Chief Executive Officer

Company Background/Culture

Gaudenzia’s mission is to promote long-term recovery by providing comprehensive treatment and support to people with substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health disorders, and related conditions, regardless of individual circumstances. More specifically, they provide a full continuum of evidence-based treatment services, including withdrawal management, high- and low intensity residential services, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient treatment services. Additionally, they offer harm reduction services, prevention education, recovery support and affordable housing as well as provide specialized programming to meet the needs of women and women with children, adolescents, individuals with co-occurring diagnoses, and individuals involved in the criminal justice system. 

Gaudenzia was founded in 1968 by a conscientious group of community members who wanted to help themselves and each other overcome the challenges of drug and alcohol use. They soon learned that a collective group was much stronger than an individual, struggling alone.

Over the next 53 years, Gaudenzia began serving those in need of treatment for substance use and co-occurring disorders, becoming one of the nation’s first providers with programs designed to meet the needs of women and women with children, populations affected by HIV/AIDS, and individuals with criminal justice involvement.

Today, Gaudenzia is one of the largest non-profit substance use and co-occurring disorders treatment providers in the United States, serving Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and the Washington, D.C. areas.  

Vision:

Gaudenzia’s vision is a future where all individuals confronting substance use and mental health challenges find the assistance they need to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Gaudenzia’s Services:

Gaudenzia’s Treatment Model incorporates evidence-based, person-centered therapeutic approaches to deliver care that is gender-responsive, trauma-informed, and culture-informed.

Services include:

• • Detox and Withdrawal Management Treatment Programs (8 sites)
  • Residential Treatment Programs (1255 beds)
  • Low-Intensity Residential Treatment/Halfway House Accommodations (8 sites)
  • Men’s Treatment Programs
  • Women with Children Treatment Programs (14 sites)
  • Intensive Outpatient (IOP) and Outpatient (OP) Treatment Programs (24 sites)
  • Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
  • Recovery Support Services
  • Criminal Justice Services (288 beds)
  • Prevention Services
  • Affordable Housing (251 units)

Operating Principles:

We, as members of the Gaudenzia Team, are committed to these principles. They guide the way we perform Gaudenzia business, every day. 

• • We hold client care as our top priority.
  • We assume good intentions.
  • We are present, we connect, and we communicate with transparency, dignity, and respect.  
  • We make data-driven decisions with courage, challenge the status quo, and find innovative ways to grow Gaudenzia and each other.  
  • We support each other publicly and privately in all circumstances.
  • We provide and accept constructive, honest, respectful, and timely feedback with an open mind and without personalization.  
  • We operate with integrity, focus on outcomes, and have a bias for action.
  • We follow through on agreements and honor commitments prioritized with a sense of urgency — someone’s life may depend on it.

Gaudenzia is a story of a legendary horse. 

The half-Arabian mare came from humble beginnings, but a young boy saw her potential and trained her for the world famous Palio horserace, held annually in Siena, Italy.

In a crucial moment, she lost her jockey to a fall, but Gaudenzia regained her footing and carried on, ultimately winning the race.

 Her story represents hard work, hope, and the courage to keep going against all odds.  

That’s why we chose Gaudenzia as our namesake. No matter what comes your way, never give up and try to realize your full potential.

Our Treatment Model:

Gaudenzia uses an evidence-based, person-centered treatment model to help individuals and families break the cycle of substance use and co-occurring disorders.

Our treatment model integrates the industry’s most current quality-care standards with two of the field’s most studied and validated therapeutic approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI).

• • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a science-backed therapeutic approach that aims to replace unhelpful ways of thinking and harmful behavioral patterns with healthier alternatives. 
  • Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based, collaborative style of communication that helps clients identify and resolve barriers to change while strengthening their personal motivation to make healthier choices.

Treatment Components:

Our evidence-based treatment approach includes the following components:

• • Individual Counselling  
  • Group Counseling
  • Case Management
  • Emotional Regulation
  • Psychoeducation
  • Wellness Activities
  • Mutual Support Groups
  • Integrated Health Services
  • Morning and Evening Meetings
  • Medication Assisted Treatment

Trauma-Informed, Gender-Responsive, and Culturally Responsive Care

Since its inception, Gaudenzia has worked diligently to break down treatment barriers. Our organization was one of the first in the nation to provide specialized SUD treatment options for women and women with children and populations affected by HIV/AIDS.

Today, we continue that legacy by providing care that is:

• • Trauma-Informed
  • Gender-Responsive
  • Culturally Responsive
  • Person-Centered
  • Strengths-Focused

The Opportunity

The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for setting and modeling the company's culture, values and behaviors, and allocating resources and capital to the company's priorities. This individual is responsible for building and leading a highly accountable executive staff in planning, organizing, and directing the total operations of the organization, as well as the implementation of policies set forth by the Board of Directors. This individual has responsibility for directing and leading the organization's staff towards the achievement of the organization's mission, vision, philosophy, strategy, goals and objectives. This individual is responsible for the overall and daily operations of the programs and ensuring quality programming, treatment and services consistent with the mission.

