Position Description Chief Executive Officer
Statement of purpose Perkins, a world-class, multi-faceted organization renowned for improving the lives of individuals with disabilities, is seeking a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead during a time of unprecedented growth and change. This opportunity requires a visionary who possesses the passion and prowess to build upon Perkins unique skills and success, ultimately ushering the organization into its greatest era of impact yet. Introduction A global leader in the field of blindness education. A pioneer in cutting-edge assistive technology empowering the potential of individuals with disabilities. A tireless advocate for the rights and equality of all people who are blind, deafblind or visually impaired. This is Perkins. Founded 185 years ago as the first school for the blind in the U.S., Perkins impact today stretches across the nation and permeates 67 countries around the globe. We are the authority to which educators, students, families, communities, governments and ministries of education turn for expertise, best practices and assistive technology solutions. Our services span a broad spectrum from educating students on our historic campus in Greater Boston, to sharing strategies through online workshops with professionals as far away as Africa, South America and India. All our efforts are ultimately focused on supporting the Perkins mission: to provide education and services that build productive, meaningful lives for children and adults around the world who are blind, deafblind or visually impaired, including those with additional disabilities. Incorporated in 1829 by Samuel Gridley Howe, Perkins carved its permanent place in history when it sent alumna Anne Sullivan to instruct a young girl from Alabama who was deafblind. Thought by many to be uneducable, Helen Keller famously went on to read, write and even graduate from Radcliffe College, ultimately transforming the world s perception of what it means to be a person with disabilities. Perkins has since maintained that tradition of excellence in teaching students and sharing its expertise with professionals. The school moved in 1912 from Boston to its current 38-acre campus in Watertown, Mass., where the heart of our organization still dwells today. To learn more about Perkins early history, visit Perkins.org, click the About Us tab and select History. While Perkins has been known for decades as a leader in best practices in educating children who are blind, the last 10 years have witnessed dramatic change, resulting in a tremendous expansion of our reach, our spectrum of services and products, and our global influence in policy and advocacy. Perkins today impacts approximately 875,000 individuals around the globe annually an increase of more than 800 percent compared to just five years ago. Supported by an endowment of approximately $240 million, the organization currently employs a staff of about 800 individuals and has an annual operating budget of $70 million. Out of this budget, $16 million is raised annually through endowment yields and philanthropy, and the balance comes primarily from 1
school board tuition reimbursements. Perkins recently concluded its first-ever capital campaign. The Touch Our World Comprehensive Campaign raised $136 million, with $50 million designated to operating funds, $12 to $15 million for capital requirements and the balance to support the endowment. Thanks to the success of this campaign, Perkins recently constructed its new Lower School and the Grousbeck Center for Students & Technology, our campus first central hub for social recreation and exploration of accessible technology. The Center features our new Internet radio station and houses our video production class, led by Hollywood producer Kevin Bright of NBC s hit Friends. Concurrently, in an effort to best support the organization during this time of change and growth, Perkins has strengthened its governance. The Board of Trustees consists of 24 engaged, motivated members who operate as a unified partner with the CEO, advising on all of Perkins activities and mission-related decisions. All of Perkins efforts are tied to its Strategic Plan, a blueprint that guides the organization s decisions including academic focus, use of technology, expansion of regional, national and international work and more. The Strategic Plan is divided into four overarching goals: preparing students, reaching new populations, expanding internationally and building partnerships. To learn more about the Strategic Plan, visit Perkins.org, click the About Us tab and select Perkins Strategic Plan 2010-2015. Current initiatives On local, national and global levels, Perkins is changing what it means to be a person who is blind. Our numerous ongoing projects include: Leading a national project of the Federal Communications Commission, in partnership with the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults, that is connecting people who are deafblind with communications technology Developing several of our own new assistive technology products including the Perkins SMART Brailler, which is revolutionizing the way people learn braille with its real-time audio and visual feedback Partnering for change in places such as Latin America, where we are influencing governmental policy changes to support education for all, and Africa, where we work with Kilimanjaro Blind Trust to improve the availability of braille equipment Hosting the first-ever Braille Summit, an opportunity for the nation s leading braille advocates to discuss and debate the future of the tactile reading system 2
Launching the Co-op Program, a vocational and independence training venture at Perkins School for the Blind designed to prepare public school students for transition to college or work Perkins brand and sub-brands In order to build distinct lines of operations that work independently, yet synergistically, while realizing our Strategic Plan and mission, the organization recently completed a branding exploration. Known today as Perkins, our messaging reflects five sub-brands: Perkins School for the Blind, which serves approximately 200 students on campus, and operates as the headquarters for our Community Services programs including itinerant services, independence courses for public school students, evaluations and assessments for communities, and training for professionals. Perkins International, which impacted the lives of 90,500 children, families, educators and professionals last year. Perkins International works to develop sustainable capacity in 67 countries through local, on-the-ground partnerships, and provides resources, training and advocacy to improve the lives of the 4.5 million children around the world without access to education due to blindness. Perkins