The flagship program of REED Autism Services, REED Academy, began in 2003 when a small group of parents came together, eager to find the right education for their children with autism. What started in two small rooms in Washington Township, New Jersey, has grown into a family of four distinct, 501c3 non-profit organizations serving individuals with autism, and their families, across the lifespan: REED Academy, a leading school for children with autism ages 3-21 with campuses located in Oakland and Franklin Lakes, NJ; REED Next, providing community-based services for adults with autism including residential services, day programming, and job support; Greens Do Good, an innovative, indoor hydroponic vertical farm growing and selling greens for the greater good and providing critical vocational training and employment for teens and adults on the spectrum; and the REED Foundation for Autism – an active incubator for new ideas and the charitable engine of REED programs, are all brought together under the umbrella of REED Autism Services.

EVIDENCE-BASED, INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICES

REED programs are based on the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), recognized as the gold standard in autism treatment and education, which uses scientific and ethical approaches to understand why people do what they do to help them make meaningful changes to their behavior. By focusing on each individual’s strengths and areas in need of growth, we strive for every student, client, and resident to reach his or her full potential.

STRATEGIC GROWTH MINDSET

REED Autism Services is a family of non-profits with an entrepreneurial spirit. The Board of Directors is comprised of thoughtful risk-takers relentlessly pursuing solutions to the complex challenges of an ever-growing autism community. REED has a track record of strategically designating charitable funds to seed and launch new and innovative programs of significant impact.

A ONE-OF-A-KIND MODEL

Whether it’s REED’s state-of-the-art schools in Oakland and Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, or their well-appointed residential homes on beautiful tree lined streets in desirable neighborhoods, or the innovative, first-of-its-kind indoor, hydroponic farm developed exclusively for teens and adults with autism, REED programs continue to challenge the status quo of what’s possible for people with autism – and do so with an eye towards growth and future expansion. Other notable aspects of REED programming include the Intensive Behavior Services program, one of only a few in New Jersey to serve individuals with autism requiring significant intervention and support, the PATH Transition program for students ages 18-21. Regionally, REED is a leader in autism services, with a desire to expand its geographic footprint beyond New Jersey. Based in Bergen County, we serve individuals from towns throughout northern and central New Jersey.

OUR PEOPLE

Central to accomplishing our mission are our people, over 150 dedicated members of the REED team. Our work is challenging yet rewarding and requires high levels of engagement and commitment.. We employ staff in 7 locations throughout Bergen County on shifts ranging from primarily daytime hours to overnight, evening and weekend shifts. Our staff include high school graduates, recent college graduates, and masters and doctoral level professionals.

MISSION

Rooted in excellence, our programs provide support for individuals with autism so they can thrive and achieve their full potential throughout their lives.

VISION

Relentlessly pursue innovative solutions to address the complex challenges of a growing autism community.

VALUES

Focus on the Individual

We place individuals with autism at the center of everything we do and every decision we make.

Excellence

Our highly trained staff make data-driven decisions to bring about meaningful growth and change for the individuals we serve.

Integrity

We are honest, transparent, and equitable in all our interactions.

Inclusion

We are committed to fostering a collaborative culture where everyone is respected and valued.

The Opportunity

The Chief People & Culture Officer (CPCO) will join an incredible and dedicated team with a collective commitment and passion for the REED mission, culture, people, and families. The CPCO must understand and act upon trends within the industry, best practices policies, with a focus on standardization, consistency and equity across facilities, programs, and departments.

The CPCO is a key member of the leadership structure, working closely with other executives, directors, and staff to ascertain the pulse of the organization, prioritize business goals, cultivate diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, boost employee retention and ensure an effective organizational design and infrastructure to grow and develop talent.

The Position

The CPCO will work in close collaboration with REED leadership staff to ensure that strategic human resource planning attracts and retains the best talent available and positions REED as the employer of choice. The successful CPCO will become established throughout REED as a trusted resource, effective listener, and problem solver of people issues, driving understanding and adherence to company policies and programs for effective management of the people resources of the organization, including appropriate escalation and support for department leaders. The CPCO sets the tone for the employee experience, and serves as the trusted advisor to Senior Leadership, while championing all team members to drive performance excellence of the human capital function in support of the long term health of the organization.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the CPCO will have the unique opportunity to build a broad HR function for the 150+ employees in our ecosystem. The CPCO will be joining the organization at a critical juncture as it continues to expand its footprint and advance the lives of individuals with autism throughout New Jersey.

To put the key elements of success in place, the CPCO will need to leverage the existing programmatic success and strategic plan goals to build a strong talent recruitment and retention function, while fostering engagement throughout the organization. This leadership position requires that the individual be creative, strategic, collaborative, and process-minded. They will serve as the primary mentor and thought leader around people strategy for the organization. They will devise and execute strategies, mentor staff, and optimize the human resource management system.

Key Responsibilities

 Formulate intensive recruitment, retention, and succession strategies, in collaboration with executive leadership, to meet the staffing needs of the organization.

 Devise unique tactics that set REED apart in the marketplace.

 Devise annual and long-term staff engagement strategies, career development plans and training opportunities that align with institutional goals.

 Mentor staff to develop confidence in HR related functions - including performance management, difficult conversations, leave administration and coaching.

 Embrace REED’s strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

 Develop long term plans for the staff experience, including onboarding, training, career development and advancement.

 Ensure compliance with all applicable policies, laws, and regulations.

Experience and Professional Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have significant prior experience executing a multi-pronged HR strategy for organizations spanning multiple locations and shifts. Prior experience in a hospital setting is preferred.

The CPCO will be required to be both practitioner and strategist.

Other desired qualifications and leadership characteristics include:

 10+ years of experience in Human Resources with a deep knowledge of culture alignment and staff engagement

 Knowledge of employment and labor laws, including ADA, FMLA, FLSA, etc.

 Experience with Ceridian Dayforce, REED’s HRMS.

 Demonstrated success with Gallup Q12 and talent assessment surveys and action plans.

 Strong recruiting background and experience supporting staff across different shifts.

 A deep understanding of policy development, education and change management and organization.

 Experience in communicating strategically aligned performance goals across the organization.

 Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to oversee, mentor, and motivate staff.

 Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as a foundational value central to

REED’s mission.

 Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills coupled with the

 ability to communicate well in difficult situations.

 A passion for, or demonstrated experience in, disability services, and particularly autism related programming.

Education

 University degree or equivalent acceptable combination of education and experience.

 Graduate degree and/or SHRM designation is strongly preferred.

Compensation

Compensation and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience.