Deputy Director

California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC)

Deputy Director Position Description

Reports To: Executive Director
Location: Sacramento Based-Hybrid
Schedule: Full-time; periodic evening or weekend work
Status: Regular full-time, Exempt
Salary: $88,000 – $102,000 annually
Travel: Periodic Statewide; Potential out of state (conferences/training) travel required

About CFILC

The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) is a statewide, disability-led nonprofit membership organization. CFILC advances access, equal opportunity, and the Independent Living Movement by strengthening California Independent Living Centers and operating programs that expand access to services, supports, assistive technology, emergency resources, and community participation for people with disabilities.

Position Overview:

Under the direction of the Executive Director, the Deputy Director provides organization-wide operational and program leadership. The Deputy Director oversees assigned CFILC programs and program managers; ensures that contractual, grant, reporting, billing, budget, and performance obligations are met; and develops practical systems, standard operating procedures, and data practices that improve accountability and organizational effectiveness. The Deputy Director serves as a collaborative partner to the Executive Director and may act on the Executive Director’s behalf within specifically delegated authority.

Program and Contract Oversight:

• Provide day-to-day oversight of CFILC-operated programs and supervise assigned program managers and other designated program staff.
• Translate contracts, grants, scopes of work, and funder guidance into clear workplans, timelines, staff assignments, budgets, performance measures, and internal controls.
• Develop, monitor, and ensure compliance with all contractual and grant obligations, including program deliverables, invoicing and billing requirements, supporting documentation, reporting deadlines, approvals, and record retention.
• When required by a funding source or CFILC policy, develop and administer competitive procurement processes, including preparing and issuing requests for proposals, coordinating proposal review and selection, documenting procurement decisions, and supporting resulting contract negotiations.
• Maintain an organization-wide calendar and review process for contract deliverables and grant reports; verify that reports are complete, accurate, timely, and supported by source documentation before submission.
• Identify emerging performance, compliance, budget, or reporting risks and promptly bring them to the Executive Director with recommended corrective action.
• Coordinate responses to funder monitoring, audits, program reviews, and corrective action plans related to assigned programs.

Data Reporting and Continuous Improvement

• Lead the design and implementation of consistent data collection, validation, analysis, and reporting systems that align with funder requirements and CFILC operational needs.
• Guide the transition from outdated or fragmented reporting methods to sustainable tools and workflows, including systems such as NATADS, Power BI, databases, dashboards, or successor platforms, as appropriate.
• Establish data definitions, quality checks, access controls, documentation, and staff training so that program data are reliable, accessible, and useful for compliance, decision-making, and communicating impact.
• Use program and financial data to monitor progress, identify trends and gaps, and recommend operational improvements to the Executive Director and leadership team.

Operational Systems and Human Resources Coordination

• Develop, document, implement, and periodically update standard operating procedures for program administration, contract compliance, reporting, purchasing, approvals, records, onboarding, and other assigned organizational functions.
• Work with CFILC’s contracted human resources provider and the Executive Director to support consistent implementation of personnel policies, required employment notices and workplace postings, annual compliance activities, supervisory practices, and employee documentation.
• Support recruitment, selection, onboarding, performance management, professional development, and evaluation of assigned staff in coordination with the Executive Director and human resources provider.
• Promote a collaborative, accountable, accessible, and respectful workplace grounded in disability culture and Independent Living values.

Financial Coordination and Internal Controls

• Partner with the Executive Director and CFILC’s finance staff or contracted accounting firm to develop and monitor program budgets, forecasts, spending, invoicing, cost allocations, and financial reporting for assigned programs.
• Review and approve purchases, invoices, reimbursements, and other expenditures initiated by direct reports, ensuring that each complies with the approved budget, funder restrictions, procurement requirements, and CFILC policies.
• Ensure program staff provide complete and timely documentation needed for billing, reimbursement, reconciliation, financial reporting, audits, and contract closeout.
• Serve as a backup approver or authorized signer for the Executive Director only within formally delegated authority and CFILC policy.

