job listings

[view all job listings]

Posted: December 2, 2002

Job Title: Executive Director
Agency: Thresholds (Chicago, IL)

START DATE: Spring 2003

BACKGROUND:

Thresholds (www.thresholds.org) has overcome tremendous odds to become the nation’s most successful and respected psychiatric recovery center.

The Thresholds agency was founded in 1959 by a volunteer group of women after attending an educational conference on mental health. There they learned about the plight of people with mental illness, who after being hospitalized were often "dumped" back into the community without support services. Frightened, homeless, jobless and friendless, these people often returned to the hospital. Sympathetic to their plight, these volunteers discussed the need for support services that would help former psychiatric patients adjust to normal daily living, an important element to their recovery.

In 1960, the Thresholds center at 1153 N. Dearborn was opened. It was a place where a recently released psychiatric patient could go and, after being warmly greeted by a Thresholds volunteer, enter the sunny main room of the building. There, several young men and women would be playing games such as checkers and ping-pong, or making arts and crafts. It was a transitional place where social interaction could begin again, an important step toward recovery.

Today, Thresholds creates the opportunity for people with mental illness, whom they refer to as Members, not patients, to live with dignity and independence. The agency, with its twenty-four (24) service locations will have forty-five (45) housing and administration buildings with a value of over $25,000,000. Each year, the agency serves more than 4,000 people with mental illness through its comprehensive program of therapeutic support, case management, education, vocational training and placement, and housing.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

Psychiatric rehabilitation at Thresholds is guided by six (6) goals. These goals form the basis for the service plan that guides the general treatment strategy for each Member. The degree to which a Member fulfills the six goals marks his or her progress and growth. The research department at Thresholds monitors progress and programming can be adjusted accordingly. Thresholds six goals are:

1. Prevent unnecessary psychiatric hospitalization.
2. Obtain paid employment for every Member capable of working.
3. Provide a wide array of housing consistent with Member needs.
4. Improve social relationships and communication skills.
5. Offer educational opportunities at the appropriate level.
6. Promote and monitor physical health.

The six (6) goals did not emerge from a theoretical framework for doing psychiatric rehabilitation. Thresholds has never operated that way. Instead, the six goals emerged from Members’ needs. These needs demanded the attention of Thresholds’ staff and responses were developed accordingly. Members throughout the history of Thresholds have striven to remain outside of the hospital, hold down a job, gain an education, find their own housing, and handle stressed-out family situations and shattered social networks. The goal of promoting and monitoring physical health was not as obvious initially and it was not stated until 1987.

These goals grew from the concerns about the practical and immediate needs of Members and they reflect the basic values about quality of life. They are standards against which staff can chronicle the successes and shortcomings of the Thresholds’ program and measure agency achievement. This evaluation component differentiates Thresholds from many other programs with vague outcome criteria or sometimes none at all. Thresholds’ commitment to evaluation on the six goals has allowed the organization to demonstrate outcome success to a variety of audiences including staff, Members and funders.

THE POSITION:

Reporting to the Board of Directors of Thresholds, the Executive Director has overall responsibility for the implementation of all programs and operations of the agency. The Director will be required to be the "public face of Thresholds" thereby providing leadership in Member advocacy, public policy, resource development opportunities, program development and community involvement activities. This position is viewed by numerous constituents as a motivational and consultative leader in the resolve of problems affecting members of the population with persistent mental illness. This position will be required to continue an organizational culture that empowers growth, appreciates staff and volunteers, respects and treats people fairly, provides dynamic leadership in program innovation and oversees a complex organization of over 800 employees and an annual operating budget of over $43 million.

The Executive Director is responsible for the financial oversight, general business and programming of Thresholds. In addition, all standards of the Illinois Office of Mental Health, Department of Children and Family Services, and other accrediting, governmental and funding bodies must be maintained. The Executive Director is responsible for the oversight of the treatment program as prescribed in the organization’s goals and providing for the continuity of programs in an ethical, moral and legal manner within a safe and therapeutic environment.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Craft a vision for Thresholds and be its champion. Continually express this vision through strategic planning that ultimately strengthens and expands the agency’s functional capabilities and geographic presence. Develop implementation strategies for these plans in partnership with the Board of Directors, the staff and Thresholds’ other stakeholders.
   
   
2. Establish strong working relationships and maintain ongoing communications with the Board President and Board Committees to update the Board on community needs and current trends in mental health services, and to facilitate agency policy and programs. Administer policies as approved by the Board, offering leadership for new and innovative ideas to maintain or improve the quality of services rendered.
   
   
3. Maintain a viable, creative and productive staffing organization and senior executive team by selecting, mentoring, leading and delegating in a team-oriented culture. As appropriate, preside over meetings to review organizational plans, challenges and opportunities. Provide supervision of the Chief Operating Officer and other key staff as appropriate. Facilitate communication throughout the agency.
   
