Commissioner, Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired

Title: Commissioner Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired

State Role Title:

Hiring Range: Negotiable

Pay Band: UG

Agency: Dept for Blind/Vision Impaired

Location:Blind & Vision Impaired

Agency Website: Type: General Public - G

Position Overview

The Commissioner serves as the chief executive officer of the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) and is responsible for advancing the Departments mission to empower blind vision impaired and deafblind Virginians to achieve independence employment and full participation in community life.

Reporting to the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and working closely with the Board for the Blind and Vision Impaired the Commissioner provides strategic leadership for statewide services that support employment rehabilitation education assistive technology independent living and workforce participation.

The Commissioner is expected to be more than an agency administrator. The role requires a leader who can build partnerships across government education healthcare workforce development and the private sector to improve outcomes and expand opportunities for Virginians who are blind or vision impaired.

Job Duties

Independence and Employment Leadership
Lead statewide efforts to increase employment economic mobility and independence among blind and vision impaired Virginians.
Ensure programs and services are aligned around measurable outcomes that improve quality of life workforce participation educational attainment and community integration.
Develop innovative approaches that remove barriers to employment and expand opportunities for competitive integrated employment.
Champion the voices and lived experiences of individuals served by the Department in shaping how the agency operates and evolves

Strategic Partnerships and Systems Coordination
Build strong partnerships with employers educational institutions workforce boards healthcare providers community organizations and state agencies.
Coordinate with agencies across Health and Human Resources Education Labor and Aging services to create seamless pathways to independence and employment.
Lead the development of employer engagement strategies that expand competitive integrated employment opportunities for Virginians with visual disabilities

Organizational Leadership
Provide leadership and oversight for all DBVI programs operations personnel and financial management.
Develop a high-performing culture focused on accountability service innovation and results.
Ensure compliance with state and federal requirements including Vocational Rehabilitation program standards while driving innovation in service delivery

Data Accountability and Performance
Establish clear performance metrics across the agency and hold programs and personnel accountable for producing meaningful outcomes.
Use data to identify service gaps improve decision-making and drive continuous improvement in program effectiveness.
Regularly assess whether the agencys work is producing measurable improvements in independence employment and quality of life for the people it serves.

Minimum Qualifications

The successful candidate will be an accomplished executive who can translate strategy into measurable results build coalitions across diverse stakeholders manage public resources responsibly and position DBVI as a leading voice on services and community-building for the blind and vision impaired.

*Preferred Qualifications*
Executive leadership experience in a complex organization. You have led something with real accountability for outcomes people and resources. Government disability services rehabilitation workforce development education or healthcare backgrounds are all relevant.
Deep commitment to disability inclusion and employment. This work is personal to you. You understand why competitive integrated employment matters you can make the case for it compellingly and you know how to build systems that produce it.
Demonstrated ability to build partnerships across sectors. You have brought government agencies employers educational institutions and community organizations together around shared goals and produced results.
Experience with federal rehabilitation or disability programs including familiarity with the Rehabilitation Act Vocational Rehabilitation state grant requirements and federal-state partnership dynamics is strongly preferred.
Data and outcomes orientation. You make decisions based on evidence you hold organizations accountable for results and you are not satisfied with activity as a proxy for impact.

Additional Considerations

This is a Governor appointed position and requires the successful completion of a criminal background check. Agency leadership is expected to work primarily from the Departments headquarters in Richmond intermittent teleworking may be considered for needed circumstances.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to Your Application in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Contact Information

Name: Secretary of Health & Human Resources

Phone:

Email:

In support of the Commonwealths commitment to inclusion we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS) or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation if applicable to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at .

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1 2022- February 29 2024 can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.