Leadership Resource Development and External Relations

• Participate in leadership meetings and help coordinate organizationwide priorities, communication, problem-solving, and implementation of decisions.
• In collaboration with and under the direction of the Executive Director, research funding opportunities; help shape program concepts, budgets, workplans, and proposals; and contribute operational and program content to grant and contract submissions.
• Support the Executive Director in developing grant, contract, fee-forservice, sponsorship, partnership, and other mission-aligned revenue opportunities. This position does not independently commit CFILC to a proposal, program design, partnership, or funding strategy.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with CFILC members, funders, contractors, program partners, coalitions, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Represent CFILC at meetings, trainings, conferences, and community events as assigned by the Executive Director.
• Serve as a reliable organizational leader during urgent program or operational needs, including disability disaster access and resources activations when assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Required Qualifications

The qualifications below describe the knowledge and abilities needed to perform the position. CFILC will provide reasonable accommodations to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit, public-sector, disability, human services, or related program administration, including program or project management and staff supervision.
• Demonstrated experience managing government contracts, grants, or other restricted funding, including deliverables, budgets, invoicing, reporting, documentation, and compliance.
• Experience developing and administering competitive procurement processes, including requests for proposals, is preferred.
• Experience developing operational systems, standard operating procedures, internal controls, or organization-wide workflows.
• Strong data literacy and demonstrated ability to improve data collection, validation, reporting, and analysis using databases, reporting platforms, spreadsheets, dashboards, or comparable tools.
• Ability to interpret contracts, regulations, policies, program guidance, budgets, and financial reports and translate them into practical staff expectations and work processes.
• Strong supervisory and project-management skills, including the ability to set expectations, monitor progress, coach staff, address performance concerns, and manage competing deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce accurate reports and communicate effectively with funders, staff, members, partners, and people with disabilities.
• Sound judgment, discretion, attention to detail, and the ability to identify and escalate risks appropriately.
• Demonstrated commitment to disability rights, equity, accessibility, consumer control, and the Independent Living philosophy.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and the ability to learn and manage program, financial, and reporting technology.

Education and Experience

A bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business or public administration, human services, rehabilitation, information systems, or a related field is strongly preferred; a master’s degree in a related field is desirable. Candidates must also have at least five years of progressively responsible experience that includes staff supervision and responsibility for program administration, contract or grant compliance, organizational operations, or related functions. Additional relevant experience may be considered in assessing a candidate’s overall qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Lived experience with disability and knowledge of disability culture.
• Experience working with Independent Living Centers or disability-led organizations.
• Knowledge of federal and California disability programs, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and accessibility requirements.
• Experience with Power BI, NATADS, customer relationship management systems, grant-management systems, or comparable reporting tools.
• Experience coordinating nonprofit financial processes, audits, corrective action plans, or funder monitoring.
• Experience supporting grant development, contract negotiations, or diversified nonprofit revenue strategies.

Working Conditions

This is a Sacramento-based hybrid position with regular in-person work required in accordance with CFILC policy and operational needs. Work is primarily performed in an office or remote-work setting using a computer, phone, and video-conferencing tools. Periodic statewide and/or out-of-state travel and occasional evening or weekend work may be required. CFILC provides work equipment and reasonable accommodations; employees working remotely are responsible for maintaining a reliable internet connection and an appropriate workspace.

CFILC offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, chiropractic, and acupuncture coverage; 13 paid holidays and one paid personal day annually; paid vacation; and a 401(k) retirement plan with an employer match of up to 3 percent. Benefits are subject to plan terms and eligibility requirements.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Accessibility

CFILC is an equal opportunity employer. People with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. CFILC provides reasonable accommodations throughout the application and hiring process and to enable employees to perform the essential functions of their positions. Applicants may request an accommodation at any stage of the hiring process.

The mission of the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers is to increase access and equal opportunity for people with disabilities by building the capacity of Independent Living Centers.