President/CEO

Ackerman Institute for
the Family (https://www.ackerman.org/)
is recognized nationally and internationally as a preeminent
provider of innovative approaches to professional training,
clinical services, and community programs for families facing major
life challenges in our complex society.

 

THE POSITION

The President/CEO will lead with a sense of innovation and
agility as well as with a strategic focus on growth and expansion
in an increasingly complicated and competitive environment to: 1)
build the postgraduate training program; 2) provide the highest
standard of assistance to vulnerable families – all in the context
of the Institute’s commitment to promote equity and provide service
to all families regardless of economic circumstance; and 3) support
the development of innovative clinical research projects. 

 

BACKGROUND

One of the first training institutions in the United States
committed to promoting family functioning and family mental health,
the Ackerman Institute for the Family is dedicated to building upon
its rich legacy of helping all families at all stages of family
life.

Founder Nathan Ackerman was committed to developing clinical
innovations to address the myriad of psychosocial problems faced by
families and couples. This tradition of developing innovative
family therapy techniques to address these problems is at the core
of Ackerman’s work.

Through its dynamic commitment to training, treatment, and
research, Ackerman’s work positively affects generations of
families, provides mental healthcare professionals with new
knowledge and skills, and brings innovative perspectives to
community service agencies and other healthcare facilities.

Ackerman’s success is based on the Institute’s core beliefs:
that the problems couples and families face are best addressed
through a systematic examination of the family’s interactional
patterns, organizing relational beliefs from one’s family of
origin, as well as the impact of race, gender identity, ethnicity,
financial circumstance, and education. The Institute believes that
treatment goals are best achieved when therapist and family develop
a collaborative, non-hierarchical relationship focused on
identifying the family’s unique strengths as well as
constraints.

Clinical/research projects further extend the reach of the
Institute by focusing on specific topic areas and by developing
both clinical and preventative models. These ideas are fed back
into the postgraduate training program and disseminated to
community agencies and other educational institutions. A sample of
some of the current Centers and Projects include: the Center for
the Developing Child and Family; the Gender and Family Project; the
Foster Care and Adoption Project; the Latino Youth and Family
Immigration Project; the Serious Mental Illness and the Family
Project; the Money and Family Life Project; and the Couples and
Intimacy Project.

The faculty is committed to deepening its clinical work with
respect to the impact of marginalization and racism on the families
served.

Ackerman can be described as a combination “think tank” and
implementer of innovative practices where teaching methods and
clinical models are continually invented, practiced, and refined.
The Institute provides: 1) postgraduate training in couple and
family therapy both on site and in community service organizations;
2) direct services to families and couples through an onsite Office
of Mental Health (OMH) clinic; and 3) clinical research initiatives
known as “special projects” that focus on the development of new
treatment models and training techniques. Many projects at the
Institute have led to articles, books, and training tapes.
 Additionally, the Institute has enjoyed fruitful
relationships with international training programs throughout South
and Central America.

Located in New York City, Ackerman trains more than 1,000
clinicians a year through extensive onsite and community-based
programs. The Clinic provides over 6,000 family therapy sessions at
its onsite clinic. The Institute’s operating budget for the 2023
fiscal year was $5.2 million, with an administrative staff of 19
and a part-time teaching/supervisory faculty of 17.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the Board Chair, the President is charged with the
basic goal to maintain Ackerman’s preeminence in fields of
research, clinical programs, and training. The President works with
the organization’s senior management team to create strategies and
programs that will assure achievement of the vision and mission set
forth by the Board. To this end, the President is responsible for
leading the planning and execution efforts of the basic areas of
the Institute to ensure effective coordination for successful
implementation of organization-wide strategies. In this effort, the
President must:

LEADERSHIP, CULTURE, AND PROGRAM

• Oversee high-quality therapeutic services, research, and
  teaching with the highest level of integrity. Develop active
  recruiting efforts to continue to attract a world-class faculty to
  oversee and manage the training, clinical, research, and
  educational activities.
• Support faculty with existing research, clinical, and
  educational programs in fields of expertise. Promote the addition
  and growth of new clinical programs and initiatives to increase the
  patient base and revenues.
• Ensure an organizational structure, leadership process, and
  operating culture that facilitate a spirit of collaboration and
  communication among the faculty and staff.
• Recruit a talented and vibrant student population and support
  trainees to provide family therapy services in diverse
  communities.
• Develop a model for the exploration and validation of new ideas
  to increase the outreach, using its resources in the research,
  clinical, and educational arenas.
• Provide entrepreneurial leadership toward the development of
  new revenue-generating programs.