The Chief Executive Officer ensures that the organization is carrying out the mission, vision, and core values of Gaudenzia and functions as the principal advisor to the Board of Directors for setting the strategy, vision and direction of the organization. This includes advising on policy matters, administering policies, structuring the organization and recommending plans and budgets to the Board of Directors. This individual is responsible for keeping the Board of Directors informed on progress towards the organizational goals and pertinent matters relating to organizational operations.

As CEO, this individual is responsible for the Foundation, its purpose, mission, real estate assets and the treatment of these assets. This person will uphold our fiduciary duties and effectively use its resources and guard against misuse.

Key Responsible 

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will be responsible for the following:

Board and Board Committee Responsibility:

• • Ensure that the organization has a long-range strategy which achieves its mission and towards which it makes consistent and timely progress.
  • On an annual and quarterly basis, report the progress and achievements towards annual goals and objectives to the Board of Directors.
  • Provide leadership in financing and fiscal planning with the Board Finance Committee.
  • Keep the Board of Directors fully informed on the health of the organization and all-important factors and events influencing it.
  • Oversee the use, occupancy, and maintenance of the real estate assets for the purposes of delivering treatment and upholding the integrity of the assets.

Licensing, Accreditation and Program Quality:

• • Ensure maintenance of all appropriate federal, state, and local licensing and regulatory requirements.
  • Ensure maintenance of appropriate certifications, licensing, and accreditations.
  • Develop and maintain a program of Continuous Quality Improvement with respect to clinical services.
  • Develop and maintain policy and procedures in conformance with the appropriate gccreditation bodies.

 Strategic Planning Responsibility:

• • Maintain a written Strategic Plan that is periodically updated, documented and reflective of the agency's goals, ensuring continued growth and service excellence.
  • Provide ongoing measurement of agency-wide development plans that utilizes industry's best practices.
  • Ensure departmental plans, goals and objectives are prepared, followed and progresses towards continued growth.
  • Ensure departmental succession planning through the ongoing training and development of leadership staff.
  • Conduct annual Skip Level Meetings to assess the development of leadership staff.

Program and Business Development:

• • Keep abreast of national trends and developments which may improve and enhance the current clinical services offered by the organization.
  • Provide leadership in developing programs and restructuring existing services.
  • Develop and maintain clinical initiatives that maximize clinical operations and expand integrated services based on the needs of the persons and families currently engaged in the organization/programs.
  • Maintain the core values of the organization as it relates to effective clinical care and services.
  • Establish and maintain positive relationships with funding, referral, and regulatory agencies.
  • Oversee an effective advocacy strategy to improve and maintain support for treatment, prevention, and housing services.
  • Establish and maintain positive relationships with managed care and government payers.
  • Seek new and manage existing referral sources for new clients.
  • Nurture productive relationships with regulatory agencies and seek to impact regulatory change that benefits Gaudenzia.

     Gaudenzia Foundation Responsibility:

• • Develop and oversee fundraising activities that will support Gaudenzia Inc.’s strategic needs.
  • Raise funds that regularly meet or surpass fundraising targets. Build upon existing donor relationships and form new donor relationships on a regular basis.
  • Collaborate with other organizations and groups within the community to build partnerships and enhance fundraising activities.
  • Maintain and preserve the real estate assets that support Gaudenzia Inc’s strategic needs.
  • Manage Foundation’s endowment and investment assets.
  • Manage other activities that Foundation deems appropriate to support Gaudenzia Inc.’s strategic needs, such as funding research, publication, education, and fostering low-income housing.
  • Manage a real estate minimum portfolio of 200 units or more in multiple locations, cities and states.

Human Relations Responsibility:

• • Ensure full complement of qualified staff through recruitment, training, and adequate supervision.
  • Maintain a climate that attracts, retains and motivates a diverse staff of top-quality individuals.
  • Maintain a system to review and evaluate performance of staff and ensure positive staff morale.
  • Recruit, hire, train, direct and ensure the effectiveness of an executive management team.
  • Ensure a system of staff training and professional development that enhances organizational performance.

Financial Responsibility:

• • Oversee the development and maintenance of effective, ethical, and legal financial practices of both organizations (Inc and Foundation).
  • Oversee the preparation of budgets and ensure that the organization operates within those budgetary guidelines.
  • Consistently evaluate and improve the cost effectiveness and outcome of program services.
  • Ensure a capable, effective financial management system that meets local, state and national guidelines, principles and regulations.

Community/Public/Government Relations:

• • Ensure the agency and its mission, programs, products, and services are consistently presented in a strong, positive image to relevant stakeholders.
  • Oversee the assurance of positive public opinion regarding Gaudenzia, Inc. and maintain responsible communication strategies.
  • Present effectively on behalf of the agency to referral sources, government, media and/or special interest groups.
  • Advocate for quality services for individual and families for all programs throughout the states in which we operate.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The CEO will possess the following:

• • Thorough knowledge of treatment, therapeutic and rehabilitative techniques as they relate to the operations of programs for substance abuse, mental illnesses and related conditions.
  • Thorough knowledge and experience with management, financing, and strategic planning of large non-profit private organizations.
  • Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of administering a private non-profit organization.
  • Thorough knowledge of the principles of addiction, recovery and the recovering community.
  • Knowledge of fiscal and personnel administration of a multi-site, multi-state large non-profit organization.
  • Understand the use and management of large commercial real...