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THE ORGANIZATION

The California Alliance of Child and Family Services (or The California Alliance) is the unifying force in the charge to lead change and provide support for the state’s children, youth and families. For those dedicated to improving the lives of these at-risk populations, the California Alliance stands apart as the champion and leading voice for nonprofit organizations that serve and advocate for children and families, and for advancing policy and services on their behalf. The expert staff and consultants of the California Alliance advocate proactively to impact policy, legislation, and budgets, amplifying the voices and advancing the missions of its member organizations. Service systems that member organizations work in include Behavioral Health through County Mental Health or Managed Care Plans, Juvenile Justice, Education/Special Education, Child Welfare, and Prevention Services.

The Catalyst Center

The Catalyst Center is a training and technical assistance arm of The CA Alliance. It is a leading training and technical assistance organization representing the interests of child and family serving professionals in the state of California and beyond.

The Catalyst Center is committed to advancing evidence-based innovations that support diverse communities and is dedicated to research and evaluation that promotes social justice in these fields. As one of the cornerstones of this work, the center prioritizes research, capacity building, and peer connection methods that elevate the voices of both service providers and those that are most impacted by the work of community-based organizations.

The Full Circle Health Network

Since October 2022, Full Circle Health Network (FCHN) has been a subsidiary of the California Alliance. It is an integrated network of nonprofit, nationally accredited providers delivering coordinated, community-based services to vulnerable children, individuals, and families across California. The overarching mission of FCHN is to ensure that more Medi-Cal beneficiaries have timely access to high quality services that comprehensively address their whole-person and whole-family needs, including medical, behavioral, and social care. The connection to The California Alliance will remain close as bylaws indicate that the CEO of The California Alliance will serve on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors and eight board members will be members of The California Alliance.

Mission:

Promoting the health, well-being and safety of children, youth, and families in California as a collective voice impacting policy and best practices to strengthen the systems that serve them.

Vision:

All children, youth and families thrive in loving, healthy, safe communities.

The California Alliance is a statewide membership organization of 163 nationally accredited nonprofit community-based organizations with a budget of $8 million. With nearly 40  employees at The California Alliance and its Catalyst Center the CEO will directly oversee an experienced executive team composed of a Chief of Staff, Vice President of Programs, Impact and Evaluation, Vice President of Outreach and Development, Vice President of Finance and Operations, and Vice President of Public Policy and Strategy. For more information visit: http://www.cacfs.org/.

THE POSITION

The Chief Executive Officer reports directly to the Board of Directors and is responsible for driving the mission and strategic direction of The California Alliance and Catalyst Center. The Chief Executive Officer presides over all The California Alliance’s advocacy, administration, training and technical assistance, member services, executive support activities, and oversees all California Alliance and Catalyst Center staff. Together with the Board, the CEO provides vision and leadership for the organization’s future growth and development.

Leadership

• Provide consistent, forward-thinking leadership to The California Alliance, the Catalyst Center, and its member agencies in strategic direction, public policy, advocacy, member services, executive support, and organizational development.
• Listen and engage with member agency chief executives and their staff to understand the issues important to them and effectively act on them.
• With the Board of Directors, engage in annual review and long-term planning for the organization.
• Assure The California Alliance is fiscally healthy, effectively managed, and transparent and ethical in its financial and business dealings.
• Lead efforts that ensure that diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging are embedded in the culture of the organization as well as policy and advocacy efforts with member organizations.
• Lead the integration of work between policy, advocacy, training and technical assistance across the California Alliance and its Catalyst Center.
• Serve on the Full Circle Health Network Board of Directors and Executive Committee, supporting and advising the vision and mission of this organization. 

Advocacy

• Actively work with the Board, program committees and staff in the development of policy goals for The California Alliance. Develop and direct the application of effective strategies for achievement of policy goals, including use of legislation, budget, regulatory process, and litigation.
• Advocate and oversee advocacy efforts with members of the Governor’s administration and the legislature to move policy positions into law from conceptualizing legislation through passage of a bill and signing into law and using the state budget process to promote policy positions and achieve adequate funding for member activities.
• Testify and assist/support members testifying before legislative committees and other governmental bodies. 
• Use research and data developed by research and evaluation team to advocate on issues impacting member organizations and communities they serve.  

