Open Positions in the Independent Living Field

Position postings are a benefit of NCIL membership for organizations. If your organization is a NCIL member, email your announcement to [email protected]. Include the job title, closing date, instructions on how to apply, and a link to the announcement if it is posted elsewhere online.

Manager of Policy and Government Affairs, Access Living (Chicago, IL)

  • Closing / removal date: open until filled
  • Posted: September 6, 2023
  • Department: Advocacy
  • Reports to: Vice President of Advocacy

Job Details:

Access Living seeks a Manager of Policy and Government Affairs to support Access Living’s growing policy team. This exciting new management position will guide, inform, and support Access Living’s wide-ranging and complex disability policy and government affairs portfolio. The Manager of Policy and Government Affairs will be responsible for the day-to-day supervision of Access Living’s six policy staff and their policy campaigns/projects. The policy team addresses systems change at four main levels: City of Chicago, Cook County, State of Illinois, and the federal level. Access Living’s policy staff focus on the following issue areas: education, transportation, economic justice, mental health, diversion/reentry, and healthcare/home and community-based services. Housing policy advocacy is conducted through collaboration with our Housing Organizer and our Civil Rights Department; our Manager of Organizing leads on immigration policy advocacy. The Manager will collaborate with the Director of Advocacy on big-picture planning and problem-solving to best achieve Access Living’s organizational goals on systems change for people with disabilities. The policy staff also serve as in-house lobbyists; the Manager will be responsible for ensuring Access Living’s lobbyist requirement compliance. The Manager will also work closely with Access Living’s two Springfield contract lobbyists, as well as with the Manager of Organizing and her team of four organizers. The Manager will collaborate closely with other Access Living colleagues across departments, including the Independent Living Department, Communications Department, and the Civil Rights Department. The Manager will ensure alignment of Access Living’s policy activities with the Access Living strategic plan. Finally, the Manager will be responsible for overseeing special events and projects related to Access Living’s policy goals.

Specific Duties:

  • Provide critical leadership on Access Living’s complex, intersectional systems change projects for people with disabilities. Act as a key liaison with government officials at multiple levels. Coordinate smooth alignment and development of Access Living’s wide-ranging and fast-moving policy work, within the context of Access Living’s overall programming.
  • Supervise six Access Living policy staff in building disability community power through systems change. Support the policy team in breaking down weekly accountability goals and campaign/project design. Ensure alignment with Access Living’s mission and strategic goals; ensure that legislative and other deadlines are met. Collaborate with Director of Advocacy and lobbying contractors to maximize impact of policy efforts.
  • Serve as lead in coordinating Access Living’s lobbyist compliance requirements.
  • Coordinate the internal tracking of legislative efforts and roll call development.
  • Serve as an internal resource to policy staff on understanding legislative and executive branch processes at the local, county, state and federal levels.
  • Ensure consistent accessibility and inclusiveness of the Advocacy Department’s public-facing policy activities, which range from webinars to candidate’s forums.
  • Support the policy staff in tracking/prioritizing public comment opportunities and submitting well-prepared public comment on behalf of Access Living.
  • Support policy staff training/professional development. Work with policy staff to develop annual reporting outcomes and ensure staff meet outcomes and/or revise them as necessary.
  • Ensure staff meet data reporting goals and stay within budget.
  • Conduct staff annual performance evaluations.
  • Support Director of Advocacy on the coordination of policy with organizing, legal, direct service and public education initiatives.
  • Provide content for Access Living’s advocacy action alerts through the VoterVoice system.
  • Support/coordinate with the Director of Communications for public relations efforts, and with the Development Department for grant reporting, proposal development, and site visits.
  • Support/coordinate dialogue and collaboration with the Independent Living and Civil Rights Departments.
  • Represent the Advocacy Department/policy team on internal workgroups as needed.
  • Supervise/coordinate interns and volunteers as needed.
  • Other activities as needed.

