The Organization

Founded more than fifty years ago by Barbara and Bob Forrest in response to their son’s need for lifelong support, CARC has grown into one of New Mexico’s most respected and beloved providers of services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. What began as a small, community-driven effort fueled by family advocacy has evolved into a comprehensive, mission-anchored organization offering residential services, vocational programs, day-habilitation, early childhood support, transportation, and deeply personalized care across a full continuum.

CARC’s story began in 1973, when its founders transformed a former bird farm into a working environment and school for children with developmental disabilities. Over the decades, CARC expanded to meet the needs of individuals across the lifespan to include early intervention and daycare programs to residential homes and supported employment for adults. Today, CARC stands out as one of the only campus-based facilities of its kind in the state, providing individuals not only with a safe and structured home, but also with meaningful work opportunities that build confidence, independence, and dignity.

The heart of CARC’s mission lies in creating purpose, belonging, and community. Its 12 group homes, 8 work sites, day habilitation program, and employment services reflect the belief that every individual deserves the opportunity to learn, contribute, and thrive. Clients earn wages for their work; engage in community-based vocational experiences such as horticulture, processing operations, groundskeeping, and hospitality services; and participate in enrichment activities that support social connection and personal growth. CARC’s clients are widely embraced throughout Carlsbad, which is an enduring testament to the organization’s success in fostering inclusion and reducing stigma. Their presence in the community is one of CARC’s greatest strengths: they are known, valued, and celebrated.

The Opportunity

Position: Chief Executive Officer

Location: Carlsbad, New Mexico

Reporting Relationship: Reports to the Board of Directors

Website: https://carcinc.org/

Over the past five decades, CARC has served thousands of individuals and families, leaving an immeasurable impact on the region. The organization’s legacy is built on compassion, stability, and an unwavering commitment to dignified care. Staff longevity, strong regulatory performance, and a culture rooted in respect and empowerment have allowed CARC to remain a trusted, essential resource in southeastern New Mexico. What began as a family’s dream for their child has grown into a thriving community where individuals with disabilities live full, meaningful lives, and where every person is reminded daily of their inherent worth.

Now, CARC stands at an important and energizing moment in its history. With a strong mission foundation, deep community trust, and a dedicated workforce that cares profoundly for the individuals they support, the organization is poised for its next era of growth, modernization, and cultural renewal. The next Chief Executive Officer will have the rare opportunity to steward a beloved legacy organization while shaping a vibrant future that elevates CARC’s impact across southeastern New Mexico.

The CEO will inherit an organization rich with strengths: longstanding programs, high-quality care, strong regulatory performance, and a model that uniquely blends home, work, and community for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. At the same time, CARC’s size, complexity, and 24/7 residential and vocational operations require thoughtful leadership by an individual who can honor what has made CARC special while guiding the organization toward greater cohesion, communication, and organizational clarity.

Purpose of the Position

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides visionary, compassionate, and strategic leadership to advance CARC’s mission of empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live with dignity, purpose, and belonging. Accountable to the Board of Directors, the CEO stewards CARC’s values, culture, and long-term direction to ensure that residential supports, day habilitation, vocational programs, clinical services, and community partnerships operate at the highest standards of care, compliance, and client experience. This leader is responsible for organizational and financial sustainability through strong fiscal management, regulatory excellence, and thoughtful oversight of CARC’s Medicaid-based funding model, including rebasing cycles, licensing requirements, and internal controls.

As CARC enters its next chapter, the CEO will guide the development of core infrastructure, strengthen communication systems, and cultivate a culture of trust, accountability, and collaboration across a 24/7 operation. In partnership with the Board of Directors and its committees, the CEO will implement policies, support sound governance, deepen community and state-level relationships, and diversify revenue streams to position CARC for long-term resilience. This includes growing program funding, overseeing public relations efforts, and proactively addressing potential legal, regulatory, or compliance challenges.

With humility, clarity, and a people-centered approach, the CEO will learn CARC’s programs, workforce dynamics, and highly structured ICF/IID regulatory environment while leveraging strong leadership and interpersonal skills to unify the organization and strengthen staff engagement. The CEO also serves as CARC’s chief ambassador, building meaningful connections with families, employees, donors, volunteers, partners, and the broader Carlsbad community. In doing so, this next leader will honor CARC’s legacy while advancing a future in which individuals with disabilities experience opportunity, respect, and joy, and CARC continues to thrive as a trusted and essential resource for generations to come.

Key Responsibilities

The CEO will step into an inspiring moment as CARC approaches its next era of operational strength, cultural revitalization, and organizational modernization. With a 50-year legacy rooted in family advocacy and a unique campus-based model, CARC now has the opportunity to deepen cohesion across its residential, vocational, clinical, and day habilitation programs while strengthening systems, communication, and culture. Staff across the organization bring deep commitment, long tenures, and genuine care for the individuals they support, along with a desire for improved communication, training, collaboration, and a renewed sense of unified leadership across programs and shifts.

At the same time, CARC is ready to modernize its operations. Opportunities include upgrading technology infrastructure, improving HR and onboarding systems, expanding training capacity, and increasing clarity around roles, processes, and cross-team alignment. Foundational work in compliance and quality are strong; CARC consistently receives deficiency-free licensing surveys due to the commitment and expertise of its staff. And, the organization’s Medicaid-based funding and the realities of a challenging local labor market underscore the need for strategic financial stewardship, revenue diversification, community partnerships, and strengthened board governance.

The CEO will join a trusted and beloved community institution uniquely known for its clients, its sense of family, and its deeply rooted mission. With compassionate leadership, strong business acumen, and an ability to build trust across a dispersed workforce, this next leader will unite people, strengthen systems, and position CARC for continued excellence and long-term sustainability.

