[Jobs] FW: [leadership] Chicago Lighthouse Seeks New President/Executive Director

[Peter Altschul]

=====start of announcement=====
The Chicago Lighthouse 
For People Who Are Blind Or Visually Impaired 

The Chicago Lighthouse 



 
	PRESIDENT/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANNOUNCES 
RETIREMENT 

After 40 years of employment with The Chicago Lighthouse, Jim Kesteloot,
President and Executive Director of the Chicago Lighthouse announced that he
would be retiring effective January 15, 2009. 

The Board of Directors from the Chicago Lighthouse has appointed a "Search
Committee" from its membership to identify and interview qualified
candidates. At this time, we are currently accepting resumes for the
position of Executive Director of the Chicago Lighthouse.  Resumes may be
mailed directly to: Jeanette Bonzani, Director of Human Resources, The
Chicago lighthouse for People who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, 1850 W.
Roosevelt Road, Chicago Illinois, 60608, or can be electronically submitted
to: jeanette.bonzani at chicagolighthouse.org 

Resumes will be accepted through April 30, 2008 (The Chicago Lighthouse
reserves the right to extend or change this date). Thereafter, interviews
will be tentatively scheduled.  If you have any questions, please feel free
to contact Jeanette Bonzani at (312) 997-3690 or by e-mail at
jeanette.bonzani at chicagolighthouse.org 



 
	Summary of Executive Director/President position 
By: Jim Kesteloot -Executive  Director/President of the 
Chicago Lighthouse 

The job as Executive Director summarized in three general 
ways. 
 

 
1. First, and most important, the Executive Director must insure that people
who are blind have confidence in the Lighthouse; confidence that the agency
cares, totally understands their needs, will initiate programs to meet their
needs; and that it will always respect its constituents who are blind, be
willing to "partner" with them (individuals who are blind, parents, parents
associations, organizations of people who are blind such as the "Committee
of Blind Vendors, the Illinois Council of the Blind, Blind Veterans
Association, etc.); and that the Lighthouse will always keep their (people
who are blind) interests first and foremost as it's primary interest; and
that the Executive Director can interact with people who are blind as an
"equal," not like a public aid recipient and not in a patronizing manner,
but like a family member, treated with respect, compassion and concern;
confidence in the Executive Director and the Lighthouse that they will
always advocate for the rights and best interest of people who are blind;
and that the Executive Director know his or her people who are blind by
their first name demonstrating that he/she, the blind person, is important
and known to the Executive Director and the agency. 
 



 
 
 2.	The job as Executive Director requires being able to manage multiple
businesses ranging from manufacturing, low vision clinics, a school, a
library, a mail order business (Veterans program), a radio station, an
employment service, multiple job training programs, operating stores,
running an adult day care program, managing an Army Corps of Engineers
warehouse, a legal service, teaching travel and mobility skills, operating
call centers, managing a scholarship program, an Adaptive Technology Program
requiring that it always be state of the art, a senior citizens center, a
Rehabilitation Program, etc; and necessarily requiring suitable academic
qualifications, and even more importantly, real practical meaningful
experience. Being business like includes knowledge and experience necessary
to run businesses. 

 3.	The Executive Director must assure that:
A.	People who are blind are safe receiving services at the Lighthouse.
Safety is always a priority. We have hundreds of people traveling on public
transportation  and crossing streets every day; we have field trips
frequently; we have a manufacturing facility; We have medically fragile
children in house everyday; we placed over 180 people who are blind in jobs
in the community, etc. 
B.	No one is seriously hurt receiving services at the Lighthouse, for
the same environment described above, through carelessness can cause an
injury and give a blind person another disability. 
  

 
		C.	The Executive Director takes a leadership role in
raising funds to support agency operations and for initiating new programs
that benefit people who are blind. 
D.	None of our children in our care are molested, for some studies show
that one out of three children with developmental disabilities (cognitive
disabilities) has been molested. Our children are prime targets. They can
not see or express themselves at their chronological age level, and some, in
addition, cannot hear. It is difficult for them to bare witness. The
Lighthouse had the first not for profit contract with the State Police to
conduct "police checks" on new employees. The Executive Director insures
that our children are secure. 
E.	The Lighthouse is not sued, for just think of all the potential
liabilities that can result from carelessness, unawareness, lack of
experience, lack of training or incompetence! 
The Lighthouse does well on all of its audits, for the Executive Director is
a steward of the community's funds, the State's funds, donors' funds and
agency funds. The Executive Director insures that the Lighthouse is never
embarrassed by embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, 

F.	Mismanagement, "waste," etc. 



 
	POSITION DESCRIPTION 

JOB TITLE:	Executive Director 
DEPARTMENT:	Administration 
REPORTS TO:	Board of Directors 
STATUS:	Full-Time, Exempt 
SCHEDULE:	Varies 
LOCATION:	Central Office 
DATE REVIEWED:	11/01/07 (date job description was 
Last revised). 