Products, our business and manufacturing arm which develops and distributes accessible technology in 170 countries, ranging from the classic mechanical Perkins Brailler to low-cost computerized braille displays currently underway in partnership with a development team. The U.S. Department of Commerce recently presented Perkins Products with the President s E Award the highest recognition any U.S. entity may receive for contributing to the increase of American exports. Perkins elearning, an online portal designed to provide resources and support to anyone, anywhere, in the field of blindness education. Perkins elearning leverages our reputation as a teacher of teachers by offering high-quality webcasts and webinars on a variety of topics. We also provide professional development and graduate level credits to educators through online workshops. A recent grant from the Gates Foundation for Perkins elearning is providing financial support for this critical sharing of resources. Perkins Library, which circulates more than 530,000 items in braille, audio, electronic and large print formats to about 26,000 patrons in the U.S. The Library has served patrons since 1835 and is one of the oldest accessibility services in the country. 3
Perkins also designed a new logo that features the name Perkins in braille, which represents our organization s belief in the power of literacy through braille, as well as our commitment to ensuring the vitality and relevancy of braille in today s increasingly technological world. A time for change; a time for growth Leveraging and managing such a diverse, complex organization requires a world-class executive who is genuinely drawn to Perkins mission. Like any growing organization, it behooves Perkins and its CEO to carefully consider future steps that will guide the organization s focus for the highest impact possible. Perkins is currently facing several mission-related questions that will profoundly affect the overall direction and delivery of its services. These questions include: Should Perkins play a leading advocacy role in promoting braille around the world? Should Perkins put a greater emphasis on advocacy for the rights and accessibility of all people who are blind? Should we emphasize specific issues, such as the 70 percent unemployment rate of individuals who are blind in the U.S.? How much emphasis should we place on increasing our transition services for students at Perkins and students in the public system? What should be the focus of our transition programs? How should we focus/market/expand our international work? Should we consider partnering with other organizations in the field, private contractors or other entities to expand our reach and impact? Given that Perkins School for the Blind serves a population with more diverse, complex disabilities than ever in its history, how should we augment our offerings and approach to improve our service delivery? Should the focus of Perkins national efforts be on building local capacity or expanding direct services? Should we consider expanding our regional impact, such as through itinerant services? If so, through what service delivery model, and which populations should we target? How can we better approach the financial challenges posed by our dependence on outside tuition and fees to sustain our campus and services? How should we generate more revenue and earn a surplus? 4
How can we best support the development of Perkins Products and its critical work in developing and distributing assistive technology? Should we consider partnerships to develop more products more efficiently? Summary of position and responsibilities The CEO is responsible for leading and managing all aspects of the organization, and, in conjunction with the Board of Trustees, for all strategic and capital-related imperatives. Among many job responsibilities, the CEO is required to: Understand Perkins five lines of business and the ways they intersect, and develop and implement a five-year plan to expand and scale their service delivery Work collaboratively with the eight direct senior staff reports who represent Perkins various departments and lines of business Utilize excellent leadership and management skills necessary to support the thriving faculty, administration and staff that make Perkins work possible Experience and skills As leader of this multi-faceted organization, the CEO must possess the experience and skills necessary to earn confidence from internal and external stakeholders, make sound decisions to guide Perkins through its next major changes, and effectively advocate for support of Perkins services, as well as the needs of the population as a whole. The CEO s qualifications must include: Sufficient years of increasingly responsible management positions, including that of the senior management level A strong business leadership background, most likely gained in the for-profit sector, and academic credentials sufficient to be credible among the academic community A track record underscoring his/her ability to influence policy and engage government in support of his/her organization and its mission The ability to cast a compelling vision for an organization and ignite passion for that vision in others A keen understanding of the role of marketing and development, and capability in cultivating potential sources of financial support 5
Successful development of a brand, including expansion of its visibility and impact Financial acumen in a multi-faceted business setting Skill as an effective external spokesperson and an impressive public presence Technological literacy Personal characteristics Perkins is successful because of its people. They take its mission to heart and bring to work a sense of humanity that elevates their everyday tasks to life-changing accomplishments. The CEO must embody that underlying commitment to universal good and approach challenges at Perkins with the compassion, humor and respect that will pave the way to our success. 6
Procedure for Candidacy Process Please direct all confidential nominations and resumes via e-mail to: PerkinsCEO@wittkieffer.com For additional information, please contact: John Fazekas Witt/Kieffer 35 Corporate Drive, Suite 290 Burlington, MA 01803 JFazekas@WittKieffer.com 781/564.2633 Perkins School for the Blind is an equal opportunity employer. Discover Thought Leadership at www.wittkieffer.com The material presented in this position specification should be relied on for informational purposes only. This material has been copied, compiled, or quoted in part from Perkins documents and personal interviews and is believed to be reliable. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, the original source documents and factual situations govern. 7
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