The responsibilities below reflect the broad and meaningful scope of leadership required to guide CARC into its next chapter.

Visionary and Strategic Leadership

• Lead the development, communication, and execution of CARC’s strategic direction in partnership with the Board of Directors, staff and other stakeholders.

• Drive a clear organizational vision grounded in CARC’s mission, values, and commitment to high-quality, person-centered care.

• Strengthen organizational cohesion across residential, day services, clinical supports, and vocational programs to ensure alignment and operational clarity.

• Lead with transparency, fairness, and approachability while modeling a culture of dignity, trust, and respect that staff and clients seek.

• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and mission-driven organizational culture across a 24/7, multi-site workforce.

Programmatic & Operational Excellence

• Ensure delivery of high-quality residential, vocational, day habilitation, early childhood, and clinical services that reflect CARC’s standards and regulatory expectations.

• Strengthen operational systems, including HR, IT, onboarding, training, and communication platforms to modernize infrastructure and improve efficiency.

• Oversee compliance with federal and state regulations governing ICF/IID programs, safeguarding CARC’s licenses and funding streams.

• Build clarity around roles, responsibilities, and processes to support staff across all programs and shifts.

• Use performance data and feedback to drive continuous improvement, operational alignment, and quality-of-life outcomes for clients.

Revenue Growth, Funding & Financial Stewardship

• Ensure CARC’s financial sustainability through careful oversight of Medicaid-funded operations, rebasing cycles, and regulatory requirements unique to ICF/IID settings.

• Strengthen and diversify funding streams through community partnerships, philanthropy, grants, and program development.

• Ensure sound fiscal management, budgeting, and internal controls that support long-term resilience.

• Monitor financial performance and provide clear, consistent reporting to the Board; ensure resources are allocate effectively across programs.

• Oversee capital planning related to facilities, infrastructure, and long-term organizational needs.

Board Relations & Governance

• Serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors, fostering a relationship rooted in transparency, trust, and shared accountability.

• Partner with the Board to establish strategic priorities, strengthen governance practices, and clarify roles between staff and Board leadership.

• Provide regular and transparent communication on organizational performance, risks, opportunities, and operational realities.

• Support Board education around licensing, Medicaid funding, regulatory environments, and CARC’s day-to-day operations to enhance alignment.

Workforce Culture, People Leadership & Talent Development

• Build trust through visibility, approachability, and consistent communication to strengthen relationships across all levels of staff.

• Foster a culture defined by accountability, teamwork, and shared mission across residential and day-service operations.

• Strengthen training systems, onboarding, supervision, and leadership development to support staff competence, confidence, and retention.

• Address cultural challenges, clarify expectations, and ensure fairness and consistency in how staff are supported and held accountable.

• Empower staff to solve problems, grow professionally, and contribute meaningfully to organizational decisions.

External Relations, Advocacy & Community Engagement

• Serve as CARC’s chief ambassador, representing the organization with families, community partners, funders, state agencies, and the broader Carlsbad community.

• Involvement with state and national leadership including participation in the New Mexico Health Care Association, and Association of Developmental Disabilities Community Providers

• Bolster CARC’s visibility, relationships, and partnerships to support client recruitment, funding opportunities, and community trust.

• Advocate for CARC’s mission at the local and state levels, ensuring the organization’s voice is represented in key conversations affecting ICF/IID providers.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with regulatory bodies, Medicaid representatives, and health and human-services networks.

The Candidate

CARC seeks a mission-driven, people-centered CEO who brings both heart and operational discipline to a complex, multi-site organization. This individual understands the profound responsibility of supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and approaches the work with humility, compassion, and a deep respect for CARC’s legacy. An experienced executive, this next leader is capable of navigating highly regulated environments, ideally with familiarity in Medicaid-funded programs, ICF/IID settings, long-term care, or related human-services systems, bringing a steady hand in ensuring licensure, compliance, safety, and program excellence.

This leader is equally committed to building internal culture as someone who listens deeply, is present and visible across programs and shifts, and fosters trust through transparency and clear communication. They value staff at all levels, understand the importance of training and development, and are skilled at strengthening teams, clarifying expectations, and addressing challenges with empathy and accountability.

Financially astute and strategically minded, this leader can manage a complex budget, anticipate funding needs, and identify new opportunities that support long-term sustainability. They are also a natural relationship builder who can represent CARC with professionalism and warmth in the community, with state and federal partners, and with donors and families. Above all, this leader honors CARC’s mission by ensuring every decision is grounded in what enhances the lives, dignity, and independence of the individuals CARC serves.

Experience and Professional Qualifications

Experience and professional qualifications required/preferred for this role include:

• Five (5) years’ experience in managing/leading programs providing services for individuals with developmental disabilities, residential services, vocational training services, clinical experience, case management or similar programs.

• Knowledge of ID/DD standards, and ICF/IID regulations.

• Knowledge and understanding of ICF/IID Medicaid funding (rebasing methodology).

• Experience in surveys, corrective plan development, and budget development.

• The ability to work irregular hours, including evenings, weekends, or holidays as needed based on business operations.

Education, License & Certification

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Administration, Management or similar field from an accredited institute of higher learning. Master’s degree in above fields preferred.

• Must be 21 years of age, have a valid driver’s license and have a driving record that meets the requirements of the CARC, Inc auto insurance carrier

Pre-Employment Requirement

• The ability to obtain employment clearance by the New Mexico Caregivers Criminal Screening.

• The ability to successfully complete any post-offer employment physical, including Tuberculosis screening.

• Must pass a post-offer test for the illegal use of drugs and/or alcohol.

Compensation

Estimated salary: $175,000-$200,000. A competitive benefits package will be offered.

******

Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis. Artificial Intelligence tools may be used in connection with the recruitment process for this position.