OPEN POSITION: Executive Director, CRIL (Hayward, CA)

National Council on Independent Living; Washington; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive PTO (3 weeks vacation)

70 hours sick leave

Retirement with 3% 403(b) match

Full medical, dental, vision insurance

Job summary

CRIL is seeking an Executive Director to lead the organization advancing disability rights and equity across Alameda County communities, with responsibility for mission execution, strategic planning, and staff management. The role reports to the Board and oversees 6 direct reports while guiding advocacy and partnerships to strengthen services and impact.

The successful candidate will have strong nonprofit leadership experience, proven fundraising and fiscal stewardship, and the ability to build

Qualifications

• 5+ years of senior leadership experience in nonprofit or public sector.
• Demonstrated fundraising and grant-writing skills.
• Strong financial management with $1.5M+ budgets.
• Ability to work some evenings/weekends and travel occasionally in-state.
• Bilingual in Spanish, ASL, or other threshold languages.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to CRIL and advance disability rights and equity.
• Engage with community partners, coalitions, and local government.
• Oversee program delivery, outcomes, and regulatory compliance across locations.
• Lead staff development, performance evaluations, and succession planning.
• Support the board with reporting, governance, and policy guidance.

Skills

Senior leadership

Staff development

Fundraising

Grant writing

Budget management

Community relations

Policy advocacy

Digital tools

Spanish/ASL bilingual

Tools

Digital tools

Job description

CRIL History and Independent Living Philosophy

Community Resources for Independent Living (CRIL) was organized in 1979. CRIL’s main office is located in Hayward with branch offices in Fremont and Livermore. CRIL is a part of a statewide and national network of 28 Independent Living Centers (ILCs) in California and over 400 in the US. In 1972, the first ILC was formed in Berkeley, CA by Ed Roberts, who became the first student with a significant disability to enroll, along with other college students at UC Berkeley. This sparked the independent living (IL) revolution that changed national law. Independent Living (IL) is a philosophy grounded in the principle that people with disabilities are the experts on their own lives. It champions the right of people with disabilities to make personal decisions, direct their own services, participate fully in community life, and empowers people to live as independently as they choose.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to provide executive leadership to a disability-led organization advancing disability rights, systemic change, and equity for people living with disabilities and seniors throughout southern and eastern Alameda County. CRIL’s main office is in Hayward with additional sites in Fremont and Livermore. CRIL currently has an Operating Budget of $2.2 ML, 20 employees and 7 board members. CRIL thrives on a peer-based model where the staff and board reflect and understand the communities they serve.

Summary

As Executive Director, you will provide overall leadership and direction for CRIL and will be responsible for advancing the organization’s mission and strategy. Reporting to the Board of Directors, you will oversee the day-to-day operations, strategic planning, and staff management for CRIL. This includes managing 6 direct reports. This role ensures the agency fulfills its mission of supporting people with disabilities through advocacy, services, and community partnerships.

Strategic Leadership(15%)

• Develop and champion the organizational advocacy agenda; ensure all systems-change efforts align with CRIL’s mission and strategic priorities to advance disability rights public policy at the local, state, and federal levels.
• Educate policymakers on emerging issues and independent living (IL) priorities of people with disabilities.
• Support and resource the System Change Advocate and Community Organizer in building relationships with civic leaders, public agencies, and community organizations to advance systems change.
• Empower consumers and community advocates in their self-advocacy and collective efforts.
• Lead advocacy for disability rights at executive-level forums, including active participation alongside the Systems Change Advocate and Community Organizer in Alameda County’s Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC). CRIL serves as the fiscal agent for the Alameda County ADRC.

Community Engagement (20%)

• Represent CRIL in the community; build and maintain partnerships with disability advocacy coalitions, other agencies, and local government entities.
• Strengthen CRIL’s relationships with consumers and disability advocates throughout its service area.
• Communicate CRIL’s mission, programs, advocacy priorities, and community impact to a wide range of audiences.
• Lead fund development and strategic planning with the Board of Directors & appropriate staff.
• Oversee grants, donor engagement, financial reporting, and funder relationships.
• Work with the Board to develop and implement a 3-year Strategic Plan and an annual fund development plan, including government grants and contracts, foundation support, individual giving, and other sources of revenue.

Programs & Evaluation (15%)

• Monitor program delivery and align services with community needs and CRIL’s mission.
• Oversee the quality, accessibility, regulatory compliance, and outcomes of CRIL’s programs across all service locations.
• Use consumer feedback and program data to identify needs, improve services, and inform systems-change priorities.

Administration & Staff Development (15%)

• Guide staff team and the organization through transitions such as leadership changes and structural shifts.
• Negotiate all agency contracts and ensure contract compliance.
• Partner with the Human Resources Coordinator to recruit, hire, support, and retain a skilled, diverse staff, with a broad range of skills consistent with the community CRIL serves.
• Oversee professional development and performance evaluations.
• Create an annual professional development plan designed to develop staff’s skills.
• Ensure compliance with personnel policies established by the Board of Directors and in line with all local, state, and federal labor regulations.
• Ensure all job descriptions are up to date and annual performance evaluations are completed.
• Oversee the development and management of the organization’s annual budget, and provide report-outs on budget vs. actuals regularly to the Board.
• Ensure fiduciary responsibility and financial accountability for all contributions, income, and agency assets, seeing that all funds are disbursed in accordance with contract requirements and donor designations.
• Identify and manage organizational risks by maintaining effective internal controls, policies, and risk‑management practices that protect CRIL’s assets, support regulatory and contractual compliance, and promote safe and reliable operations.
• Evaluate and create a strategy for funding diversification – federal, state, city, & private.

Board Support and Partnership (5%)

• Report regularly to the Board of Directors regarding organizational objectives, financial status of the organization, and other issues relevant to the Board. Ensure transparency and alignment with organizational goals.
• Provide the Board of Directors with adequate information to assist members in reaching decisions and in formulating necessary policies.
• Assist the Board of Directors in their roles and responsibilities by providing support, education, and leadership development.
• Help recruit new Board members that align with the needs of the Board.
• CRIL is a disability-led, peer-based organization and seeks a leader whose experience reflects the communities CRIL serves.
• 5+ years of senior leadership experience in the nonprofit or public sector.
• Strong staff and team development experience, including leading diverse teams across different cultures and languages.
• Experience overseeing programs or operations across multiple locations.
• Proven fundraising and grant writing skills.
• Strong financial management skills with $1.5M+ budgets.
• Demonstrated ability to build community relationships and communicate effectively with consumers, policymakers, funders, and other partners.
• Ability to use contemporary digital tools for communication, reporting, and organizational management with or without accommodations. Ability to work some evenings/weekends and travel occasionally in-state.

Preferred:

• Experience with communications, outreach, media relations, or organizational visibility
• Knowledge of CRIL’s service areas (Hayward, Fremont, and Livermore).
• Bilingual in Spanish, ASL, or other threshold languages.
• Competitive paid time off including 3 weeks’ vacation and 70 hours of sick leave.
• Retirement savings with a 3% match for 403b plans.
• Full medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.

CRIL IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

CRIL is a disability-led, peer-based organization and seeks a leader whose experience reflects the communities CRIL serves.

Candidates with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Deep knowledge of the independent living philosophy, disability rights, and consumer-controlled services is required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities.