Executive Director (CEO)

St. Catherine’s Center for Children is seeking a dynamic and progressive Chief Executive who will lead the agency’s purpose, mission, and high values.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Location: Albany, New York

Salary Range: $160,000 to $200,000 annually

Benefits: St. Catherine’s offers a competitive benefits package with health, dental, vision, life, contribution to a retirement plan, generous leave and holiday pay, and many other incentives.

Reference Code: 0600

Application Deadline: Close of business on Friday, May 2, 2025

ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION

First opening its doors in 1886 as a home for sick orphans, St. Catherine’s Center for Children has grown and evolved throughout its 130-plus years serving the Capital Region. We now offer a wide range of services and programs serving children, families, and individuals in need. As a regional human services provider, St. Catherine’s proudly provides services in more than 20 counties in New York State. We remain a haven for hope in the Capital Region and beyond, aiding the most vulnerable among us.

As a leading non-profit human service provider, St. Catherine’s employs more than 300 full and part-time staff. Our spectrum of services for children, families and individuals suffering from the lasting effects of abuse and neglect, family instability, mental illness, homelessness, and other ongoing traumas, continues to grow.

St. Catherine’s comprehensive range of human services reach more than 1,000 children, 600 families, and hundreds of adults across Upstate New York each year. Our multi-faceted programs are designed to offer hope, foster growth, and improve the lives of the children, families, and adults we serve. We offer residential and therapeutic foster care programs for children and youth, Kinship support, homeless and community-based services for adults and families, a special education elementary school for ages 5-13, and so much more.  

OUR MISSION 

St. Catherine's Center for Children provides a comprehensive range of human services designed to offer hope, foster growth, and improve the lives of the children, families and adults we serve.

OUR VISION 

St. Catherine’s willingness to embrace change and develop new services is, and will remain, our guiding philosophy as we support the human service needs of children, families, and adults throughout the region.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The leader we seek will help guide the work of the agency into the future with passion and purpose. This individual will also have courage, knowledge, understanding and a deep regard for the people we serve and those who do so.  St. Catherine’s willingness to embrace change and seek continuous improvement are guiding philosophies for which our new chief executive will embody each day. 

Under supervision of the agency’s Board of Directors, and in collaboration with members of the Executive Management Team, the Executive Director oversees all aspects of agency functioning. The Executive Director ensures an equitable work culture that is collaborative, productive, and represents a unified community.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

Educational Background

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Welfare or closely related field, required.
• Master’s Degree in Social Work Administration or its equivalent, preferred.

Experience

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in non-profit human service management, including contracting, budget management, continuous quality improvement, program planning, and development.
• Demonstrated competence in planning, initiating, and executing social service programs.

Abilities and Aptitudes

• Understanding and alignment with agency mission and philosophy.
• A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion integrity and the advocacy for justice when necessary.
• The ability to relate well with persons of varied disciplines.
• The ability to initiate, plan and execute multiple programs.
• The leadership ability to motivate and direct staff in implementing the philosophy, goals, and policies of the agency. 

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Planning and Development

• The Executive Director provides leadership in establishing and implementing the philosophy, goals and objectives of the agency in accordance with the rules and regulations of State regulatory bodies and the agency Board of Directors.
• Oversees the development and formulation of policies and programs.  In the case of major developments or changes, the Executive Director must inform and involve the Board of the directions to be taken.
• Responsible for recruiting, developing, and supervising the members of the Executive Management Team (EMT).  The Executive Director participates with the appropriate department heads in the decision to hire and/or dismiss staff as necessary.   The Executive Director is responsible for ensuring that adequate training and professional development opportunities are provided for staff at all levels.
• The Executive Director, in conjunction with appropriate staff, is responsible for the development and administration of the agency budget.
• Directs, evaluates, and coordinates all aspects of the agency programming and functioning.

Organizing

• The Executive Director is responsible for the development and maintenance of a competent, well-balanced organization with respect to structure and personnel, in order to ensure the effective administration of all programs.
• The Executive Director encourages and assists Program Management Teams to develop programs and services that meet regulatory requirements for quality and best practice.
• Facilitates the integration of all services and departments.
• Delegates authority and responsibility to the Executive Management Team, and subsequently encourages them, in turn, to delegate to their staff, thus ensuring participation, decision making, and succession planning activity are being shared on all levels of the organization.

Personnel Management and Guidance

• The Executive Director is responsible for seeing that all personnel are provided with suitable job descriptions, and that performance is supervised on the appropriate level.
• Provides appropriate guidelines for fiscal management in each department.
• Facilitates and directs agency meetings, especially the EMT, the Strategies Group, the Leadership group, and has the responsibility to do the same for any other agency committees as necessary.

Evaluating 

• Together with the administrative staff, the Executive Director sets in motion methods to evaluate program goals and objectives in order to assess and assure stability and quality of agency progression.
• The Executive Director reviews programs, plans, appropriations and reports of major importance, and arranges for their transmission and interpretations to the Board of Directors and to regulatory and funding sources.
• Provides for the development within the agency a standard of performance, as well as systems for the measurement of such performance through annual evaluations.
• Responsible to oversee that proper auditing procedures are followed and that annual audits are submitted to appropriate authorities within the requested timeframe.

