Executive Director/Director, Behavior Change & Expertise

About Understood:

Understood encourages individuals of all learning styles, ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds, including those whose life experiences may include the challenge of access due to a disability, to apply for this position. We are committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization, as we want to engage all those who can contribute to supporting this work.

We’re hiring an Executive Director/Director of Behavior Change & Expertise who is a former clinical practitioner to continue to enhance Understood’s leadership in expert-backed offerings. Reporting to our Co-President and Chief Product Officer, this person will lead and direct a team of experts to ensure Understood identifies, implements, and delivers behavior change. With a background as a former clinical practitioner and a focus on those who learn and think differently and their influencers, this leader drives external and internal efforts to cultivate knowledge, delineate nuance, and ensures research and evidence-based knowledge are translated into practical solutions that can achieve impact at scale. This role also plays a central role in developing the organization’s operating framework and how information is communicated.

Responsibilities

• Drive strategic decision-making around behavior change (prioritization of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors) and how to infuse into tech-enabled products
• Lead and cultivate Understood’s internal team and network of experts; identify opportunities to engage new experts that support the expansion of the organization’s work
• Establish core thought leadership tracks for the organization based on the latest research and knowledge
• Support research work to flesh out key drivers and barriers around specific moments and inflection points in the lives of people who learn and think differently
• Review internal and external research findings and recommend and/or develop white papers
• Distill clinical or research information to articulate complex topics to laypeople
• Direct a team that provides subject matter expertise for content review of on- and off-platform content pieces
• Identify areas in which Understood can stake a position to innovate solutions for societal/systemic challenges that exist for individuals who learn and think differently
• Serve as a spokesperson for relevant media opportunities to increase awareness of the issues and Understood
• Represent Understood at field-related events, on panels, and in coalitions, as needed
• Provide expert counsel for other teams (Marketing, Product, Communications, Partnership, Analytics, etc.)
• In conjunction with the Partnerships Team, identify white spaces where Understood can bring added value to other organizations
• Review partnership criteria and evaluation, based on relationships with organizations and influencers, and an understanding of the complexities of the disability community and field
• Lead efforts to ensure all Understood team members have the level of knowledge around learning and thinking differences needed to do their jobs with confidence
• Lead a multifaceted team and provide guidance, direction, and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Expert knowledge of and experience in learning disabilities field required
• Deep understanding of how to drive behavior change
• CBT or DBT experience preferred
• Knowledge of adult and parental needs and interests as it pertains to learning and thinking differences
• Deep connections and credibility within the field
• Familiarity with consultancy models, doctor networks, preferred
• Demonstrated ability to work outside of private practice
• Experience applying theoretical models to practical solutions, preferably technology-enabled
• Working knowledge of learning and thinking differences at different ages and stages of life
• Background working with diverse and/or underserved communities
• Experience communicating recommendations to drive key stakeholder alignment
• Completion of a masters-level program in a relevant field, Ph.D. preferred
• Experience working with or background in neuropsychology, a plus
• Executive presence and comfort presenting to C-level, donors and partners

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with individuals and cross-functional teams, both internal and external to Understood
• Possesses a willingness to challenge conventional thinking with radical candor
• Collaborative, curious, and an innovative thinker able to surface and communicate new ideas
• Ability to distill complex academic concepts into easy-to-digest formats/materials
• Strong interpersonal communication skills; media training a plus
• Ability to deliver messages that may separate themselves from the expertise
• The opportunity to build something excites you
• You seek to tackle problems that do not yet have solutions
• Curiosity and desire to drive to clarity
• The teams you’ve led and people you’ve managed would say you were a strong influence on their growth

Please Note: Understood requires all new hires to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 within six weeks of their hire date as a condition of employment unless you qualify for a reasonable accommodation. For additional information on our policy, please reach out to Katie Aholt, Director of People Engagement and Operations.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Understood encourages individuals of all learning styles, ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds, including those whose life experiences may include the challenge of access due to a disability, to apply for this position. We are committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization, as we want to engage all those who can contribute to supporting this work.

Understood is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applications without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, alienage or citizenship status, marital or familial status, domestic partnership status, caregiver status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, change of sex or transgender status, genetic information, medical condition, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, physical or mental disability (where the applicant or employee is qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation), any protected military or veteran status, or status as a victim of domestic or dating violence, sexual assault or offense, stalking, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local law or that of persons with whom that individual associates, or any other legally protected characteristics.

For additional information on learning and attention issues, including ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, executive functioning issues, nonverbal learning disabilities, processing issues, and more, please visit www.understood.org.