St. Gerard Center for Autism Job Description

Chief Executive Officer

Job Overview: The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides strategic and operational leadership to guide St. Gerard Center for Autism (SGCA) in achieving its mission and long-term organizational goals. Working in partnership with the Board of Directors and leadership team, the CEO oversees the organization’s operational, financial, administrative, and organizational functions to support high-quality services, staff leadership, operational effectiveness, and long-term sustainability.

The CEO collaborates closely with leadership staff, Board members, development leadership, and key organizational partners to support strong internal operations, financial accountability, organizational stability, strategic priorities, and long-term sustainability. This position is responsible for fostering a healthy organizational culture, implementing strategic priorities, supporting organizational sustainability, and representing the organization professionally within the community and broader service environment.

Reports To: Board of Directors

Supervisory Responsibilities: CFO, CCO, Revenue Cycle Manager, Director of HR, Office Manager, and Director of Client and Family Services

Work Schedule: This position requires flexibility to meet organizational, operational, community, and staff leadership needs, including occasional evening and weekend responsibilities.

Employee Classification: Full-Time,Salary, exempt

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in nonprofit leadership, business, healthcare administration, behavioral health, education, organizational leadership, or related field preferred.

• Minimum 7-10 years of progressive senior leadership experience within nonprofit, healthcare, behavioral health, autism services, or related service environments.

• Demonstrated experience leading organizational operations, financial oversight, staff leadership, and multi-department operational management.

• Experience working collaboratively with Boards of Directors, leadership teams, consultants, community partners, and organizational stakeholders.

• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, strategic planning, and decision-making skills.

• Demonstrated ability to lead through organizational growth, operational transition, restructuring, or change management initiatives preferred.

• Experience supporting organizational sustainability through operational oversight, financial accountability, and strategic resource management preferred.

• Familiarity with autism services, ABA operations, Medicaid and insurance-funded services, payer systems, or related clinical service environments preferred.

• Experience fostering organizational culture, accountability, collaboration, and operational consistency across teams and departments preferred.

Essential Responsibilities: The primary duties of the position include:

Organizational Leadership & Strategic Oversight:

Leads the organization’s operational, administrative, and strategic functions in alignment with SGCA’s mission, organizational priorities, and long-term sustainability goals.
Implements strategic initiatives, operational improvements, and organizational priorities in collaboration with the Board of Directors and leadership team.
Ensures organizational systems, staffing structures, operational processes, and internal communication practices support effective service delivery, accountability, and operational consistency.
Ensures organizational expectations, operational practices, and internal communication standards are implemented consistently across departments and teams.
Oversees organizational performance through operational dashboards, key performance indicators (KPIs), financial reporting, and data-informed decision-making.
Promotes organizational accountability, leadership alignment, professionalism, and continuous improvement across departments and teams.
Supports organizational readiness related to audits, accreditation requirements, payer expectations, regulatory processes, and operational reviews.

Financial Management and Sustainability:

Oversees organizational financial operations in collaboration with the CFO, Finance Committee, and leadership team to support financial accountability and long-term sustainability.
Leads annual budgeting, operational planning, staffing alignment, and resource management efforts in support of organizational priorities and financial performance.
Monitors financial, operational, and revenue cycle performance to identify risks, trends, operational priorities, and opportunities for improvement.
Ensures appropriate financial oversight, operational controls, compliance review processes, and accountability measures are maintained throughout the organization.
Collaborates with leadership staff and financial partners to align operational decision-making with organizational sustainability and strategic goals.

Board Relations:

Serves as the primary operational liaison to the Board of Directors and Finance Committee.
Provides regular organizational, operational, financial, and strategic updates to the Board to support informed governance and decision-making.
Collaborates with the Board regarding organizational priorities, strategic planning, operational risks, and long-term sustainability initiatives.
Supports Board effectiveness through transparent communication, organizational reporting, and implementation of Board-approved initiatives.

External Relationships & Strategic Partnerships:

Represents SGCA professionally with community partners, organizational stakeholders, external agencies, referral partners, and service providers.
Develops and supports collaborative partnerships that strengthen organizational visibility, community engagement, referral relationships, and operational effectiveness.
Collaborates with development leadership, Board members, and organizational partners to support strategic initiatives, fundraising efforts, and community relationships.
Communicates organizational priorities, operational initiatives, and strategic goals effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

Leadership & Organizational Culture:

Provides leadership, direction, accountability, and support to organizational leadership staff and administrative departments.
Establishes clear organizational expectations, operational priorities, communication standards, and leadership accountability across departments.
Supports leadership development, employee engagement, retention efforts, and organizational stability in collaboration with Human Resources and leadership staff.
Leads organizational change management, restructuring initiatives, and operational alignment efforts as appropriate.
Fosters a professional, collaborative, mission-driven organizational culture that supports high-quality services, operational effectiveness, and long-term sustainability.

Additional Responsibilities:

Performs additional leadership responsibilities, strategic initiatives, and organizational duties as appropriate to support SGCA’s mission and operational needs.

Benefits

Health insurance, employer pays 90%
Retirement 403(b) with matching contributions
Paid time off & Holidays
Vision and Dental insurance
Life Insurance
Accident, Cancer, Critical Illness, and Short-Term Disability insurance

Compensation

Salary range: $115,000-$125,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

St. Gerard House Hendersonville

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