation.

Job knowledge: Understands the technical aspects of managing a nonprofit organization; provides advice to its membership, depositors and staff directly and/or solicits guidance from experts. Understands the duties and responsibilities of the position, including broad technical knowledge. Clearly understands the research and education mission of the organization, and keeps job knowledge up-to-date.

Initiative in fulfilling the goals of the organization: From interactions with stakeholders, VA management, staff, and the nonprofit sector, the incumbent recognizes and brings to the attention of the Chairman of the Board issues that concern the organization, and implements plans to reach organizational goals as determined by the Board of Directors. The incumbent displays initiative in developing action plans and resolving problems as they occur in consultation with the Chairman and other members of the Board. An effort to remain proactive rather than reactive is a sign that this competency is being met.

Dependability: Seeks increased responsibility while remaining conscientious, thorough, accurate, and reliable with respect to the organizational goals and the needs of the members, depositors and staff. This includes being available and responsive to issues and concerns as they arise.