Education and Training (strongly preferred):

  • Experience with disability-related policy in Chicago, Cook County, State of Illinois and/or at the federal level.
  • 3-5 years of experience as a manager, or equivalent.
  • Advanced degree or similar experience preferred in public policy, political science, nonprofit management, or similar fields.
  • Excellent writing skills, including one pagers, issue memos, and reporting policy outcomes for grants.
  • Experience with lobbying and fast-moving policy efforts, including drafting/reviewing legislation and appropriations.
  • Understanding of effective policy campaign models as well as coalition building.
  • Public speaking and training experience.

Other Preferred Experience:

  • Understanding of Independent Living Philosophy, disability justice vs. disability rights, the overall disability movement, and grasp of complex topics in disability and inclusion.
  • Experience with fielding requests for reasonable accommodations, and supervising the implementation of effective access for people with a range of disabilities.
  • Understanding of how to frame and report outcomes for policy work.
  • Experience developing curricula for a range of learning audiences.

Physical Demands: Ability to travel both within the state (especially to Springfield) and out of state (mainly to Washington, DC).

Equipment Operated: Standard office equipment.

Working Environment: Access Living operates under a hybrid office plan. Staff members are required to come into the office two days out of every week and may work remotely the other three if they so choose. Access Living’s office environment is one of shared work space with individual cubicles. Masks are required for all members of staff as well as for all visitors to Access Living.

Professional Affiliations: None required

Number of Employees Supervised: Six. In addition, interns and volunteers may be supervised.

Starting Salary Range: $75,000-$80,000

Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and no more than 20 pages of a writing sample, preferably related to this position. Materials should be sent to [email protected]. People with lived experience of disability, especially from marginalized communities, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Director of Finance, Texas State Independent Living Council (Austin, TX)

  • Closing / Removal Date: Open until filled
  • Posted: July 7, 2023
  • Position Type: Part-time
  • Supervisory Role: N
  • FY23 Starting Salary: $33.65/hour – $45.00/hour

Purpose: The Director of Finance, under the direction of the Executive Director, is responsible for fulfilling all regulatory, legal, and reporting requirements imposed by federal, state, and local governments and meeting accounting guidelines and standards specific to the nonprofit industry.  Responsibilities will include developing, implementing, and modifying accounting systems and controls. Performs business analysis work, which includes documentation of user requirements, creating business processes, and post-implementation support. May supervise the work of others and works under minimum supervision with considerable latitude for use of initiative and independent judgment.  This position would compose the entirety of the financial department at this small non-profit and needs someone who is self-motivated and capable of handling multiple tasks. [Read more…]

Employment Specialist, Center for Independent Living of Broward / Gulf Coast (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

  • Closing / removal date: open until filled
  • Posted: June 5, 2023
  • Employment Status: Full-Time
  • Salary Range: $40,000-$53,000 (Commensurate with Experience)
  • Reports to: Regional Vice President
  • Location: Ft Myers, Florida
  • Position Description: Entry Level Position

Providing specialized employment training for people with disabilities, on an individual basis; assisting with job development, job placement, and on-site training and assessment for persons with disabilities who wish to be part of the “Ticket to Work” program and/or are referred by Vocational Rehabilitation, or, any other agency or person, for placement in and maintaining competitive employment. The main focus is to work with people with disabilities to teach job readiness skills and provide direct one-on-one job coaching as needed. Candidate will work as part of the Project SEARCH team at Lee Memorial Hospital or Golisano Children’s Hospital in a backup role to the Project SEARCH skills trainer and job placing student interns. Candidate will also network with employers, community agencies (local, state, and federal organizations) to ensure a broad base of resources and creating linkages necessary to meet the unique needs of people with disabilities. [Read more…]

Community Transition Coordinator Rolling Start, Inc. (San Bernardino, CA)

