Executive Director

Job Description – Executive Director

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW:

Located in Carmel, Indiana, The Children’s TherAplay Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit outpatient pediatric rehabilitation clinic. Children's TherAplay is one of the few clinics in the country that specializes in physical and occupational therapies on horseback for children with special needs. Our therapists combine a sensory-rich, child-centered clinic with hippotherapy, a treatment strategy incorporating the movement of horses, to provide carefully graded motor sensory, and neurological input for children ages 18 months to 13 years.

SUMMARY OF PRIMARY DUTIES & REPSONSBILITIES:

Position Overview

The Executive Director serves as the chief executive officer of the Foundation, providing visionary leadership for an organization that uniquely combines philanthropy with the direct delivery of pediatric therapy services including innovative equine-assisted therapy.

Unlike a traditional nonprofit Executive Director role, this position is responsible for both advancing the Foundation's mission through fundraising, donor engagement, board partnership, financial stewardship, and community leadership, and overseeing the day-to-day operations of a multidisciplinary pediatric therapy clinic that incorporates hippotherapy into each child’s therapy program. The Foundation's philanthropic efforts directly sustain and expand the clinical services that transform the lives of children and families.

The Executive Director leads an organization of more than 40 employees, including occupational, physical, and speech-language therapists, equine specialists and barn staff, administrative professionals, and support personnel.

Success in this role requires an executive who can seamlessly integrate mission, strategy, philanthropy, healthcare operations, financial management, and organizational culture to maximize both community impact and long-term sustainability.

PRIMARY DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITES:

Organizational leadership and Strategy

• Lead the development and execution of the organization’s strategic plan, annual workplan, and budget in partnership with the department leaders and the Board of Directors.
• Provide clear organizational visions and direction while supporting innovation, adaptability, and long-term sustainability.
• Work collaboratively with the Board of Directors to maximize effectiveness and strategic alignment of board committees.
• Ensure appropriate tracking and measurement of key performance indicators across all departments.

People and Culture

• Lead, support, and develop staff; establish organizational structure, role clarity, and performance expectations in a dynamic environment.
• Oversee core human resource functions in collaboration with our HR Lead to ensure hiring, midyear and annual evaluations, performance improvements for employees, and compliance.
• Collaborate with the department leaders and Board of Directors to establish staff compensation, including salaries and benefits.

Fundraising

• Lead and actively participate in fundraising efforts, including development of goals and strategies, prospect planning, donor cultivation, relationship stewardship, and reporting. Serve as Children’s TherAplay’s primary spokesperson and representative with donors, partners, media, community leaders, and the public.
• Support the Development team in ensuring a culture of philanthropy among Children’s TherAplay’s Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers.

Operations and Management

• Oversee organizational operations and work in collaboration with Director of Operations, including governance, programs, fundraising, equine department, communications, partnerships, human resources, and compliance.
• Oversee and manage the annual operating budget; oversee forecasting and ensuring budget to actual expenses are in line and variances are appropriately shared with the Board.
• Ensure strong internal systems, policies, and practices across finance, human resources, fundraising, marketing, communications, safety, equine programs, successional planning, and programming.
• Manage and collaborate with staff for facility maintenance and renovations.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Is deeply passionate about serving children with disabilities and their families, connecting donors with giving that is meaningful to them, strengthening communities, and empowering the team who makes our mission possible.
• Will promote and increase the organization’s visibility, credibility, and impact across central Indiana and beyond.
• Promotes a collaborative leadership style, with experience leading large teams as well as external consultants, and has experience in leading through service, trust, and shared accountability.
• Is a strategic thinker who can balance vision with execution.
• Has a successful track record of navigating complex funding sources and relationships, including local officials, private foundations, and key donors.
• Demonstrates strong written and oral communication skills, and the ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Demonstrates a commitment to treating all people with dignity and respect and fostering an environment where everyone can contribute and succeed.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND LICENSING REQUIRMENTS:

The candidate must possess five or more years in an organizational leadership role. Direct supervisory experience at a senior management level is preferred but not required. A history of success in not-for-profit fundraising planning and implementation and experience with organizational fiscal processes including budget planning and management is required. Professional experience within awareness of the healthcare industry is preferred but not required. Minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with an emphasis in not-for-profit, healthcare, or business is required.

The Children’s TherAplay Foundation, Inc. (Children’s TherAplay) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Children’s TherAplay complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and

conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children’s TherAplay expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Children’s TherAplay employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to andincluding discharge.