Director of New Programs and Innovation

We are seeking a Director of New Programs and Innovation to join our team of caring professionals.

Excellent Benefit Package!!

Generous Time Off!!

TheDirector of New Programs and Innovationreports directly to the Chief Operating Officer.  Responsible for leading the design, testing, implementation, and scaling of creative, forward-thinking services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)

• OPWDD Development Leadership: Serve as the primary point person for all OPWDD processes related to IRA development and expansion.
• Program Design: Create modern, person-centered service models that expand beyond traditional residential and day habilitation programs.
• Program Enhancements and New Development: Improve and increase enrollments in current community-based program models while exploring new service opportunities, including but not limited to ACCES-VR partnerships, aging-in-place options, specialized autism services, and innovative housing initiatives.
• Innovation Strategy: Research and pilot new technological, clinical, and community-based approaches to improve independence and quality of life for people with disabilities.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all newly developed and pilot programs comply with state and federal regulations, including Medicaid waiver requirements.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner with families, self-advocates, community organizations, and provider agencies to gather feedback and refine new initiatives.
• Performance & Data Analysis: Track outcomes and key metrics for new programs to evaluate effectiveness and inform recommendations for organizational implementation.
• Grant & Budget Management: Collaborate with the finance department to develop budgets, pursue grant opportunities and alternative funding sources, and oversee resource allocation for pilot projects.
• Cross-Agency Leadership: Work alongside executive leadership, regional offices (including Region 5 covering New York City and Staten Island), and state operations teams throughout all phases of new service development and implementation.
• Cross-Departmental Leadership: Partner with the Admissions Committee and other departments to coordinate new enrollments, support cross-functional collaboration, and ensure the successful development and launch of new program initiatives.
• Ongoing IRA Expansion: Lead efforts to expand the organization's IRA portfolio, including identifying development opportunities, securing approvals, coordinating project planning, and supporting successful program openings and occupancy growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human services, social work, public administration, business administration, nonprofit management, healthcare administration, education, or a related field; a master’s degree, MSW or CSW is preferred. Equivalent combinations of relevant education and progressively responsible experience may be considered.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in program development, service design, innovation, or operations, preferably within the intellectual and developmental disabilities, human services, healthcare, or nonprofit sectors.
• Demonstrated experience designing, launching, evaluating, and scaling new programs or service models from concept through implementation.
• Working knowledge of person-centered practices, Medicaid-funded services, waiver programs, and applicable state and federal requirements; familiarity with New York State OPWDD systems and processes is strongly preferred.
• Experience developing program budgets, identifying funding opportunities, supporting grant applications, and managing resources for pilot projects or new initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to define performance measures, evaluate outcomes, interpret and produce data driven reports.
• Excellent project-management, organizational, written communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage multiple priorities, engage diverse stakeholders, and guide organizational change.