Executive Director - Community-Based Human Services
Job Description
Job Description
Job Title: Executive Director
Location: Washington, DC / Maryland
Job Type: Full-Time
Schedule: Monday-Friday, with flexibility for after-hours operational needs
About the Role
Avento Health is seeking an experienced, mission-driven Executive Director to lead a community-based human services organization serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral health needs, brain injuries, and complex medical or physical support needs. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for someone who can combine strategic vision with strong operational execution across residential and community-based programs.
The Executive Director will oversee daily operations, program quality, compliance, people leadership, and growth initiatives while helping ensure services remain person-centered, community-based, and outcomes-driven. The ideal candidate is an experienced nonprofit or healthcare leader who understands how to lead multidisciplinary teams, strengthen systems, support quality care, and build a culture rooted in dignity, accountability, and inclusion.
About the Organization
This organization provides community-based supports, advocacy, therapies, case management, and residential services for individuals with a range of developmental, emotional, neurological, and medical support needs. Programs are designed to promote independence, community participation, and meaningful quality of life through person-centered care and neighborhood-based service delivery.
What You’ll Do
- Provide executive leadership for day-to-day operations across residential and community-based programs
- Lead, coach, and develop program, clinical, and operational leaders to support service quality and team performance
- Ensure compliance with all applicable state, federal, licensing, accreditation, and payer requirements
- Drive program quality, operational consistency, risk management, and continuous improvement initiatives
- Oversee budgeting, resource allocation, financial stewardship, and operational planning in partnership with senior leadership
- Monitor key performance indicators related to census, staffing, retention, compliance, incidents, and service delivery outcomes
- Support recruitment, retention, employee engagement, and leadership development across the organization
- Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, families, referral sources, regulators, community partners, and funders
- Help expand and strengthen programs in alignment with organizational goals, mission, and community need
- Promote a culture of accountability, responsiveness, compassion, and person-centered support
- Respond to high-level operational issues, escalations, and urgent matters as needed
- Partner with executive and board leadership on strategic priorities, organizational development, and long-range planning
What We’re Looking For
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Social Work, Public Health, Business, Nonprofit Management, or a related field strongly preferred
- Progressive leadership experience in healthcare, behavioral health, human services, disability services, residential services, or nonprofit operations
- Strong experience overseeing multi-site or community-based programs
- Knowledge of compliance, licensing, quality standards, staffing models, and operational best practices in regulated care environments
- Experience leading interdisciplinary teams and managing through other leaders
- Strong financial, operational, and strategic planning skills
- Excellent communication, relationship-building, and problem-solving abilities
- Ability to balance mission, people, compliance, and performance in a fast-moving environment
- Experience supporting individuals with IDD/DD, behavioral health needs, brain injuries, or medically complex conditions is strongly preferred
- Ability to travel between program sites and offices in Washington, DC and Maryland, as needed
Preferred Background
- Leadership experience in nonprofit community-based services
- Experience with residential/group home operations
- Experience with quality improvement, incident management, and survey or audit readiness
- Track record of strengthening teams, improving systems, and supporting sustainable program growth
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
- Mission-driven executive leadership role with meaningful community impact
- Opportunity to lead and strengthen person-centered, community-based programs
- Highly visible role with influence across operations, quality, culture, and growth
- Chance to help shape services that support dignity, independence, and inclusion
Work Environment
This is an on-site leadership role supporting programs and operations across Washington, DC and Maryland. The Executive Director should be comfortable working in community-based settings, residential environments, and administrative leadership spaces, with regular interaction across clinical, operational, and support teams.
Apply Today
If you are an experienced leader who thrives in mission-driven environments and knows how to build strong teams, effective systems, and high-quality community-based services, we encourage you to apply.
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Avento Health is an Equal Opportunity Recruiter and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. We are committed to presenting qualified candidates fairly and inclusively.