Administering

• The Executive Director has the responsibility to see that all programs are effectively implemented according to the established policies and procedures.
• Through delegation to appropriate staff, the Executive Director must ensure all expenditures for the acquisition and care of supplies and equipment for all departments have been authorized.
• The Executive Director consults with legal personnel when necessary.
• The Executive Director ensures that requests from the legal system and courts are honored within the required timeframe.
• The Executive Director may have additional position-related duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Board of Directors.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

To the Board of Directors

• The Executive Director is the liaison between the Membership Corporation, the Board of Directors, and agency personnel.  The Executive Director is responsible for interpreting directives of the Board to the agency staff and of transmitting the needs and requests of staff to the Board.
• It is the Executive Director’s responsibility to keep the Board informed of the effectiveness, progress, and important factors influencing the agency.  The Executive Director helps to keep the Board abreast of trends in the field of education, child welfare, and homelessness, and provides direction to the future planning of agency programs and policy.
• Serve as an ex officio member of the Board of Directors and committees. 

To the Agency Personnel

• The Executive Director is responsible for all personnel, and can delegates direct supervision to the Executive Management Team and other supervisory staff as necessary.
• The Executive Director supervises the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Executive Director for CQI, Director of Marketing and Communications, and the Senior Executive Assistant.
• Responsible for the development and implementation of a planning system which ensures adequate staffing in all program areas, both as to quantity and quality.
• The Executive Director is responsible for setting the tone of the agency, assuring that a high level of morale is maintained in all departments.  To accomplish this, the Executive Director makes provision for adequate and equitable personnel practices as well as providing opportunities for staff participation in decision making.
• The Executive Director ensures that the spirit and principals of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are exemplified throughout all aspects of the agency.

To the Public

• As a representative of the agency, the Executive Director attends appropriate meetings in the local community.  The Executive Director is responsible for building and maintaining positive relationships with community groups, private and public agencies, governmental agencies, children and their families, and the public in general.    
• The Executive Director oversees the storage of and requests for archived records.

To the Foundation

ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTES

• Ability to represent the agency in a professional manner to the community, regulatory agencies, Board members, donors, and clients. 
• Ability to effectively handle conflict and or confrontation in order to reach a resolution satisfactory to all parties; Develop working relationships that prevent and resolve conflicts internally and externally.
• Ability to lead the organization's day-to-day operations, working with employees to develop, maintain, and use systems and resources that facilitate the practical process of the organization toward the strategic plan goals.
• Establish and maintain effective professional relationships with other organizations and advocacy groups.
• Ability to provide and communicate a clear direction for the organization’s future.
• Ability to work effectively under deadline pressures, meeting established work goals. May also include working beyond normally scheduled work hours to meet agency obligations. 
• Ability to effectively recruit, supervise, motivate, discipline and apply agency policies to junior associates. 
• Develop and implement effective strategies consistent with the organization's vision and mission. 
• Identify internal and external politics that may impact the organization’s work; Build and maintain ethical relationships, networks & contacts with people who are, or maybe, potentially helpful in achieving work-related goals and establishing advantages.
• Ability to understand, communicate, represent and carry out the mission, values, philosophy, and policies of St. Catherine’s Center for Children. 
• Ability to organize and effectively manage (in a timely manner) the varied tasks of the position. 
• Ability to work collaboratively with other personnel/service providers and professionals. 
• Ability to relate to and communicate with a wide range of people. This includes but is not limited to a broad range of people who are culturally and socio-economically diverse, as well as people with various developmental and functional levels.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive Pay with an Excellent Benefits Package
• Health Insurance options*: Medical, Dental and Vision
• $600 Well-being Reimbursement Benefit*
• Generous Combined Leave Time (CLT) and Paid Holidays*! 
• $500 Employee Referral Bonus*
• We are a 501(c) (3) agency, which is a qualifying employer for eligible staff under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program*
• Pension Plan with Generous Agency Contribution*
• 403b Retirement Savings Plan*
• Life Insurance* – Automatic Benefit at no cost to employee
• Paid Training, including TCI and CPR/AED/First Aid Certification & Update courses, if role appropriate
• Tuition Reimbursement* & Travel/ Mileage Reimbursement*
• Professional Development & Career Growth Opportunities
• The Comfort of a Business Casual Environment
• Our Commitment to Collaboratively Embrace Mindfulness, Relevance, Respect and Solidarity.

*To qualify, certain conditions may apply

EEO STATEMENT 

St. Catherine’s Center for Children is committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, reproductive health and pregnancy, family history and genetics, disability, age, military status, veteran status, politics, or other beliefs, and any other characteristics protected by law.  

BACKGROUND CHECK

We are required to run a thorough and complete background check on All Candidates being considered for any position within our agency. The background check includes Criminal Background Check (CBC) fingerprinting for the NYS Justice Center (NYS-JC) under the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Some positions require additional fingerprinting under the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and/or the Department of Health (DOH). All candidates must successfully clear the background check process, following NYS-DOJ requirements. We pay for all our background checks!