President

Candidates who are blind or visually impaired and/or deaf or hard of hearing are encouraged to apply for this position and may be given preference in hiring as permitted by federal laws.  Information related to disability is not required, and if disclosed voluntarily, will be used only in AIDB’s efforts to create opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Non-disclosure will not subject any applicant to adverse treatment.

POSITION TITLE:  PRESIDENT 

                                  Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind – Talladega, AL

                                  Reports to Board of Trustees 

ABOUT ALABAMA INSTITUTE FOR DEAF AND BLIND (AIDB)

Founded in 1858, the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB) exists to dismantle barriers, foster independence, and unlock limitless opportunities for individuals who are Deaf, Blind, DeafBlind, and multidisabled. AIDB is recognized as the world’s most comprehensive education, rehabilitation, and service system, delivering lifelong, cradle-to-career impact to more than 30,000 infants, toddlers, children, adults, seniors, and their families across all 67 Alabama counties each year.

AIDB delivers services through five primary campuses in Talladega, a statewide network of ten regional centers, comprehensive Early Intervention programs, and educational services delivered in residential, day, and outreach settings:

• Alabama School for the Blind (ASB): Accredited comprehensive K–12 residential and day educational program.
• Alabama School for the Deaf (ASD): Accredited comprehensive K–12 residential and day academic program.
• Helen Keller School of Alabama (HKS): Specialized education and therapeutic services for students who are multidisabled or DeafBlind.
• E.H. Gentry Facility: Full-service adult vocational training, evaluation, and comprehensive rehabilitation center.
• Alabama Industries for the Blind (AIB): State-of-the-art manufacturing facility and Alabama’s largest employer of adults who are Blind or Visually Impaired.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The next President of AIDB will have the opportunity to lead a historic, globally respected institution into its next chapter of innovation, excellence, and statewide impact. This executive position demands a visionary leader dedicated to advancing AIDB’s mission while shaping the future of specialized education, vocational rehabilitation, and assistive technology statewide and nationally. 

This role requires a leader of strong moral character who actively establishes an organizational culture defined by transparency, mutual trust, and rigorous accountability. The President fosters an environment where faculty, staff, consumers, and students are valued, respected, and united behind a shared service mission.

Reporting directly to the Board of Trustees, the President serves as the Chief Executive Officer and highest-ranking administrative officer of AIDB. The President provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for a multi-campus, statewide enterprise supported by state and federal appropriations, commercial operations, grants, and philanthropic support.

The President leads AIDB’s specialized K–12 schools—Alabama School for the Deaf, Alabama School for the Blind, and Helen Keller School of Alabama, E.H. Gentry, a full service vocational and educational rehabilitation program serving adults who are Deaf or Blind, as well as a statewide network of regional centers, Early Intervention programs, and Alabama Industries for the Blind (AIB).  The President serves as the primary statewide and national advocate for sensory disability services, fostering partnerships with legislative bodies, state agencies, educational institutions, business leaders, and consumer advocacy communities to continuously expand AIDB's lifelong impact.

The President builds and cultivates strong relationships between AIDB, state/local governments, educational institutions, business leaders, and Deaf/Blind communities. 

This position demands personal and professional integrity.  The President will demonstrate sound judgement, and a commitment to ethical leadership.  The successful candidate must be capable of serving as a positive role model for AIDB’s students and employees, treating all individuals with dignity and respect, and upholding the highest standards of professional conduct. 

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Master’s degree in: Business Administration, Public Administration, Education Administration, Vocational Rehabilitation, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impairment, or Special Education.
• Administrative Experience: At least ten (10) years of progressive, senior level administrative experience within an educational institution including leadership of senior staff and responsibility for program budgets. Demonstrated student academic success and individual growth is critical.
• Fiscal Experience: Proven track record managing complex, multi-million-dollar operating budgets, navigating state legislative appropriations processes, and stewarding capital development projects.  
• Sign Language Proficiency: Obtain a sign language proficiency level of INTERMEDIATE according to the AIDB evaluation system within thirty-six (36) months of employment.
• Background Check: Must successfully complete a comprehensive pre-employment background check and meet all suitability requirements for employment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Terminal degree.
• Specialized training and/or experience in working with individuals who are Deaf, Blind, or DeafBlind.
• Proven experience in fundraising, philanthropy or development.
• Experience engaging with state and federal legislative bodies.

• Demonstrated success leading a multicampus, statewide or matrixed organization with diverse operating units (academic, residential, industrial/vocational).

