Deputy Director, Jobs

Company: Best Buddies International
Location: New Britain
Posted on: June 24, 2025

Job Description:

Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).Best Buddies is the largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people worldwide with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower people with IDD to form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure jobs, improve communication and advocacy skills, and live independently, while also offering support for their families. Job Title: Deputy Director, Jobs Department: State Programs and Operations Reports to: Director, Operations and Programs of direct reports: varies Revised date: 1/8/18 Position Overview: The deputy director, jobs is responsible for overseeing the jobs program. They work with state leadership team to hire and manage the jobs staff and are responsible for oversight of the contractual agreements for the jobs program. They serve as the point of contact for all contractors, manage all timelines for reporting to contractors, and support the staff as required. The deputy director is responsible for creating awareness of the jobs program including leveraging current business relationships across regions as well as attending networking opportunities to establish new relationships. Job Qualifications Bachelor’s degree or minimum 4 years’ relevant experience Strong project/time management skills - including planning, analysis, attention to detail, and problem solving - and willingness to multitask Strong presentation, facilitation, and written communication skills Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel, and basic understanding of accounting principles Initiative, dependability, drive for results, and self-assessment skills Must be adaptable and able to quickly and effectively develop and balance multiple relationships, and get results from a variety of people Ability to effectively gain information and insight through questioning/probing and observation of staff in the field, analyze information, and compile reports Must be comfortable engaging with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and working with them in a supporting role Must be comfortable with frequent travel throughout the state, use personal cell phone, and work evenings and weekends as necessary in order to accomplish job responsibilities Strong initiative, drive for results, and self-assessment skills Ability to work independently and as part of a team Job Duties include, but are not limited to: Programs Develop relationships with parents, communities, schools, government and other agencies to educate them about Best Buddies Jobs, identify potential participants and obtain participant referrals Performs job development for unemployed participants, including new and current employer relationships; effectively assesses employers’ needs and works with them to create positions that are valuable to their enterprise and in alignment with participant’s goals and support needs Oversee the job development efforts including setting goals regarding employer outreach and an overall development strategy for the region Maintains communication with employers/supervisors and advocates for participants' rights to equal treatment and pay from employers while also encouraging self-advocacy and maintaining positive employer-employee relations Directly manages a caseload of Jobs participants and assumes and/or supports duties of an Employment Consultant or a Jobs Supervisor as needed, including but not limited to performing intakes, conducting Individual Written Program Plans, monitoring progress, and providing job coaching Makes sound decisions about participants' welfare on the job site, and follows all established health and safety guidelines to ensure the health and safety of all participants Maintains positive relationships with families, support coordinators, and referral sources Provides participants and their families assistance and resources in dealing with social security issues, including explanation of work incentives Attends training as needed to maintain required certifications per state regulating agency Develop employer relationships that can be leveraged regionally for job placements Marketing and Fund Development Creates a strong presence for Best Buddies Jobs in the local area through public speaking, community involvement, public service announcements, special events, and other media initiatives as well as provides content for monthly social media initiatives Develop job and expansion opportunities including leveraging current business relationships across regions as well as attending networking opportunities to establish new relationships Oversee deliverables for private funding sources, including grants, and steward relationships with existing funders Execution of 1-2 jobs related events on an annual basis to encourage awareness and employer recognition and work with supervisor(s) on additional fundraising events as directed Providing information regarding potential donors/supporters to supervisor(s) as appropriate Engages Jobs program participants in local Best Buddies activities Human Resources & Administration Manages recruitment, screening, hiring, training and ongoing management for the Jobs Supervisors and other Jobs staff as needed in accordance with Best Buddies guidelines; approves all reports and conducts staff evaluations Works with all direct reports to set realistic and strategic goals, holds staff accountable for meeting these goals/plans, and develops performance/behavior improvement plans as needed; provides ongoing training and professional development opportunities as needed Serves as primary contact and lead for state contractors and works with Program Supervisors, Jobs to manage contractual agreements including training, file management, timeliness of billing and audits Serves as lead for all financials in the Jobs program including: ensuring that all required billing is completed accurately and in a timely manner by all staff; tracking of all billing submitted, received and denied; tracking the authorizations for each participant; tracking of all internal accounts payable and accounts receivable transactions; and utilizes Raiser’s Edge to track Jobs revenue and update proposal deliverables Provides accountability for all Jobs staff regarding maintenance of organized filing system for all relevant paperwork and the use of Sphere and Raiser’s Edge databases effectively and appropriately to manage Jobs contacts Ensure that the SetWorks database is properly utilized and updated routinely by the Jobs team Maintains communication with State/Area/Operation and Programs Directors with timely reports, quarterly goals, and other information as directed Collaborate with State/Area/Operations and Programs Directors to ensure all daily infrastructure needs are met, including supplies, postage, IT, telecommunications, equipment and utilities Ensures the state offices are compliant with standards from auditing agencies including but not limited to CARF, Regional Centers, Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work Program. Best Buddies® is an affirmative action employer, in addition to an EOE and M/F/V/PWD/PV employer. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are foundational to Best Buddies International’s core values and help the organization continue to achieve its mission. Here at Best Buddies, our goal is to lead and advocate for a more inclusive world.Best Buddies offers a comprehensive and generous benefits program that include financial security, health and wellness and time off. CB

Keywords: Best Buddies International, Fairfield , Deputy Director, Jobs, Customer Service & Call Center , New Britain, Connecticut