Position: Executive Director, Silicon Valley Independent Living Center; San Jose, CA

Overview

m/Oppenheim is assisting the Silicon Valley Independent Living Center in the search for an experienced and highly visible Executive Director who will champion systemic change for people living with disabilities. This individual must also be a bold and effective fundraiser, capable of securing the resources needed to drive innovation and expand the organization’s independent living services. As part of the search process we are reaching out to the community for suggestions and nominations.

The Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC) is a dynamic, community-driven nonprofit empowering people with disabilities to live boldly, independently, and on their own terms. Founded in 1976 and built on the principle of consumer control and powered by community voices, SVILC was created to go beyond providing services by sparking change. SVILC is a disability justice organization that is peer-led and run by and for people with disabilities;

it champions self-advocacy, personal empowerment, and full participation in the community. SVILC works at both the individual and systems levels, supporting residents directly while advocating for policies that expand equal access, opportunity, and inclusion for all.

The Executive Director will provide overall leadership and management to SVILC, including strategic planning, program development and implementation, fund development activities, financial oversight, and day-to-day administration to ensure long-term stability and impact. The Executive Director will serve as a strong and visible advocate for people with disabilities as the organization’s primary liaison and public representative with government agencies, elected officials, funders, corporations, media, and community partners.

The organization has an operating budget of $4.2M, of which approximately 80% comes from government grants. Joining a team of 26 employees, the Executive Director directly supervises two managers:
Director of Programs and Director of Finance and Business. SVILC is governed by an eight-member Board of Directors. The majority of staff and Board members identify as having a significant disability. The Executive Director will provide leadership and management to SVILC, including strategic planning, program development and implementation, fund development activities, financial oversight, and day-to-day administration to ensure long-term stability and impact.