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership and Governance

• Chief Executive Authority: Serve as the Chief Executive Officer, driving the strategic vision and operational excellence of AIDB, providing executive leadership and oversight across all campuses, regional centers, and affiliate entities to continuously advance the mission of AIDB. 
• Board Partnership and Governance: Serve as the chief advisor to the Board of Trustees; maintain open, transparent communication grounded in candor and integrity; translate Board governance into institute-wide strategy and institutional policy. 
• Institutional Transformation & Checks and Balances: Lead long-range strategic planning initiatives to expand AIDB’s reach, elevate academic rigor, drive innovation, and maintain national leadership in specialized education and sensory services. Regularly evaluate critical systems for needed process, personnel, or structural modernization; establish and uphold robust systems of checks and balances to guarantee accountability, professionalism, and statutory compliance.
• Executive Team Leadership: Recruit, mentor, and align a high-performing senior executive team; oversee organizational restructuring, executive performance evaluation, and succession planning to ensure cross-functional excellence across all divisions. 

Fiscal Responsibility and Resource Development

• Fiscal Governance: Lead development and management of AIDB’s multi-million-dollar operating budget, ensuring optimal resource allocation, long-term financial sustainability, and full accountability across all divisions in accordance with applicable law, Board policy, established fiscal controls and long-term financial resilience. 
• State and Federal Appropriations: Lead the strategic formulation, presentation and defense of state and federal appropriation requests; secure essential public funding and ensure strict compliance with state and federal statutory requirements. 
• Capital and Revenue Management: Oversee multi-source funding models, including state/federal grants, public appropriations, fee-for-service revenue, and philanthropic contributions to support capital projects, comprehensive early intervention, rehabilitation services, and statewide programmatic expansion.  
• Expenditure Approvals and Controls: Maintain administrative authority and fiduciary oversight over payroll, purchase requisitions, travel authorizations, vendor disbursements, and external agency contracts to enforce fiscal discipline.  
• Audit and Fiscal Integrity: Ensure sound internal financial controls, timely auditing practices, and transparent financial reporting to the Board of Trustees, government agencies, and public oversight bodies. 

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

• Statutory Oversight: Enforce institute-wide compliance with key federal and state mandates, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Rehabilitation Act, the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act, and the Randolph-Sheppard Act. 
• Policy Interpretation and Advocacy: Serve as the executive oversight authority, spearheading the interpretation and enforcement of all legal and regulatory mandates, ensuring institutional integrity and proactive compliance. 
• Contractual Governance: Maintain executive oversight and authority over all contracts, inter-agency agreements, vendor services, and external legal instruments to protect the institution’s interests and limit liability. 
• Institutional Security and Data Privacy: Oversee the legal maintenance, security, and confidentiality of all institutional records, files, data systems, and sensitive personnel/consumer information. 
• Board Alignment and Risk Management: Advise the Board of Trustees on legal risks, compliance developments, and policy modifications to ensure all enterprise operations adhere strictly to established legal procedures and board policies.  Mitigate risk by establishing proactive compliance protocols and robust governance policies across all campus facilities.

Institutional Administration and Operational Excellence

• Cross-Divisional Oversight: Provide unified executive governance over all K-12 academic and rehabilitative programs (Alabama School for the Deaf, Alabama School for the Blind, Helen Keller School), Adult and Rehabilitation Services, Early Intervention, Regional Centers, and Alabama Industries for the Blind (AIB). 
• Continuous Program Improvement: Establish institute-wide quality assurance frameworks to continuously evaluate, elevate, and innovate instructional, residential, and vocational programs for students and consumers. 
• Systems Security and Data Infrastructure: Drive the strategic modernization, maintenance, and security of enterprise data systems and infrastructure, fortifying data security and enhancing operational capabilities.  
• Risk Management and Crisis Leadership: Direct institutional risk management, campus physical security, emergency preparedness, and workplace culture to ensure a safe, inclusive, and protective environment across all campuses. 

External Relations and Statewide Representation

• Statewide and National Ambassadorship: Represent AIDB as its primary public spokesperson, elevating the institution’s profile, building community partnerships, and championing the needs of the Deaf, Blind, and DeafBlind communities. 
• Consensus Building: Cultivate strategic relationships across state government, local municipalities, public school systems, business leaders, disability advocacy groups, and consumer organizations.
• Operational Flexibility: Travel throughout Alabama and nationally as necessary to represent the institution, engage stakeholders, and conduct official business.
• Salary: Negotiable – based on a competitive market analysis (260 Days).  Direct Deposit required.
• Benefits:
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Teachers Retirement System.
  • Deferred compensation options available.
  • Paid time off.
  • Executive residence provided to support engagement with the AIDB community.

Upon offer of employment, the applicant must submit to a fingerprint background check at an agency designated and paid by AIDB.  This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position.  This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job goals, qualifications, and responsibilities, and the employee may be required to perform other related duties as assigned.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

How to apply/deadline for application:

Join us in our commitment to creating a world without limits for the individuals we serve.  Learn more about our mission and impact at www.aidb.org.  Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume through our online portal, which can be found at www.aidb.org/careers, by October 23, 2026.