   
4. Provide leadership and participation in resource development activities to underwrite programs and operations and to finance Thresholds’ program innovations; cultivate, build and maintain enduring relations with current and potential public and private funding sources and serve as a key advisor to Board members to assure effectiveness in their resource development roles.
   
   
5. Ensure the quality of programs by enabling staff to develop, organize and conduct comprehensive programs and acceptable standards of professional practice for Thresholds. Ensure evaluation of all programs, services, and policies monitoring participation, seeking input from key staff, thought-leaders, families and Members, and encouraging research in evaluating the effectiveness of programs and services.
   
   
6. Serve as the chief public advocate and spokesperson for Thresholds locally and nationally in order to actively and effectively represent its goals to government leaders, individuals, private foundations and sponsors in order to generate enthusiasm and attract the widest interest and support. Serve on local advisory boards, alliances and panels (formal and informal); cultivate and maintain a network of community and neighborhood organizations of similar interest.
   
   
7. Oversee and participate as needed in the negotiation of Thresholds service contracts with appropriate funding agencies. Maintain a high level of current knowledge of local, state and federal legislation and directives that affect the delivery of services of the organization.
   
   
8. Provide leadership in the preparation of annual and capital budgets, and monitor them for control purposes, and provide for timely management reports for the Board and its oversight committees.
   
   

THE PROFILE:

We seek an experienced professional with accomplishment and prominence in the field of mental health. The candidate should have extraordinary interpersonal skills that have facilitated the development of productive professional relationships with both internal and external constituents. A commitment to best practice management and business skill development has been a distinguishing factor in the candidate’s career. Success in the legislative environment will also be a strong consideration for the ideal candidate.

This person must be able to demonstrate an understanding and commitment to the unique mission and history of Thresholds. Proven leadership in an organization with a demonstrated ability to bring passion, vision, direction, business discipline and inspiration is required.

This individual should be an innovative and strategic thinker, consultative leader and an energetic problem-solver whose senior-level executive and programmatic experiences in addressing challenges of Member populations have been characterized by a participatory and open style of communication and collaboration. She or he must be able to demonstrate an effective management approach in staff development, programs and operations within a senior management group consisting of highly competent staff. This person must be able to demonstrate an effective approach to staff development, programs and operations within a senior management group consisting of highly competent staff. This person must be able to demonstrate a record of leading successful organizations to new levels of accomplishment. The successful candidate must also be able to demonstrate an understanding and ability to work with a wide variety of organizational constituents such as community groups, political leaders, families, diverse populations and Members requiring support in the development/attainment of their goals.

The ideal candidate will possess exceptional leadership abilities, a history as a dynamic communicator of ideas in written and oral forums, and have the initiative and capability to establish and maintain a "presence" within human service and philanthropic communities. Other desirable characteristics include ‘big-picture’ thinking; political adeptness; business acumen; appropriate training and experience in the mental health field; flexibility, versatility; diverse workforce management; community engagement skills and an ability to lead through and manage multiple tasks.

A Master’s Degree in Psychology, Counseling, Human Services or related field is required; a PhD is preferred. Candidates with a strong understanding and experience in related organizations are highly preferred. The ideal candidate will have more than ten (10) years of executive level experience and a substantial record in mental health clinical environments. Thresholds is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applicants who represent different cultural, socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. For additional information, please contact:

Ed Rivera
Principal
Kittleman and Associates
300 South Wacker Drive
Suite 1710
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone 312-986-1166
Fax 312-986-0895
Email: erivera@kittleman.net

THRESHOLDS

Chicago, IL

Executive Director

Thresholds was founded in 1959 and serves more than 4000 people with mental illness through its integrated programs of therapeutic support, case management, education, vocational training and placement and housing. Thresholds creates the opportunity for people with mental illness to live with dignity, independence and with hope for recovery. This agency is regarded as a leader in the field of comprehensive mental health rehabilitation and has achieved regional and national recognition for its pioneering work on behalf of the members served.

We seek an accomplished leader whose track record in successfully leading and developing programs in the field of mental health is distinctive and is accompanied by a vision and passion for leadership in integrated mental health services. Ideally, the Executive Director will accomplish this through strong and dynamic leadership, advocacy and an inclusive process involving highly skilled staff, members, key volunteers and community leaders in business, government and philanthropy. We seek a person who has worked extensively with boards of directors and/or who has served on boards of directors and demonstrates an understanding of the dynamics of voluntary leadership within a large, complex nonprofit organization or public agency.

This individual must have a Masters Degree in a related field and is recognized by accomplishments in this field. If you know of an individual who may be interested or if you would like additional information, please contact Ed Rivera , Kittleman & Associates, 300 South Wacker Drive, #1710, Chicago, IL 60606. Ph: 312-986-1166, email: erivera@kittleman.net.