About the position
Destination Ascendigo: Ascendigo's mission is to elevate the spectrum by empowering individuals, inspiring lives, and shattering expectations. We apply this mission equally to those we serve including our participants and clients and those alongside whom we serve, including our colleagues and broader stakeholder community.
Ascendigo is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of children and adults living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We deliver this commitment through therapeutic recreation, employment support, community integration, education, and a comprehensive suite of behavioral health services. Headquartered in Carbondale, CO, Ascendigo employs more than 40 full- and part-time year-round staff members, along with approximately 40 additional team members during our seasonal summer camp programming.
The Ascendigo Promise to our employees is to provide meaningful, purpose-driven work within a culture rooted in R.E.S.P.E.C.T. We champion high performance through thoughtful onboarding, ongoing professional development, and an unwavering commitment to integrity.
Job Summary: The Residential Director & Community Liaison at Ascendigo Autism Services plays a key leadership role in strengthening the quality, continuity, and reach of Ascendigo’s residential services while deepening meaningful engagement across the broader community. This role provides operational oversight, staff support, and ensures program quality of residential services, helping promote a consistent, person-centered approach aligned with Ascendigo’s mission and standards. In addition, the position serves as a strategic connector between services, families, and the wider network of community partners. The Residential Director & Community Liaison helps cultivate relationships that expand opportunities for collaboration, education, and training—supporting families, local organizations, and community stakeholders in building greater understanding and inclusion for individuals with autism and other disabilities. This role blends program leadership with external engagement, helping ensure Ascendigo’s residential programming remains both exceptional in delivery and well-integrated within the community it serves.
Responsibilities
• Lead the day-to-day operations and long-term development of Ascendigo’s residential programs, ensuring services are person-centered, high quality, and aligned with organizational standards.
• Help maintain program consistency, quality assurance, and strong service delivery across residential homes and settings.
• Maintain strong engagement with families and learners participating in or considering residential services with Ascendigo.
• Assist in implementing program improvements, new initiatives, and best practices that enhance outcomes for individuals served while collaborating effectively across teams.
• Partner with leadership to monitor program performance, identify opportunities for growth, and address emerging needs within residential services.
• Support adherence to regulatory requirements, licensing standards, and internal policies relevant to residential programming.
• Assist with oversight of residential operations including scheduling coordination, program logistics, and resource allocation.
• Support budget awareness and operational planning to ensure residential services operate efficiently and sustainably.
• Monitor operational processes and workflows to improve effectiveness, consistency, and accountability across residential settings.
• Help track key program metrics, documentation practices, and reporting needs in collaboration with leadership.
• Provide leadership presence and problem-solving support across residential locations as needed.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and ongoing development of residential team members.
• Help foster a positive, mission-driven team culture grounded in respect, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to residential staff and emerging leaders, helping build capacity within the team.
• Reinforce training initiatives, coaching, and performance support to ensure staff are equipped to deliver high-quality services.
• Partner with leadership to identify staffing needs, address challenges, and strengthen team effectiveness.
• Serve as a key liaison between services, families, and community stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local organizations, service providers, and partners that support inclusion and quality of life for individuals served.
• Support outreach and collaboration opportunities, including community education, training partnerships, and cross-sector initiatives.
• Help strengthen family engagement by ensuring clear communication, responsiveness, and connection to available support and services.
• Identify opportunities to expand community awareness and partnerships that enhance Ascendigo’s programming and mission impact.
Requirements
• Working knowledge of the field of autism and other disabilities, which ideally includes Applied Behavioral Analysis, and the principles of Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBI), as it pertains to adults.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in a program for individuals with autism and IDD, including day, residential, vocational, and/or community-based programs; and minimum three (3) years’ experience in a position of leadership with supervisory experience.
• Strong working knowledge of Medicaid and private insurance compliance, as well as other state regulations pertaining to the support of individuals with IDD, ideally in Colorado.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook; and billing software such as Therap.
• Strong listening, leadership, and teaching skills, as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently, set priorities, delegate, and meet deadlines.
• Bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, psychology, therapeutic recreation, social services, or related field; graduate degree with a certification in a relevant field such as Applied Behavior Analysis is preferred.
• Occasional evenings and weekends are required to accommodate meetings, on-call shifts, and special events.
• Must be age 21 or over and have legal working status.
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license and excellent driving record.
• Must have a clean background check with no felonies or flags.
• Must provide a current CPR/First Aid certification.
• Must have flexibility to travel for occasional professional development and program activities.
• Applicants are required to have and use their own smart phone for work duties. Ascendigo provides a monthly cell phone stipend for this use.
• Basic computer skills (MS Office, email, social media)
• Must be able to lift and move heavy objects (up to 25 pounds)
Nice-to-haves
• graduate degree with a certification in a relevant field such as Applied Behavior Analysis is preferred.
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