HSDC

Overview   

Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center (HSDC) is a Washington-based nonprofit with an 80+ year rich  history of fostering inclusive and accessible communities through communication, advocacy, and  education. As a foundational part of the community, the organization provides a comprehensive  range of services for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech and language  differences, including speech therapy, early childhood education, American Sign Language  interpreting, and advocacy supports for families and adults. HSDC’s programs adapt to the  changing needs of the community and aim to remove communication barriers so individuals can  fully participate in community, education, and work.  

HSDC is a mid-sized nonprofit organization with approximately $5.2 million in annual revenue,  supported by a diverse funding model that blends earned program income with contributions and  grants, along with additional rental-related income. Interpreting services represent the largest  share of income (43%), followed by government funding (29%), and rental related income (8%).  HSDC also holds more than $4 million in total assets, including real estate resources, and owns the  building where it is headquartered.

Mission and Values  
The mission of Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center (HSDC) is to foster inclusive and accessible  communities through communication, advocacy, and education. We envision an inclusive,  accessible world where everyone is understood and respected.

Services

We offer a comprehensive array of programs that foster effective communication for individuals  and families affected by hearing or speech differences. Our services include: 

Speech, Language, and Communication: HSDC’s Language & Speech department works with  community members of all ages who experience a variety of speech-language differences to  remove communication barriers by offering services tailored to meet the needs of clients. 

Interpreting Services for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing: HSDC Interpreting Services is a centralized resource providing quality communication access for Deaf, DeafBlind, hard of hearing, and hearing  individuals across the Puget Sound and Washington State, including Seattle and King County,  Tacoma and Pierce County, and Snohomish County.  

Bilingual preschool: The language rich, play-based dual-language environment is designed to  benefit children and families who value American Sign Language and English 

Parent-Infant Program: HSDC’s Parent-Infant Program (PIP) is a birth to three service providing free  parental support and coaching for the families of Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing toddlers.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services: We offer a comprehensive range of individual and group  support programs to meet the unique needs of the deaf and hard of hearing individual, including  advocacy & case management.

About the Position 
HSDC is seeking a strategic, mission-driven Executive Director to lead the organization through a  pivotal period of transition and opportunity. The new leader will position HSDC to grow and to meet  the demands of our ever-evolving community while honoring our legacy. This role requires a people  leader with strong business and financial acumen, the ability to strengthen organizational structure  and accountability, and deep cultural competence with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.  The ideal candidate will be bilingual in ASL and bring a collaborative, transparent leadership style  that builds trust, strengthens performance, and positions HSDC for long-term sustainability and  impact.

Key Priorities   

The new leader should initially spend time listening and learning, understanding the organization’s  internal dynamics and community needs, and building relationships and trust with the  staff, board and partners, as they better understand the organization’s strengths, challenges, and  opportunities. Building upon these foundational relationships, the new ED will need to address the  following key priorities in their first 18-24 months: 

• Strategic Vision & Long-Term Planning: The Executive Director will partner with the Board and  leadership team to clarify HSDC’s long-term direction, align services with mission, and  establish a shared roadmap for impact and sustainability. 
• Team Leadership & Development: Build trust and momentum across the organization by  strengthening team culture, supporting staff through transition, and investing in leadership  development, training, and strong people management practices. 
• Organizational Structure, Roles, and Accountability: The Executive Director will strengthen  internal structure and decision-making by clarifying roles, responsibilities, and reporting  relationships, including succession planning, and reinforcing consistent follow-through across  the organization. 
• Financial Planning: The Executive Director will develop a medium-term (3-year) financial plan  to support the organization’s strategy and expected deliverables. It should include a funding  strategy, a working capital plan, and efficiency improvements. 

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Attributes   

• Senior nonprofit leadership experience (minimum 5-7 years) in a similar sized organization  with multiple service lines, including experience partnering with and reporting to a board of  directors. 
• Deep cultural competence with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, with a  commitment to inclusive, community-centered leadership. 
• Bilingual proficiency in American Sign Language (ASL), enabling effective communication  and advancing accessibility across staff, community members, and stakeholders.
• Comfortable with technology and innovation, Proven ability to work with the team to identify  and implement emerging technologies, including AI-driven tools, to optimize organizational  workflows, enhance data-informed decision-making, and increase community impact. 
• Strategic and results-oriented leadership with the ability to translate vision into actionable  plans, take appropriate risks, and drive execution that delivers measurable outcomes. • Strong people management and organizational leadership with the ability to set clear  expectations, delegate effectively, strengthen accountability, and build a healthy, high performing culture. 
• Operational leadership and systems-building experience in a $5M+ (and growing)  organization, with the ability to implement effective processes, tools, and infrastructure across  multiple programs while developing management capacity and strengthening core supervisory  skills through coaching and training. 
• Change management skills, with the ability to serve as a change agent, clearly  communicating the “why” and “how”, and helping staff understand how change will strengthen  the organization and support employees. 
• Financial and business acumen, including the ability to interpret financial data, manage  resources responsibly, and strengthen long-term sustainability. 
• Fundraising and external relationship-building experience, including comfort serving as a  visible ambassador with donors, foundations, agencies, and community partners, and the  ability to leverage professional network to expand HSDC’s support base. 
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, including active listening,  transparency, diplomacy, and the ability to navigate complex conversations with empathy and  clarity. 
• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred (public administration,  nonprofit management, business administration, or related field), or equivalent experience. 

Compensation   

$165,000- 190,000 depending on experience. Eligible for performance-based bonus  compensation. 

Benefits include: 

• Health, vision, and dental insurance 
• Life insurance 
• 401k program 
• Flexible spending account 
• Employee assistance program 
• Vacation Days: Starting at 13 days per year 
• Sick Days: 12 Days 
• Personal Days: 2 Days 
• Holidays: 12 Holidays 

Application Process  

HSDC has retained Glick Davis & Associates, LLC to facilitate this search on their behalf. To apply,  interested candidates should e-mail their cover letter and resume as a single pdf file  to: HSDC@glickdavis.com 

The position is open until filled.   

HSDC’s Commitment to Representation:  

We actively seek to recruit, hire, promote, and retain a diverse workforce—one that welcomes and  engages people from every background and models the achievements of adults in the Deaf  community. We strive to reflect on the diversity of the Seattle area, and for our families, staff and  board to be equally diverse. We are committed to eliminating barriers to access and equity and see  a diverse workforce as a key step toward this goal. We value our staff members, volunteers, and  board members and their individual backgrounds, which further our ability to serve and learn from  the diverse families that enrich our community. We invite you to join us on our journey.