Catholic Charities Community Services Careers

Kennedy Child Study Center

Job Description

Job Title: Chief Executive Officer – Kennedy Children’s Center

Location: New York, NY

FLSA Status: Full Time – Exempt

Classification: Professional

Department: Administration

Reports to: Board of Directors

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes X  No

Position Summary: Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for the strategic leadership, direction, programmatic quality, financial integrity, management, operations, and overall sustainability of the Kennedy Children’s Center (KCC). The CEO oversees all agency programs, operations, finances, facilities, and personnel while ensuring excellence in service delivery, regulatory compliance, organizational culture, and mission impact. The CEO serves as the organization’s strategic leader, representative, and primary public advocate, while ensuring high-quality educational and developmental outcomes for children and families, workforce stability, strong internal systems, and operational accountability.

The CEO should possess substantial expertise in preschool special education, developmental disabilities services, multidisciplinary educational staffing models, and highly regulated school-based operations.

The role requires a leader with demonstrated experience managing complex educational and human service environments, including facilities oversight and capital construction / renovation projects. The CEO will lead and work closely with an executive team composed of the Chief Program Officer (CPO), Chief Finance Officer (CFO), Senior Director of Workforce Innovation and Director of Operations and Finance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership & Strategy

•         Provide strategic leadership and organizational direction aligned with the agency’s mission, values, and long-term sustainability.

•         Lead strategic planning efforts that anticipate policy, regulatory, demographic, and funding changes affecting preschool special education and developmental disability services.

•         Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, operational excellence, and continuous improvement across the organization.

•         Partner closely with the Board of Directors to support governance, strategic oversight, and public advocacy.

•         Drive organizational innovation and growth by identifying opportunities to expand services, strengthen community partnerships, and enhance long-term organizational impact.

Programmatic & Educational Oversight

• Oversee all preschool special education, related service, and developmental disability programs to ensure high-quality educational, therapeutic, and developmental outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with all NYSED, NYSDOL, NYCDOE, DOHMH, and other applicable regulatory and contractual requirements.
• Maintain expertise in multidisciplinary staffing structures and operational requirements for special education environments, including teachers, therapists, psychologists, nurses, paraprofessionals, and related providers.
• Oversee program census, classroom utilization, staffing models, and operational performance across all educational and program sites.
• Ensure ongoing program evaluation, quality improvement, and implementation of best practices in early childhood special education.

Workforce Development & Talent Strategy

• Provide strategic oversight of workforce development initiatives designed to train unemployed and underemployed adults as certified special education teacher assistants and teachers.
• Develop workforce partnerships that strengthen recruitment pipelines and address staffing shortages in special education and related service professions.
• Lead agency-wide talent strategy, succession planning, recruitment, retention, and leadership development efforts.
• Ensure strong human resource practices, performance management systems, and professional development structures across the organization.
• Oversee the sourcing and stewardship of public and private funds for workforce initiatives.

Financial, Operational & Facilities Management

• Ensure the organization’s long-term financial health through sound fiscal management, operational planning, and resource allocation.
• Oversee audits, financial reporting, risk management, adoption of emerging technologies including AI, and compliance activities in coordination with finance staff and external partners.
• Direct agency-wide facilities operations, infrastructure planning, maintenance, and regulatory compliance across multiple sites.
• Lead capital improvement, renovation, and construction initiatives in collaboration with architects, engineers, contractors, and regulatory agencies.
• Ensure construction and facilities projects are completed within budget, on schedule, and with minimal disruption to educational and therapeutic operations.

Fundraising, External Relations & Advocacy

• Partner with the Board and development team to strengthen philanthropic, governmental, and corporate fundraising efforts.
• Serve as the organization’s primary external representative with funders, policymakers, regulators, and community stakeholders.
• Position Kennedy Children’s Center as a leader in early childhood special education, developmental disabilities services, and workforce development via our Grow Your Own workforce training program.
• Lead advocacy efforts on the local and national level that advance policies, funding priorities, and public awareness supporting children with developmental delays and disabilities and the broader early childhood special education sector.
• Maintain strong relationships with government agencies, educational institutions, and sector partners.

Qualifications - Education and/or experience Required:

• Minimum of 10 years of senior leadership experience within preschool special education, developmental disabilities services, education, or related human service environments.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing complex educational and multidisciplinary staffing models in highly regulated settings.
• Deep knowledge of NYSED preschool special education regulations, rate-setting methodologies, and NYCDOE/DOHMH compliance requirements.
• Proven experience leading multi-site educational or human service organizations with budgets
• Experience overseeing facilities operations, capital improvements, construction, or major renovation projects strongly preferred.
• Experience managing audits, regulatory compliance, financial reporting, and government- funded programs.
• Knowledge and familiarity of existing and emerging technology, including artificial intelligence.
• Exceptional strategic, operational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through organizational growth, operational complexity, and change management.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive leadership.

Leadership Attributes

• Collaborative and mission-driven leader with strong operational judgment.
• Skilled relationship builder capable of working effectively with Boards, regulators, funders, staff, and community partners.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into measurable operational outcomes.
• Solutions-oriented executive with strong organizational, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Committed advocate for high-quality early childhood special education services for children with developmental delays and disabilities

Catholic Charities is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and accessible workplace that honors the dignity of every person. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and ensure fair consideration without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by law.