Vice President of Information Technology and Business Services

Special Olympics International

Washington, DC

“We’re not leading a program; we’re leading a movement – some say a civil rights movement of the heart – powered by sport.”

Timothy Shriver - opening address to the 2010 Global Congress

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Special Olympics International, a global non-governmental organization headquartered in Washington, DC, seeks nominations and applications for Vice President for Information Technology & Business Services. Reporting to the Chief Financial Offer, the Vice President for Information Technology & Business Services (Vice President) will join Special Olympics International (SOI) during an exciting and challenging time as the Special Olympics Movement expands its programmatic and geographic impact, necessitating a renewed focus on information technology and business services strategy, infrastructure and resources. The Vice President will lead strategy implementation and day-to-day operations of SOI’s information technology and business services function including implementing SOI’s IT strategic plan, advising and guiding IT investments, integrating and standardizing global IT services, and overseeing business service operations. S/he will provide the executive level leadership needed to successfully execute SOI’s IT strategy; devise and implement new and effective business models including fully-integrated, global budgeting processes; standardize project management practices; and manage a team of internal and external professionals. In addition, the Vice President will serve as a business partner to the Chief Financial Officer and Technology Steering Committee, providing support to the organization’s executive management.

The ideal candidate will have 15 years of relevant experience leading and managing information technology and business services strategies within a large, multi-national organization. S/he will have the ability to present in-depth strategic analysis, advance multi-faceted projects, and solve problems in a complex, decentralized environment; an appreciation for the development of information technology and business processes that support organizational health and decision-making; and a respect and appreciation for the mission of the Special Olympics.

Special Olympics International is founded on the belief that persons with intellectual disabilities learn, enjoy, and benefit from year-round individual and team sports training and competition. Today, more than 3 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities participate in Special Olympics in over 170 countries and in each of the 50 U.S. States and the District of Columbia. SOI boasts a staff of 180 individuals worldwide and the new Vice President will be a key senior leader updating and maintaining infrastructure to ensure the Special Olympics operates at the leading edge of systems technology.

Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group is assisting Special Olympics International in this search.

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

Since its inception in the early 1960s, Special Olympics has grown exponentially both in athlete participation and in geographic reach. Much more than a sports movement, it is also an effective catalyst for personal and social change, inviting all citizens to discover Special Olympics athletes as valuable members of their families, their communities, and their countries. In recent years, Special Olympics has broadened its work with programs designed to embody the principles of empowerment and self-advocacy, and to change attitudes toward people worldwide with intellectual disabilities from pity or “charity” to acceptance, dignity, and respect. To that end, Special Olympics now boasts a large public health program, an exercise development program for children two to four years of age, a growing outreach effort to nondisabled young people, an appeal to Heads of State for greater political action, a targeted research effort, and a family support and advocacy effort. In promoting the ideal of acceptance and overcoming differences in all of its work, Special Olympics has become a unique global force for unity, engagement, and understanding.

With 180 staff worldwide and a $67M operating budget, Special Olympics International (SOI) serves as the central governing organization of the Special Olympics Movement, coordinating and overseeing its 230 accredited Special Olympics programs, each of which is a separate legal entity with its own governing body and professional staff. SOI collaborates closely with the political, business, sports, health, education, entertainment and media leadership in each country and each state where Special Olympics Programs exist. Both SOI’s leadership and grassroots constituencies work tirelessly to bring the joy of sport to athletes with intellectual disabilities around the world, particularly in developing countries where many are subject to appalling conditions.

SOI is dedicated to strengthening its identity as a worldwide movement for the best in the human spirit by expanding its focus on healthcare, education, development, and advocacy. This exciting plan and the Movement’s expansion both in terms of athletes and programs is challenging SOI’s information technology infrastructure to keep pace with the growth. Compounding this challenge, external forces such as an increased regulatory environment adds to the complexity of the information resource function.

In order to address these challenges, SOI seeks a Vice President Information Technology & Business Services who will serve as a strong business partner to the CFO, executive leadership, Regional Management Teams, and Programs Teams, helping them to make sound and informed technology decisions. Through the seamless management of strategic data and provision of shared systems and standards that promote Movement goals, operational excellence and efficacy, the Vice President will play a critical role in strategically guiding SOI into the future.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FACING THE VICE PRESIDENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & BUSINESS SERVICES

The Vice President, through effective management and perceptive leadership of Special Olympics International’s information technology and business service departments, will be a key strategic member of the leadership team working to effectively steward and ambitiously expand the Special Olympics Movement. In order to be effective, the Vice President will make it a priority to understand the Special Olympics movement – its history, culture, governance structure, General Rules, policies, finances and fundraising efforts, programs, policy and advocacy issues, and its strategic vision. The Vice President must also cultivate trust and inspire confidence among the staff, the leadership and the board of SOI by embodying a disciplined but forward-thinking and creative approach to information technology strategy, investments, and operations. The Vice President will rise to attend to the following challenges of the position and will capitalize on the opportunities inherent in each:

Provide senior leadership for the successful implementation of strategic global information technology goals.

