Chief Program Officer

**Organization Summary**

Mann is a 13 year old nonprofit that works with 18+ adults with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (IDD). We train adults with IDD for meaningful work, partnering with businesses to help them secure jobs, become valued employees, and contribute to their families and society. We foster their physical and emotional well-being and provide opportunities to experience life as any young adult. Mann's vision is a world where young adults with intellectual disabilities live a full life with independence and dignity. Towards that vision, our mission is to create livelihood opportunities for persons with IDD and nurture their physical and emotional well-being. Over the last 11 years, Mann has developed and honed a structured, proven curriculum design for its training and employment programs that we call Livability and Workability training. The curriculum is individualized to each student’s need.

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**Function Overview**

At Mann, we partner with a diverse range of organizations, across sectors and industries, to offer mainstream employment opportunities to our students. The unique skills and abilities of our students make them well-suited for roles involving process driven tasks. Furthermore, multiple studies show that employing people with disabilities results in reliable, motivated employees who contribute tangible business advantages and foster inclusive workplace cultures, attracting desirable talent.

Employees with disabilities also tend to be highly loyal and committed, resulting in remarkably low attrition rates. The Mainstream Employment training function offers timely, supportive training to our students using a variety of training methodologies and techniques thereby making them job-ready for mainstream hiring.

For those with significant disabilities hindering mainstream employment, we offer training in areas like art & craft, tailoring, embroidery, applique, and patchwork. To support this initiative, we’ve launched Karmann, a home and lifestyle brand exclusively staffed by trained artisans with disabilities. Karmann serves as a proof of concept for creating a profitable business leveraging the talents of PWDs.

This position reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The Chief Program Office - Employment plays a pivotal role in ensuring the successful placement of program graduates into open employment opportunities. This individual leads a team dedicated to facilitating the transition of graduates from skill training programs to gainful employment aligned with their skillsets and interests. The primary focus is on creating sustainable employment opportunities that foster the economic empowerment and social inclusion of the Graduates of Mann program from all the organisation across the country.

**Duties and Responsibilities**:

- Develop strategic plans for the employment program, aligned with the organization's mission and goals
- Identify and monitor key objectives and performance indicators to measure the success of the program
- Continuously assess the needs of individuals with disabilities and the labor market to adapt program strategies accordingly
- Provide guidance, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to team members and employers
- Negotiate agreements and collaborations with family members and employers to expand the reach and impact of the employment program
- Advocate for inclusive hiring practices and policies within the broader community. Promote awareness of the benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities among employers
- Coordinate intake and assessment processes to identify individual strengths, skills, and career goals
- Monitor and evaluate individualized employment plans created by the team for program participants, including job readiness training, vocational, counseling, graduate engagement and support services
- Provide ongoing support and follow-up to ensure successful placement and job retention
- Maintain accurate records of program activities, participant outcomes, and employer engagements
- Generate regular reports and analysis to evaluate program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement
- Ensure compliance with funding requirements and reporting obligations
- Represent the organization at relevant forums, conferences, and events to share best practices and collaborate with stakeholders
- Stay informed about emerging trends, safety protocols, technologies, and best practices in employment services for individuals with disabilities
- Encourage experimentation and innovation in service delivery to enhance outcomes and impact
- Solicit feedback from stakeholders and incorporate it into program design and implementation
- Network with local agencies to explore new employment opportunities for PWD’s

**Education and Experience**:

- Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education
- Minimum of two years work experience in Special Education

**Knowledge, Skills an