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This position is responsible for the overall
administration and management of the agency. Primary areas include Financial
Management, Fundraising/Community Relations, Program Management, and
Strategic Planning. 

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS: Reports to the Board of Directors. SPECIFIC
ACTIVITIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: 
General 
 .	Responsible for ensuring that people who are blind or visually
impaired: have confidence in the Chicago Lighthouse; have confidence the
agency understands blindness and the needs of people who are blind or
visually impaired; and have confidence that the Chicago Lighthouse will
provide programs to meet their needs. Acts to maintain highly effective
consumer relations under all programs, reflecting the importance of
consumers as the reason for the agency's existence. 
 .	Responsible for developing policies and procedures that protect the
safety and security of all consumers. 
 .	Understands and advocates for the needs of people who are blind,
visually impaired, elderly, persons with developmental disabilities,
deaf/blind, and other agency consumers. 
 .	Maintains good relations with professionals and administrative
personnel in the social service and rehabilitation field, such as the
Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), National Industries for the
Blind (NIB), etc. 


 
	Board of Directors 
 .	Works with Board Chair and Board Members in establishing agency
policy and strategic direction. 
 .	Implements policy decisions and resolutions of the Board of
Directors. 
 .	Assumes any duties deemed necessary by the Board of Directors to
accomplish the mission of the Lighthouse. 

Financial Management 
 .	With the CFO and Finance Committee, prepares, implements, and
monitors the annual operating budget. 
 .	Responsible for state/federal and other funding applications for
agency programs; monitors compliance of grants and audits in conjunction
with CFO. 
 .	Is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Chicago
Lighthouse's finances and for ensuring that the Finance and Executive
Committees are properly informed. 

Fundraisinq/Communitv Relations 
 .	Plays a major role in assisting the Financial Development team in
agency fund raising efforts with corporations, trusts, donations, individual
gifts, deferred giving, etc. 
 .	Maintains a position of personal and professional visibility in the
community; represents the agency's vision, mission and values before service
groups and other community organizations; is active wherever possible in the
business and civic affairs of the community. 
 .	Advocates in public forums on behalf of the agency for people who
are blind or visually impaired. 

Program Management 
Provides direction and leadership in evaluating, researching, and planning
program development to ensure maintenance of existing agency programs and
cultivation of new programs; 
.	Responsible for the overall management of current Lighthouse
programs which serve the consumers of agency services. Works with senior
management staff and the relevant committees of the Board of Directors to
maintain, evaluate, and 


 
	when necessary, modify existing programs. 
Provides opportunity for growth and development for staff by 
supporting programs for training, encouraging involvement in 
community and professional organizations. 
Utilizes best business practices in operating Lighthouse 
programs. 

Strategic Planning 
  .	With the Board of Directors and senior management staff, develops a
plan that addresses all activities of the agency through clearly elucidated
goals and objectives tied to the Mission Statement. 
 .	With senior management staff and the various committees of the
Board, identifies and structures projects which advance the goals and
objectives of the strategic plan. 
 .	Evaluates the services and strategic plan of the agency in relation
to specified goals & standards. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

The following gualifications are strongly preferred and describe the ideal
candidate. It is recognized that some candidates may not fully meet all
reguirements but will have strengths in areas that complement these
requirements.   The Board, in its judgment, will determine which candidate
best meets these reguirements. 
 

 
 .	Master's degree or Ph.D. in social work, rehabilitation
administration, education, business administration, or a related field; 
 .	At least 10 years of related professional experience required,
including 5 years managing an agency for the blind and/or visually impaired,
or managing rehabilitation/social service programs with a significant budget
similar to those operated by the Chicago Lighthouse; or managing businesses
similar to those operated by the Chicago Lighthouse with a comparable
budget; 


 
	Previous experience required with services provided to 
individuals with visual impairment, blindness, and/or multiple 
disabilities; 
Record of membership in, or employment by, an organization 
closely related to rehabilitation, social work, or visual 
impairment required. 
Commitment to our mission of providing opportunities for 
people who are blind or visually impaired is essential. 

The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually 
Impaired is an Equal Opportunity Employer in full compliance with local,
state, and federal Civil Rights & Affirmative Action laws. The Chicago
Lighthouse maintains a strong policy of accommodation and a consistent
practice of employing qualified individuals with disabilities. 

=====end of announcement=====

Ray Campbell, President
Illinois Council of the Blind
ray1530 at comcast.net
 

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