Vice President, Education

Summary

Company Description

AHRC New York City is a family governed organization that envisions a socially just world where the power of difference is embraced. We advocate for people who are neurodiverse to lead full and equitable lives. Generosity guides us as we honor our legacy and continuously grow through a culture where curiosity, creativity, and optimism are valued and celebrated.

Job Description

AHRC New York City is a nearly $400MM nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting neurodivergent children and adults, (those with autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and other disabilities), through a broad spectrum of services , and a family governed organization that envisions a socially just world where the power of difference is embraced and reflected in all that we do. Generosity guides us as we honor our legacy and continuously grow through a culture of curiosity, creativity, and optimism and advocate for disabilities to lead full and equitable lives.

The Vice President for Education is responsible, in partnership with the Chief Operating Officer, for providing strategic leadership and direction for AHRC New York City’s education division. This includes oversight of program planning, curriculum development and implementation, regulatory compliance, budgeting, and operational effectiveness across all assigned programs. The Vice President ensures that educational services reflect best practices, promote high-quality outcomes for students, and align with AHRC NYC’s mission, vision, and organizational priorities.

The Vice President provides leadership, mentorship, and supervision to direct reports, fostering professional growth, strengthening educational and clinical standards, and developing future departmental leaders. The role requires building a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and collaboration across educational teams and disciplines.
As a senior leader within the organization, the Vice President serves as an integral contributor to agency-wide strategy and cross-departmental initiatives, helping to shape policy, operational priorities, and long-term planning. The Vice President also represents AHRC NYC, as appropriate, in local and statewide educational and policy forums, advancing advocacy efforts that support high-quality educational opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

AHRC NYC operates one of the largest nonprofit special education programs in New York State, including New York State 4410 and 853 schools serving children from preschool through extended high school, with Regents Diploma pathways available for eligible students. The division includes five preschool programs, two K–6 programs, and one high school, serving more than 800 students annually. Working in close partnership with students, families, educators, clinicians, and community stakeholders, the Vice President for Education oversees these programs while
advancing innovation and strategic thinking about the future of inclusive, high-quality education for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in nonprofit sector- or human services-related discipline (e.g., Social Work, Education, Public Administration, Public Health) required.
• New York State School District Leader Certification.
• At least 10 years of experience in nonprofit sector at large multifaceted organization, with at least 5 of those years executing organizational and programmatic strategies and staff operations.
• Comprehensive experience in working within autism, developmental/intellectual disability community, with thorough knowledge of applicable regulations and contemporary knowledge of new developments or changes in field of developmental disabilities and autism.
• Proven competence in managing complex organizational elements (including technology tools, performance assessment tools, cross-departmental program collaborations) and overseeing complex financial budgets, as well as established success in affecting organizational change and growth.
• Extensive managerial experience, demonstrating collaborative supervisory style and affinity for managing within a culturally and politically diverse environment/community.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively, as well as establish and maintain relationships with individuals, family members, colleagues, and external professional staff. This includes ability to be a skilled listener and to demonstrate strong writing skills.
• Successful, demonstrated strategic and critical thinking skills, with ability to be a decisive, yet flexible and adaptable problem solver and to revise strategies as necessary.
• Seen as an ethical, innovative, diplomatic, and energetic leader.
• Demonstrable passion for the agency’s mission.
• Must be willing and able to travel to service sites throughout New York City.

Duties

Departmental Strategy Leadership/Planning

• Provides strategic direction for NYS 4410 and 853 schools.
• Provides strategic direction to and directs implementation of innovative program initiatives within department, ensuring initiatives are linked to goals, interests and overall safety of students, as well as meet all applicable regulatory and curriculum requirements.
• Collaborates with principals and other education leaders to translate departmental goals and objectives into actionable plans by providing clarity around roles and accountability, overseeing budget issues, supporting coordination of work streams, and directing delivery of processes that support program mandates.
• Actively and effectively manages all aspects of the department’s budget (including revenue and expense projections, personnel and capital allocations, cost containment, etc.) to ensure funding optimally supports program and operational goals and objectives. Ensures that any emerging or existing budget issues are promptly brought to attention of agency’s Budget Group for discussion and collaborative resolution.
• Provides leadership and guidance in troubleshooting and resolving emergency/sensitive program issues as they arise.
• Assesses capabilities and development needs of direct reports and clearly communicates performance expectations and goals as they relate to achievement of department’s goals and objectives.
• Supervises school building leaders and conducts annual performance evaluations.
• Serves as an inspirational mentor to direct reports and supports their ability to serve as mentors to next level of management.
• Represents agency on local and statewide policymaking and advocacy groups, both in support of industry-wide interests and specific agency/departmental interests.

Organizational Strategy Leadership/Planning

• Provides support to Chief Operating Officer in developing and coordinating agency-wide strategic plans and policies, as applicable.
• Actively identifies opportunities to leverage cross-departmental strengths for advancement of agency-wide and departmental goals and objectives and contributes solutions for current or potential organizational barriers to achieving these goals and objectives.
• Participates in building necessary coalitions across agency to effect change, as well as promote overall respect for diversity, teamwork, and open communication in the workplace.