Chief Executive Officer

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for providing the overall strategic leadership and
management of Little Star Center, Inc. by working with the Board of Directors, leadership team, regulatory
agencies, colleagues in the field of ABA, contractors, and vendors to optimize the growth of Little Star
Center, Inc. (LittleStar). In conjunction with the Board of Directors, this position is also responsible for
assisting in the development and the management of a multi-million dollar annual budget and oversight
of five therapy locations and corporate headquarters while overseeing a paid staff of 450+ individuals,
assisting and managing the implementation of the strategic and business plans, policies, and procedures
in order to accomplish the mission, vision and values of LittleStar.

The CEO is charged with coordinating the development of services and facilities to fulfill LittleStar’s
mission, and in coordination with the Board, develop ongoing strategic planning.

The CEO is responsible for overseeing the administration, clinical services, programs, and strategic plans
of LittleStar. Other key responsibilities include fundraising (including major gifts, corporate donations,
grant solicitation, and in-kind donations), community outreach, administration, programming, marketing,
and fostering relationships, ensuring clients of LittleStar receive the highest level of care with dignity and
respect. While working closely with the organization’s team, the CEO will inspire innovation and ensure
that the organization is continually well equipped to advance its mission.

As the senior leader of LittleStar, the CEO should be visible throughout the organization to foster a
positive, inspiring, and collaborative work environment that empowers employees to actively work
toward achieving companywide goals.

The CEO reports to the Board and is subject to an annual review.

Conditions of Employment
• Must successfully pass the initial and updated criminal history, background, and record checks,
which includes driving history checks.
• Must wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as provided by LittleStar, where
physical distance cannot be attained as needed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITES AND TASKS

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following functions. Nothing in this job description
restricts the Board of Directors’ ability to assign, reassign, or eliminate functions, responsibilities and
duties of the job at any time.

1. Board Administration and Governance
The CEO supports the operations and administration of the LittleStar Board of Directors by
maintaining continual, open, and effective communication with the Board members and staff. The
CEO will ensure that comprehensive orientation and continuing education opportunities are
available to the Board. The CEO will facilitate relationships between the Board, legal counsel,
accounting, and audit organizations, will manage the use of legal counsel for operational matters,
and in conjunction with the Chief Financial Officer, will manage the engagement of accounting
and audit organizations of operational matters.
• Represent the Board’s general philosophy.
• Help the Board articulate its role and accountabilities, helps the Board evaluate its own
performance.
• Work with the Board President to enable the Board to fulfil its governance functions and
facilitates the optimum performance by the Board.
• Keep the Board fully informed on the status of LittleStar and on all the important factors
influencing the company, identifies problems and opportunities to address them with the Board,
facilitate discussion and deliberation.
• Assist the Board President with their duties including the development of Board agendas and
minutes, resolving issues, and anticipating issues that may arise. Expected to attend Board
Meetings as scheduled, in person.
• Recommend policy positions to the Board.
• Work with the Board President to maintain a positive and productive culture on the Board.
• Regularly review and update, as needed, Board By-Laws, in collaboration with the Board and
legal counsel.
• Recommends volunteers to participate in the Board.

2. Executive Leadership and Organizational Management
• Provide thoughtful and visionary executive leadership that is inclusive, transparent, and
empowering in a manner that supports and guides LittleStar’s mission as defined by the Board
of Directors.
• Present strategic options and plans for organization impact and gain Board approval as needed
to carry out the work of the mission of the organization.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization pertaining to administrative and clinical
goals to ensure its overall successful long-term operations.
• Create and manage metrics and key performance indicators for LittleStar, including recruitment,
new client intake, scheduled treatment hours, scheduled billable hours for clinicians, and other
administrative and clinical measures.
• Recommend staffing and financing to the Board. In accordance with Board action, recruits
personnel, negotiates professional contracts, and sees that appropriate compensation
structures are developed and maintained.
• Organize, motivate, and mentor internal team leaders to strategically grow LittleStar’s impact,
programs, fundraising, and to effectively fulfill its important mission.
• Apply innovative thinking and performance measurements to analyze and support strategic
decision-making for administrative operations and clinical goals.
• Continually foster a culture that encourages collaboration between departments and recognizes
positive contributions.
• Contribute to the strategic plan and drive its implementation.
• Manage and motivate staff, overseeing processes such as hiring, separation, ongoing staff
development, performance management, and compensation and benefits.
• Inspire a business-oriented, professional, results-driven environment across the organization.
• Ensure program quality and organizational stability through the development and
implementation of standards and controls, systems, procedures, and regular evaluation.
• Maintain and support LittleStar policies as defined relevant policy manuals.

3. Financial Management
Recommends annual budget for Board approval and ensures prudent management of LittleStar
resources within budget guidelines according to current laws and regulations. Conducts or
oversees the negotiation of professional, consultant, and service contracts with Board approval
for those over $50k. Ensures that appropriate internal and management controls are established
and maintained.
• Provide strategic leadership and hands-on management for all of the administrative and
operational functions of the organization in accordance with the mission, objectives, and
policies.
• Prudently direct resources and manage all financials within budget guidelines and according to
current laws and regulations.
• Assume responsibility for the fiscal integrity of the organization.
• Monitor board-approved budget and manage daily financial operations to ensure maximum
utilization of resources and optimum financial positioning for the organization.
• Ensure maximum resource utilization, budget management, and maintenance of LittleStar in a
positive financial position.
• Build and administer the annual budget, with Board approval.

4. Clinical Oversight
• Develop and oversee the clinical objectives of LittleStar for operational efficiency, financial
performance, clinical quality, and growth strategy of ABA and other related services with a
holistic approach.
• Evaluate clinical program effectiveness within the organization.

