Description

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: THE OPPORTUNITY 

Temple University invites nominations and applications for the full-time, twelve-month position of Executive Director of the Institute on Disabilities (IOD), a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) funded by the Administration on Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act.  The Executive Director will provide dynamic leadership to strengthen and advance the mission of the IOD.

The Institute on Disabilities provides programs/services, disseminates information and resources, and conducts research and program evaluation in eight core areas: leadership development, assistive technology, inclusive education, disability studies, health equity, criminal justice, employment and policy, all based on a vision of a society where all people are valued and respected, and where all people have the knowledge, opportunity and power to improve their lives and the lives of others.  The new IOD Executive Director will bring compatible core values, a record of progressive managerial experience, content excellence in disabilities advocacy, and visionary strategic leadership skills that continue to build on the IOD’s foundation of excellence.  In addition to nurturing the current IOD portfolio of projects, services, research, and education, the new IOD Executive Director will have opportunities to expand the IOD’s capacity by

Building strategic partnerships with diverse Temple University faculty, departments, institutes, and centers of excellence already conducting ground-breaking disability-related investigations to advance research that contributes to system transformation, best practices, and community building for people with disabilities;

• Working with designated Special Education faculty to develop innovative interdisciplinary educational opportunities for future disabilities professionals;
• Developing revenue enhancement and diversification strategies that target market-based contracting opportunities and federal priority areas consistent with the IOD mission;
• Strategically positioning IOD contributions to affect city, state, and national policies related to people with disabilities.

 BACKGROUND: TEMPLE UNIVERSITY AND THE INSTITUTE ON DISABILITIES

The College. 

The College of Education and Human Development at Temple University was founded in 1919.  Our prominent location in the heart of North Philadelphia provides students and faculty with the resources and opportunities of a large, diverse and lively urban center. As a member of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, we acknowledge a special responsibility to the public, schools and districts across the state. We seek to promote education as a primary mechanism for social mobility and social justice for all learners. We aim to prepare students to serve as educational leaders and agents of change. Our students come from backgrounds that are economically and culturally diverse, but have in common the desire to acquire the skills to improve the lives of others through education.  We are strongly committed to principles of access, equity and excellence in education. Information about the college is available at https://education.temple.edu/

The University. 

Temple University is a public, four-year Research 1 university and a national leader in education, research and healthcare. Founded by Dr. Russell H. Conwell in 1884, Temple’s official motto—Perseverantia Vincit, or Perseverance Conquers—reflects its students’ drive to succeed and commitment to excellence. With 38,000 students, Temple is a vital institution in the Philadelphia region and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, contributing more than $3 billion toward Pennsylvania’s economy each year. The university also has a strong global reach, with long-standing and vibrant campuses in Tokyo and Rome, programs in London, Beijing and other locations worldwide, and over 300,000 alumni living around the world. In addition to its national and international presence, Temple has a strong commitment to the city of Philadelphia and other urban communities. The University places a high value on its urban location and on scholarship, teaching, and service that benefit local communities. The College of Education is committed to serving Philadelphia schools, local communities and neighborhoods and has forged close partnerships with educators, community members, local leaders, and public officials in a variety of ways to enhance the quality and extent of education regionally and nationally, especially in urban locations. Additional information about Temple University can be found at https://temple.edu

As an anchor institution in North Philadelphia, Temple is deeply engaged with the surrounding community through educational partnerships, workforce development, and neighborhood initiatives. Faculty and students benefit from the university’s dynamic urban setting, vibrant campus life, and opportunities to contribute to research, teaching, and service that make a meaningful impact locally and globally.

We are committed to fostering a welcoming environment for students, faculty, and staff.  We believe that diversity (of experiences, thought, etc.) enriches our learning environment and strengthens our academic community. We encourage applications from individuals whose backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives will enhance our commitment to these values.

The Institute on Disabilities (www.temple.edu/instituteondisabilities)

The Institute on Disabilities at Temple University is one of the sixty-eight University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service (UCEDD) working toward a vision of self-determination, independence, productivity, and community inclusion for people with disabilities throughout the lifespan. UCEDDs are a federally mandated program under the DD Act, and are currently funded by the Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  The Institute on Disabilities is also the home of TechOWL, Pennsylvania’s State Assistive Technology Act Program, which is one of 56 federally mandated Assistive Technology Act Programs across the United States and its territories.