  • Closing / removal date: open until filled
  • Posted: May 26, 2023
  • (Non-Exempt/Full Time)
  • Salary: $31.97 to $34.62/per hour
  • Reports to: ADRC Program Manager

Rolling Start, Inc. a Center for Independent Living and San Bernardino County Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) have formed a core partnership in the spirit of an Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC). DAAS and RSI are developing protocols, practices and procedures that will enhance the community by providing a visible, reliable, no-wrong-door access point for information, referral, assistance with public and other benefits, options counseling, and transitions from long-term nursing home residence to community living arrangements as well as short-term service coordination. [Read more…]

Executive Director, New Horizons DisAbility Empowerment Center (Prescott Valley, AZ)

  • Closing / removal date: open until filled
  • Posted: May 22, 2023
  • Salaried Exempt Range of $54,080-$66,560 DOE
  • Submit interest and resume to: [email protected]

MUST HAVE:

  • A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in business, NPO Management, or related educational field
  • 5 years experience in Executive level leadership
  • 5 years experience in Working with people with disabilities, with a focus on Independent Living
  • 5 years experience developing and working within budgets
  • Ability to get a level 2 fingerprint clearance card, pass criminal History report, pass drug test.

Additional skills, not required, but helpful:

  • 5 years experience in Transit operations or planning
  • 5 years experience in Fund Raising/ Fund Development
  • 3 years experience in Board Development

[Read more…]

Program Manager, Options Interstate Resource Center for Independent Living (East Grand Forks, MN)

  • Closing / removal date: open until filled
  • Posted: April 25, 2023

Options Interstate Resource Center for Independent Living has a Program Manager Position open. The Program Manager is responsible for working closely with the Executive Director and staff to operationalize the overall program’s vision and ensure quality programs are delivered to people with disabilities with staff deliverables fulfilled. This is accomplished by providing oversight over the organizations day-to-day operations. The position ensures staff have the training, material resources and business infrastructure needed to complete the work. Options serves 12 counties of northwest Minnesota and 14 counties of northeast North Dakota and is funded through Federal grants, State grants, and Contracts with minimal fee for service. Currently Options is budgeted for twenty-two staff members. [Read more…]

Director of the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities, University of Montana (Missoula, MT)

  • Priority Application Date: Thursday, June 1, 2023
  • Posted: April 20, 2023

The University of Montana invites applications for a Director to lead the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities (RIIC). The Director oversees a dynamic and dedicated center that promotes equal opportunity for people with disabilities through education, research, and direct service. The Director reports to the Vice President for Research at the University of Montana and currently oversees a $6.9 million budget, 48 active projects and programs, and nearly 60 staff. The Director provides direct supervision to a team of principal investigators and the RIIC business office (approximately 15 people) and is responsible for general oversight of the entire organization. Read more.

Hiring Event: Stavros CIL (Springfield, MA)

Save the Date: Stavros CIL is holding a Hiring Event!

Wednesday, April 12, 2023; 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Location: Springfield office: 227 Berkshire Ave / Springfield, MA 01109

Please come and visit us for great opportunities at Stavros If you love to serve others, like to learn and teach new skills and have the ability to relate well to people with disabilities and the elderly this job is for you. People interested in this position will receive training on the Personal Care Attendant Program that helps people with disabilities live and thrive in their community.

We provide thorough training and offer a comprehensive benefits package! [Read more…]

Executive Director, Texas State Independent Living Council (Austin TX)

  • Closing / removal date: open until filled
  • Posted: March 7, 2023

Purpose: The Executive Director oversees the work of professional and administrative staff; develops and maintains working relationships with the Texas IL network, government agencies and stakeholders; Conducts outreach and informational activities to solicit input from Texans regarding disability services in the state. Works with Directors of Centers for Independent Living to develop the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL). Advises the Council on legislation, public policy, and other questions relating to the provision of IL Services. Represents the Council in negotiations and provides legislative testimony. [Read more…]