For over 30 years, Gersh Autism has empowered students on the autism spectrum to reach their full potential. Serving individuals aged 5-21 across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, our network of K-12 schools provides personalized education tailored to each student’s unique learning style. We offer comprehensive therapeutic services—speech, physical, occupational therapy, and more—along with vocational training for older students. Our dedicated team collaborates with families to ensure academic, social, and emotional growth, preparing students for success beyond the classroom.

At Gersh Autism, we are committed to helping individuals on the autism spectrum lead fulfilling, independent lives.

The Director, Head of CSE Program provides strategic leadership and oversight for all Committee on Special Education (CSE) services and operations across the organization. This role is responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, compliant, family-centered special education services while driving program excellence, operational efficiency, student outcomes, resulting in organizational growth.

The Director serves as the senior leader for the CSE department, partnering with educational leadership, multidisciplinary teams, district partnerships, compliance, workforce planning, and financial performance. The role reports to the Chief Education Officer, fostering collaborative relationships with school districts, families, clinicians, and educational teams to ensure exceptional service delivery and positive outcomes for students with disabilities.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute the vision, strategy, and goals for the CSE program.
• Align program objectives with organizational priorities, growth initiatives, and student outcome goals.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that enhance service quality, operational effectiveness, and family experience.
• Monitor industry trends, regulatory changes, and best practices in special education.

Program Oversight and Operations

• Direct all CSE program operations to ensure timely, effective, and compliant service delivery.
• Establish and monitor performance metrics, service standards, and operational benchmarks.
• Ensure efficient utilization of staffing, resources, and program capacity.
• Identify opportunities to improve workflows, service models, and operational processes.

Educational Excellence and Student Outcomes

• Ensure educational services support student achievement, progress, and individualized needs.
• Promote evidence-based practices and high-quality instructional programming.
• Monitor student outcomes and implement improvement plans as needed.
• Foster collaboration between educational, clinical, and support service teams.

Compliance and Regulatory Oversight

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local special education regulations.
• Maintain adherence to relevant state education regulations, and district requirements.
• Oversee audit readiness and quality assurance processes.
• Mitigate organizational risk through proactive compliance monitoring.

District and Family Partnerships

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with school districts, educational agencies, and community stakeholders.
• Serve as a senior representative of the organization during district meetings and strategic partnerships.
• Promote a family-centered approach to service delivery.
• Address complex concerns and facilitate collaborative problem-solving.

Financial and Business Management

• Partner with leadership to develop and manage program budgets.
• Monitor revenue, productivity, utilization, and financial performance metrics.
• Support sustainable growth and profitability while maintaining service quality.
• Identify opportunities for program expansion and business development.

Talent Leadership and Workforce Planning

• Lead recruitment, retention, and workforce planning efforts for educational and related service professionals.
• Develop succession plans and leadership pipelines within the CSE division.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, engagement, and professional growth.
• Ensure staff receive ongoing coaching, support, and development.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop educational leaders, supervisors, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability measures.
• Promote collaboration across departments and service lines.
• Build a high-performing culture focused on student success and operational excellence.

Core Competencies

Strategic Leadership

• Develops and communicates a clear vision for the CSE program.
• Aligns people, resources, and priorities to achieve organizational goals.
• Demonstrates strong business and operational acumen.
• Anticipates future challenges and opportunities.

Special Education Expertise

• Demonstrates deep knowledge of special education laws, regulations, and best practices.
• Maintains expertise in CSE processes, service delivery models, and educational programming.
• Understands the unique needs of students with disabilities and their families.
• Promotes high-quality, evidence-based educational practices.

Program and Operational Excellence

• Drives efficiency, scalability, and continuous improvement.
• Utilizes data to inform decision-making and resource allocation.
• Establishes clear performance measures and accountability systems.
• Balances service quality with operational effectiveness.

Educational Leadership

• Promotes student-centered decision-making.
• Supports educational innovation and instructional excellence.
• Focuses on measurable student outcomes and program effectiveness.
• Builds strong partnerships between educational and clinical teams.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Maintains unwavering commitment to regulatory compliance.
• Proactively identifies and mitigates operational and compliance risks.
• Ensures consistent implementation of policies and procedures.
• Maintains audit readiness and quality assurance standards.

Relationship Management

• Builds trusted partnerships with school districts, families, staff, and community stakeholders.
• Demonstrates diplomacy and professionalism in complex situations.
• Communicates effectively with diverse audiences.
• Resolves conflicts through collaboration and solution-focused leadership.

Talent Development and Team Leadership

• Attracts, develops, and retains top talent.
• Creates a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous learning.
• Coaches leaders and team members to achieve their full potential.
• Supports succession planning and leadership development.

Change Management

• Leads organizational and programmatic change effectively.
• Builds support and engagement for new initiatives.
• Helps teams navigate uncertainty and complexity.
• Maintains focus on outcomes during periods of growth and transformation.

Data-Driven Decision Making

• Uses data and analytics to drive strategic decisions.
• Monitors key performance indicators and operational metrics.
• Evaluates program effectiveness and identifies improvement opportunities.
• Translates data into actionable business and educational strategies.

Results Orientation

• Demonstrates accountability for student, operational, financial, and organizational outcomes.
• Prioritizes high-impact initiatives.
• Executes with urgency and discipline.
• Consistently delivers measurable results.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Special Education, Educational Leadership, School Administration, or related field preferred.
• New York State School Building Leader (SBL), School District Leader (SDL), or equivalent leadership certification preferred.
• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in special education.
• Demonstrated experience leading CSE programs, educational operations, or special education services.
• Strong knowledge of IDEA, New York State special education regulations, and CSE processes.
• Proven success in team leadership, operational management, compliance oversight, and stakeholder engagement.

Benefits for Full Time Employees

Gersh Autism offers a competitive compensation package, including comprehensive health and retirement benefits, professional development opportunities, and a supportive work environment committed to your personal and professional growth. 

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k matching)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Training & Development