The Vice President will successfully lead and manage the implementation of SOI’s information technology strategic plan providing sophisticated oversight and guidance relative to technology investments, allocation of resources, and prioritization of IT projects within the organization. In addition, the Vice President will develop and launch a standardized technology operating system to support fully integrated IT services across the organization. S/he will develop, update, and maintain enterprise information architecture to support strategic goals and objectives. S/he also will identify, assess, and lead the selection of emergent information technologies for assimilation, integration and effective deployment within the organization to support all functions and constituencies. The Vice President will be an integral member of the Technology Steering Committee.

Direct and oversee information resource operations and provide global organization support.

The Vice President will oversee SOI’s information resources ensuring high performance, stability, and effective maintenance of the organization’s global technology systems and IT infrastructure, applications and data, and user support services. S/he will develop and execute a fully integrated information technology plan to enhance knowledge management; standardize and integrate systems; promote “real time”, turn key, shared services; create tailored, mission-driven applications; provide effective communication and network services; and support and engage users. S/he will lead technology projects through all stages of planning, development, testing and deployment. S/he will develop plans, policies, and applications to support business and financial data processing, and will create and maintain information security procedures and ensure organization-wide compliance with industry best practices. S/he will expand core IT services to include budgeting and business modeling.

Manage both internal and external staff to ensure fulfillment of SOI’s ambitious organizational goals.

The Vice President will be a critical point of contact for internal staff, external stakeholders, and outsourced service providers. S/he will be an effective change agent and will serve as the primary technology liaison between the IT Department, internal business units, and Regional Management and Programs teams. S/he will also be responsible for managing internal staff as well as multiple consultants and vendors to ensure SOI is continuously developing technology resources and business services infrastructure to support organizational goals. In addition, the Vice President will design systems to support knowledge share with Movement members and constituents, enhance athlete experiences, empower volunteers, and deliver tangible benefits to system users at all levels.

Ensure the flawless management of SOI facilities and business service operations.

The Vice President will make certain that SOI maintains a safe, secure, and comfortable office environment through the effective management of facilities operations and oversight of facilities and business service staff. The Vice President will establish strategic departmental and operating goals, create and oversee a facilities budget, and develop and implement effective facilities policies and procedures in accordance with regulatory requirements and industry standards. In addition, s/he will set operating priorities and allocate resources to ensure a productive work environment. S/he will negotiate, review, and approve major service and equipment contracts, and will work to identify and establish shared service for the benefit of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

This is an exciting opportunity to assist a celebrated organization with its ambitious goals to fuel a growing global movement. While no candidate possess all of the ideal professional and personal characteristics sought in this position, the ideal Vice President of Information Technology & Business Services will have the following personal and professional qualifications and attributes:

• Commitment to Special Olympics’ mission and goals, with an understanding for and commitment to the power and importance of persons with intellectual disabilities, the unique role and power of sports, and a vision of a more understanding, inclusive, and just world.

• An advanced degree and/or senior-level IT management experience is required

• A minimum of 15 years of related experience including leading and managing IT strategy, infrastructure, and business services in a complex, large scale, not-for-profit and responsibility for information resources in a multi-national organization.

• Leadership experience with a proven ability to affect change, especially across an organization that is geographically disperse and similar in scale to SOI’s global affiliated network of 200+ accredited Programs.

• Demonstrated ability to manage large and varied workloads and complex projects in an organized and highly efficient manner and deliver results in a multi-faceted organization with various operating units and multiple agendas.

• Proven ability to support and implement solid IT and business service investments, strategies, and infrastructure while simultaneously working hands on with staff across varied IT and business services functions.

• The ability to provide innovative business solutions and collaborate with senior management to solve IT issues.

• Exceptional project management skills including the capacity to manage and advance multiple projects under ambitious deadlines, and solve problems in a complex, decentralized environment.

• A high degree of technical knowledge and the ability to make sound decisions using well developed and sound professional judgment.

• The professional integrity to lead and manage in an organized, creative, strategic, politically aware, and technically astute manner.

• Excellent written and oral communications skills and the capacity to translate and synthesize complex technical information to broad and diverse audiences.

• The maturity, sophistication, and good humor necessary to meet the challenges of a fast-paced and dynamic work environment.

• Respect and appreciation of those who participate in the Special Olympics and those whose lives are touched through its worldwide programs.

• The ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally.

TO APPLY

For more information about Special Olympics International, please visit: http://www.specialolympics.org. 

Nominations and applications are due by August 1, 2010. Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Please send applications including a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume (in Word format), salary history and where you learned of the position to:
soi-vpitbs@nonprofitprofessionals.com. In order to expedite the internal sorting and reviewing process, please type your name (Last, First) as the only contents in the subject line of your e-mail.

 

Special Olympics International is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Women and candidates of color are encouraged to apply.