5. Relationships and Communications
• Engage and establish strong relationships with clients through communication and outreach
activities.
• Ensure high visibility and accessibility to clients, staff, community, and ABA colleagues.
• Demonstrate LittleStar’s cultural values, fostering healthy working relationships and enhancing
the coordination of the team to ensure the successful accomplishment of LittleStar goals and
objectives.
• Represent the organization and serve as chief spokesperson publicly at events, conferences, and
partnership meetings.
• Establish strong relationships with referral sources through community outreach activities.
• Present and promote the organization and its mission, programs, partners, and members in a
consistently positive manner.
• Manage all aspects of the organization’s marketing and public relations.
Other duties as the Board may assign.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• A visionary with a demonstrated and verifiable record of more than fifteen (15) years of success
in a similar position, or in a related position at a nonprofit, foundation, government, or similar
industry or equivalent. Must possess five (5) years of executive leadership experience.
• Minimum of 5 + years in a senior leadership role in nonprofit, foundation, government, or
similar industry or equivalent.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, human services, social services, or related field. Master’s degree
preferred.
• A combination of education, training, and experience may be substituted when competency in
the role is demonstrated.
• Familiarity with diverse business functions, such as Marketing, Public Relations, Human
Resources and Financial Administration.
• Proven experience working with and leading a nonprofit Board and working with diverse groups
of people.
• Must demonstrate experience in community, professional and industry leadership roles.
• Ability to exercise tact, diplomacy, exercise judgement and discretion.
• Experienced in managing budgets and working with operational policies while having a good
understanding of the variables and nuances of health care funding and operations.
• Knowledge of nonprofit business administration and programs serving at-risk and fragile
populations.
• Knowledge of general management, personnel and supervisory techniques and principles.
• A valid driver’s license is required.

COMPETENCIES
To perform this job successfully, the CEO should demonstrate the following competencies:
• Passion and Client Focus – Possesses a genuine passion for and understanding of the mission of
LittleStar, ABA and other related services that meet the standards of excellence in providing
services to clients. The LittleStar mission, vision and values will be the center of all decisions.

• Achiever – Seeks achievement beyond standard expectations with a sense of urgency and is
innately driven to improvement and not satisfied with just compliance; is dynamic, energetic, and
enthusiastic in the pursuit of organizational goals; approaches challenges as opportunities for
improvement.

• Customer Service – Manages difficult or emotional client situations; Responds promptly to client
needs; Solicits client feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service and
assistance; Meets commitments. Ability to work with diverse client and staff populations.

• Teamwork – Experience and success in collaborating, motivating, recruiting, developing,
retaining, and mentoring high performance, mission-driven, and results-oriented teams. Balances
team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views; Gives and
welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of LittleStar above
own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports
everyone’s efforts to succeed. Ability to work in group situations. Compassionate with teamwork
skills.

• Organizational Support – Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks
correctly and on time; Supports LittleStar goals and values; Benefits LittleStar through outside
activities; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity.

• Oral/Written Communication – Excellent written, oral, and public speaking skills; a persuasive
and passionate communicator with strong interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills.
Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Responds well to questions;
Demonstrates group presentation skills and participates in meetings; Writes clearly and
informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents
numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.

• Cost Consciousness – Works within approved budget; Develops and implements cost saving
measures; Contributes to profits and revenue; Conserves organizational resources.

• Judgment – Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment;
supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making
process; Makes timely decisions. Problem solving skills and ability to multi-task. Excellent
organizational and time management skills. Ability to work in a high stress environment.

• Leading Change – Possesses the skills and implements the functions of a leader. Shares the
mission, vision, and values of LittleStar. Constantly displays integrity, models behavior, develops
people and builds teams. Establishes strong and appropriate relationships with the Board,
industry committees, staff, clients, and other community contacts.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
The CEO leads the Executive Team and directly supervises the chief-level executive team, as well as other
non-executive level staff members, and is responsible for the performance management and input
regarding the hiring of senior-level management.

This position is responsible for interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and
directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints
and resolving problems in accordance with LittleStar policies and applicable laws.

The CEO directly supervises the following positions: Chief Financial Officer, Chief Human Resource Officer,
Chief Clinical Officer, VP of Psychological Services, and the VP of Compliance.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND CONDITIONS
This position operates in a professional office environment and handles detailed, complex concepts and
problems, balances multiple tasks simultaneously, and makes rapid decisions regarding administrative
issues. Ability to operate a P.C. and routinely use standard office equipment such as printers, copy
machine, scanner, and other office equipment. Computer software skills required include Microsoft
Office Suite, as well as experience with practice management systems and human resources systems.

Must be able to work with diverse populations of individuals and families from each generation
represented in the workforce.

Establishes strong relationships with the Board, staff and clients, industry organizations and the
community. The individual must be comfortable with diversity and respectful of a wide range of faiths,
beliefs, and experiences.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to
successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger,
handle or feel; reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand,
walk, and lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The employee occasionally will climb or balance; stoop, kneel
crouch or crawl, and taste or smell.

Specific vision ability required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth
perception, ability to judge distances and the ability to focus to bring an object into sharp focus.

Mental efforts of the position include the ability to handle stressful situations and maintain professional
composure.

Reasonable accommodation may be made for those with disabilities to perform the essential duties and
responsibilities.

POSITION TYPE, EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK AND TRAVEL
This is a full-time position. The days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, with core office hours
being 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., with availability for crises and emergencies when needed. A flexible work
schedule is required to meet the demands of executive management, which may include working 24-hour
emergency response, various shifts and weekends and/or long work hours. Position is eligible for
telecommuting.

This position requires frequent travel. Frequently travel is outside the local area and overnight, both
within and outside the state of Indiana.