MANAGEMENT, ADMINISTRATION, AND FINANCE

• In collaboration with the executive staff, utilize superior
  management skills, outstanding leadership, and clear communication
  to ensure that the day-to-day operations, activities, and programs
  are professionally and efficiently administered, holding the
  organization to the highest levels of transparency, accountability,
  and consistency.
• Oversee the financial status of the organization, including the
  budgetary process, financial and cost reporting and analysis,
  expenses, levels of funding, and cash flow; work closely with the
  Board Chair, Executive Committee, Board Treasurer, and members of
  the Finance and Investment Committees to ensure that sound
  financial controls are in place and funds are spent wisely to
  preserve the organization’s financial wellbeing.
• Evaluate operations for a post-COVID environment. Stay ahead of
  the curve, anticipating and preparing for new and expanding
  regulations.
• Create an organizational structure that supports strategies and
  programs and provides the human and financial resources necessary
  to achieve the goals. Maintain an ongoing review of new directions
  and programs to be certain they are meeting their intended purposes
  and their financial assumption.

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Build a culture of philanthropy and strengthen philanthropic
  support through foundation grants, government contracts, and major
  gifts from individual donors.
• In close collaboration with the Board, the faculty, and the
  Director of Development, oversee development strategies to
  substantially increase revenues for ongoing operations and
  sustainability.
• Facilitate generous donations from the Board and tap the
  faculty talents for resources.
• Increase sources and reach of greater earned revenue
  opportunities.
• Develop a creative and active media relations effort to support
  fundraising and capital formation programs. Utilize all media
  avenues to raise the Institute’s profile and the public’s awareness
  of Ackerman.
• Build greater visibility for Ackerman, ensuring that the media,
  the family therapy field, and the broader public are informed about
  its mission, exemplary training, clinical services, and
  research.
• Create a plan to build an endowment for the Institute.
• Actively participate, both locally and nationally, with
  committees and organizations that are of importance to the
  Institute.

BOARD RELATIONS

• Implement Board policies, goals, and objectives with
  understanding of bylaws and policy procedures.
• Prepare and present detailed management, program, and financial
  reports as needed for Board information and governance.
• Work with Board members to maximize their individual
  contributions with respect to time, talent, and connections.
• With Board Chair, engage and coordinate efforts of Board
  committees. Work especially close with Development Committee Chair
  to gain optimal financial support from Board and capitalize on
  their resources and networks for maximum support. Recommend new
  Board members when appropriate.

 

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

• Build upon the uniqueness of Ackerman’s approach to family
  therapy while exploring ways to increase its impact and reach.
• Secure participation from leaders in the field, long-term and
  new faculty, alumni, and program participants.
• Determine the balance of online and in-person service for
  training and clinical services.
• Increase and develop new funding streams to support and grow
  programs.
• Assess the current marketplace to seek out new opportunities
  and other therapeutic modalities to expand Ackerman’s
  offerings.
• Develop a communications strategy to disseminate top-quality
  training, clinical care, research, and educational opportunities to
  critical and diverse constituencies.
• Demonstrate outcomes and assess and document practices to
  ensure greater accountability. Construct and clearly define outcome
  evaluation strategies for programs and activities.
• Anticipate and proactively respond to the changing trends in
  economics and reimbursement systems for mental health clinics.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

To effectively lead the Ackerman Institute in its diverse
training, clinical, research, fundraising, and operating
activities, the successful candidate must be or have:

• A strong experienced leader with credibility in the family
  therapy field to build upon Ackerman’s rich legacy to ensure
  results in financial management, people leadership, donor
  management, program expertise, and organizational growth.
• A confident results-focused thought leader with the vision to
  set and implement a strategy to build the next generation for
  optimal impact.
• The ability to manage a complex organizational framework, with
  diverse initiatives and disciplines, including academic, clinical,
  educational, and financial elements.
• Demonstrated success in developing, leading, and implementing
  fundraising efforts on a regional or national basis.
• A deep commitment to racial equity in all forms of the
  Institute’s work both internally and externally.
• An excellent recruiter who can attract and retain top-quality
  students and staff.
• Experience in and understanding of nonprofit management
  including research, marketing, finance, operations, and human
  resource development. Candidates can include but are not limited to
  leaders in the mental health field, academia, and health care.
• A reputation as a leader with a high level of integrity who
  values and encourages open communication, collaboration, and
  outstanding performance.
• Intelligence, creativity, high energy, and adaptability, with a
  sense of humor and personal perspective.
• An articulate and charismatic communicator who can persuasively
  tell the story of Ackerman in large and small group settings and
  who can inspire and build diverse audiences and a new generation of
  supporters.
• Graduate or professional degree expected. MD, PhD, MSW, or
  related mental health graduate degree. Expertise in one or more of
  the following fields is highly preferred: family therapy;
  psychiatry; clinical psychology; social psychology; social work; or
  public health.

 

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is estimated at $275,000 to
$325,000. Ackerman offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits
package.

 

APPLICATIONS

Ackerman is an equal opportunity employer and considers all
applications without regard to race, color, religion, creed,
gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran
status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected
status.

Ackerman Institute for the Family seeks a diverse pool of
candidates and will offer a competitive salary. Applications,
including cover letters and résumés, and nominations should be sent
to the attention of Jane Phillips Donaldson and Paul Spivey at
Ackerman@PhillipsOppenheim.com.