Senior Director, Buddies

Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Best Buddies is the largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people worldwide with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower people with IDD to form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure jobs, improve communication and advocacy skills, and live independently, while also offering support for their families.

Job Title:Senior Director, Best Buddies Life

Department:State Operations and Programs

Reports to
:

Vice President, Best Buddies Life

Position Overview:

The Senior Director, Best Buddies Life (BBL) will lead the national implementation, operations, and growth of Best Buddies Life, a transformative initiative designed to create pathways to lifelong learning, meaningful employment, independent living, leadership development, and community engagement for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The Senior Director will be responsible for translating the strategic vision established by the Vice President into scalable programs and measurable outcomes.

This role will oversee day-to-day program operations, participant experience, partnership management, workforce development initiatives, credentialing programs, and independent living supports while ensuring excellence, consistency, and impact across all Best Buddies Life offerings.

• Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Special Education, Disability Studies, Social Work, Nonprofit Leadership, Public Administration, Education, Business Administration, or related field.
• Minimum 8–10 years of progressive leadership experience in disability services, workforce development, higher education, transition programming, nonprofit management, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-site programs and leading inclusive education, employment, and independent living initiatives for individuals with IDD, with knowledge of vocational rehabilitation, Pre-ETS, supported employment, and disability service systems preferred.
• Strong project management, operational leadership, and strategic planning skills.
• Experience developing and managing partnerships with educational institutions, employers, and community organizations.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and presentation skills.
• Ability to utilize data and outcome measurement to drive program improvement.
• Experience overseeing credentialing, certification, or micro-credential initiatives preferred.
• Ability to supervise professional staff, advisors, coaches, or case management teams.
• Experience securing grants, corporate partnerships, or philanthropic support a plus.
• Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP), or related credential preferred.
• Must travel, use personal cell phone, and work evenings and weekends as necessary in order to accomplish job responsibilities

include, but are not limited to:

• Lead the implementation and ongoing management of all Best Buddies Life programming nationwide.
• Develop operational plans, annual goals, and performance metrics aligned with the strategic vision established by the Vice President.
• Oversee participant recruitment, enrollment, onboarding, retention, and success initiatives.
• Collaborate with state and local Best Buddies staff to support program expansion and participant engagement, and ensure consistent delivery of high-quality programming
• Develop and implement a national service model that integrates Best Buddies Corps Members as credentialed Best Buddies Life Advisors.
• Establish participant engagement protocols and service delivery expectations of Corps members to ensure consistent, high-quality support across all Best Buddies Life sites.
• Ensure Corps Members provide individualized support in education, employment, independent living, community engagement, and leadership/self-advocacy.
• Develop participant success planning frameworks, assessment tools, and outcome tracking systems in partnership with the Corps team.
• Evaluate program outcomes, identify training needs, and ensure Corps Members are successfully supporting participants in achieving their…