President and CEO
Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech

Children served by Clarke use advanced technologies, including cochlear implants and hearing aids, to maximize their access to sound. Clarke works with children and their families from infancy through their teen years. Clarke's teachers of the deaf, audiologists and speech-language pathologists have the background, training and experience to prepare children academically and socially for a world of limitless possibilities.

Clarke children listen and learn in the classroom, run and laugh with their friends on the playground, and have lives filled with music, sports, family and community. Many children who come to Clarke are ready to attend their neighborhood schools by preschool and kindergarten. 

In addition to Clarke's work with children, they serve families and adults through a wide range of programs and services. With their extensive staff of experts, physical locations along the Eastern Seaboard and a robust teleservices program delivering services remotely, Clarke strives to reach people with hearing loss at all stages of life.

• Provide motivational leadership that will allow the CPO and Program Directors and staff to execute their best work.
   
• Build and lead sustainable fundraising efforts that supports both programmatic and unrestricted philanthropic support for the broad base of Clarke services. 
   
• Advance the business discipline and operational expertise necessary to secure Clarke’s long-term sustainability, including setting organizational goals, actively measuring results, and maintaining accountability.
   
• Model and intentionally nurture a mission driven culture of deep caring, trust and belonging, excellence, authenticity, courageous leadership, and mutual accountability. 
   
• Guide coalitions, lobbying and other activities related to maximizing public funding.
   
• Lead the organization through a new five-year strategic plan focused on building a solid foundation to support future organization-wide growth. Goals for the strategic plan will include and not be limited to:
   
  • Move toward program standardization and alignment of child/family needs and offerings.
     
  • Align the Clarke culture, operations, and infrastructure to foster internal and external collaboration and efficiency.
     
  • Serve the Clarke community and the world through data, research, innovation, and communication.
     
  • Build toward sustainable funding.
     
  • Become the employer of choice among institutions serving those who are deaf or hard of hearing using listening and spoken language.
     
  • Strengthen the Clarke community and network of alumni.
     
• Articulate and reinforce, both internally and externally, the Clarke story including a compelling long-term vision that engages and motivates the entire organization, its supporters, and other stakeholders.
   
• Serve as a trusted voice in the broader field of education of those who are deaf or hard of hearing and find common ground with other organizations serving children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The successful President and CEO candidate should bring:

• A passion for Clarke’s mission as well as empathy for the challenges faced by those it serves.
   
• 10 - 15 years of applicable experience in executive leadership roles. Preference for candidates with experience working in a highly regulated, multi-faceted and multi-state organization.
   
• Clear success in fundraising and enhancing diverse revenue streams to advance an organization’s mission.
   
• Proven experience as a change agent, advancing methodologies and infrastructure to advance service delivery. 
   
• Ability to lead complex initiatives to successful outcomes.
   
• The presence, demeanor, intellect, and communication skills to effectively inspire a compelling vision, assemble support and spark enthusiasm for ideas.
   
• Demonstrated ability to develop and nurture relationships across philanthropy, corporate partnerships, and a broad field of tacitly competitive educational service providers.
   
• A belief in the power of teamwork and the demonstrated ability to identify, hire, grow, and develop strong team members.

The right person for this role will exhibit the following characteristics:

• Enjoys being an active, engaged community builder and provides a steady presence in the daily life of the organization. This is the foundation for strong, supportive relationships with staff that will promote a sense of community, while building a highly engaged culture.
   
• Exhibits a collaborative leadership style supported by a pragmatic decision-making approach. Possesses an openness that genuinely invites and respects the perspectives and views of others. Successfully partners with and supports the staff.
   
• Has the confidence and perspective to serve as a solid sounding board and business partner to the leadership team and the Board.
   
• Has high emotional intelligence and an even-keeled demeanor combined with the ability to manage change and complex decisions.
   
• Is a collaborator who encourages ideas and is inclusive of the wide range of resources in the organization to solve problems.
   
• Sets a high bar for performance and models positive behavior for all to see.
   
• Is a creative thinker with the ability to ‘look over the horizon’ and anticipate emerging factors that could impact Clarke.