Our Vision

A society where all people are valued and respected, and where all people have the knowledge, opportunity and power to improve their lives and the lives of others.

Our Mission

The Institute on Disabilities at Temple University learns from and works with people with disabilities and their families in diverse communities across Pennsylvania to create and share knowledge, change systems and society, and promote self-determined lives so that disability is recognized as a natural part of the human experience.

Guiding Beliefs

• The work of the Institute on Disabilities incorporates the following beliefs:
• All people have value and should be treated with respect.
• Everyone deserves the opportunity and support to lead a self-determined life in inclusive communities.
• We are all interdependent.
• Diversity drives, informs and enriches our work.
• Knowledge empowers people to make informed choices.

IOD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RESPONSIBILITIES: 

The Executive Director will work directly with the Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs of the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) to refine and expand the vision, mission and goals of the Institute on Disabilities and to ensure that they are realized. The responsibilities of the IOD Executive Director are as follows:

Leadership

• Provide visionary leadership to propel the IOD to its next level of development
• Understand the organizational landscape and anticipate, articulate, and shape the critical issues and opportunities in the field of disabilities;
• Explore and develop entrepreneurial business models of service and research;
• Participate in strategic college, university, state, and federal policy activities;
• Model an appreciation for the need for preparation, collaboration, planning, communication, and evaluation in the approach to problem solving and program building;
• Understand the process of system transformation in supporting progressive policy, legislative, and service outcomes, equitable access and opportunity, and quality of community life for persons with disabilities;
• Effectively engage with diverse University and external stakeholders including relevant Commonwealth of Pennsylvania state agencies;
• Advance the further development of a robust IOD research enterprise with multiple funding streams;
• Embrace entrepreneurial thinking and explore creative revenue enhancement opportunities.

Management

• Provide strategic management and oversite to the array of funded projects, and ensure the ethical, sustainable and efficient management of the IOD human and financial resources.
• Manage a complex organization with success measured in well-defined benchmarks and metrics;
• Develop annual operating plans that advance strategic intentions;
• Recruiting, organize, and manage human resources, including team building and resolving conflict;
• Manage and support a team of diverse abilities and fostering a disability-positive environment;
• Delegate effectively while remaining focused on strategy and overall goals of Temple University, the CEHD, and the IOD;
• Build IOD capacity through expanded content and programmatic expertise, meaningful inter-organizational collaborations, professional development and preparation, team building, and mentoring.
• Commit to compliance with institutional and external regulations;
• Safeguard fiduciary responsibilities to sponsors, Temple University, the CEHD, and the IOD.

Research

• Manage a diverse portfolio of sponsored grants, ensuring full lifecycle compliance from proposal development through closeout.
• Coordinate with principal investigators and finance staff to maintain budget integrity, process amendments, and support audits or sponsor reviews.
• Identify funding opportunities and oversee grant writing efforts, including narratives, work plans, evaluation approaches, and required supporting documentation.
• Design, implement and evaluate policies and programs; document and present evidence of successful system transformation efforts;
• Support the advancement of research; understanding of the infrastructure needed to support research.

Requirements

REQUIRED EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

Master’s degree in education, psychology, sociology, public health, disability studies, or other related field and at least 7 years in the field of disability with commensurate experience managing complex projects and activities, along with the supervision of both direct and indirect reports. An equivalent combination of education and lived experience may be considered.

Preferred:

*An earned doctorate (preferred) in education, psychology, sociology, public health or other disability-related discipline.

*8-10 years’ experience in the field of disability with commensurate experience managing complex projects and activities.

*Experience supervising populations of people with disabilities.

*A personal connection to lived experience with disability.

REQUIRED SKILLS and ABILITIES

*Extensive knowledge of the field of disabilities, especially local, state and federal, policies and practices;

*Evidence of vision and strategic thinking that enables system transformation;

*Demonstrated ability in securing and managing grant funded research and programs;

*Evidence both of success providing leadership and of the ability to work collaboratively and as part of a team;

*Proven understanding of community development and supports, advocacy, and capacity building.