Member Support

• Lead planning of conferences and advocacy events.
• Provide consultation to and consultative support of member agency executives in pertinent areas. 
• Respond to member inquiries and needs, including interfacing with State Departments and the Administration to problem-solve issues as needed.
• Represent The California Alliance at external events.  

Communication

• Assure full communication to members and constituents regarding progress of public policy agenda through e-newsletter, emails, webinars and conference calls, and workgroups, as appropriate. 
• Speak at conferences and other member-related events.
• Oversee development and utilization of the website and social media. 
• Function as the voice and face of The California Alliance to external groups and the media. 
• Assure media are utilized to best advantage to advance The California Alliance agenda.  

Strategic Partnerships

• Build and maintain positive working relationships with representatives of the Administration, state agencies, the Legislature, and other governmental bodies.
• Build and maintain positive working partnerships with representatives of advocacy groups, philanthropic organizations, and other entities with allied interests.
• Represent The California Alliance in formal and informal advocacy groups focused on public policy issues.
• Build and maintain productive alliances with national advocacy organizations and accrediting bodies. 

Organizational Management

• Develop and maintain sound financial practices and fiscally responsible budgeting processes.
• Collaborate with the staff, Executive Committee, and the Board in preparing a budget; see that the organization operates within budget guidelines.
• Maintain official records and documents to ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local regulations and reporting requirements (such as annual audits and tax returns; payroll withholding and reporting, etc.).
• Evaluate the growth and develop the infrastructure to support the mission by enhancing processes and policies to support expansion without compromising the values and effectiveness of The California Alliance.
• Maintain a culture of continuous improvement through an ongoing process of defining goals, developing strategies, implementing systems, and measuring and rewarding performance results.
• Serve on the organization’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice and Belonging (DEIJB) Strategic Planning group.  

Personnel Management

• With a hybrid/remote staff, ensure all staff feel connected to the mission and supported by The California Alliance.
• Assure The California Alliance has talented, knowledgeable, and skilled staff and consultants who effectively and competently carry out the mission.
• Effectively manage personnel, leading as a role model.

TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS DESIRED 

The Chief Executive Officer must be a strong, entrepreneurial, and visionary leader with a high level of energy and initiative combined with a sincere sense of dedication to the mission of the organization. The successful candidate should be an assertive advocate with the ability to serve the current needs of members while also identifying trends and issues of significance for the future.  

The ideal candidate will be a transparent and inspirational leader with a clear and consistent management style that fosters collaborative, team-oriented approaches to fulfilling the mission. They should demonstrate a commitment to applying an equity lens to their work and have a history of prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion as core organizational values. 

Strategic thinking should be combined with tactical and pragmatic implementation. The CEO will demonstrate sound judgment, empathy, initiative, and an ability to manage multiple priorities with a sense of urgency. This person must also be politically astute and culturally sensitive with the ability to navigate complicated political structures. The successful candidate will be an experienced team leader for whom the ownership of ideas is less important than the result of collaborative effort. It is important that this individual be diplomatic but decisive and able to accomplish goals through motivation and delegation. The successful candidate will be able to create harmonious relationships, develop quick rapport, and be a person of vision while also being comfortable as a hands-on manager and an enabler of others. 

Since much of the role is catalytic and facilitative in nature, it is particularly important that the successful candidate be able to earn the trust and respect of members and develop long-term relationships within the membership as well as with other varied external audiences. The CEO will be a moderator of complex discussions with a variety of stakeholders and as such, should be able to distill ideas, clarify issues, and have the intellectual depth and pragmatic know how to facilitate dialogue among colleagues, peers, and a variety of different interest groups. Demonstrated capacity to absorb complex issues, develop strategy and effectively carry to completion is desired. 

The CEO will act with integrity and be personable and engaging. A team player who enjoys working collaboratively with The California Alliance staff, representatives of other advocacy groups, and members of the Legislature and staff will be valued. The successful candidate will have a strong executive presence, exceptional interpersonal skills, and highly developed writing and speaking skills, with demonstrated experience conveying key messages.  

CAREER TRACK LEADING TO THIS POSITION 

The CEO will have relevant senior level leadership experience at an association, a member agency or other child and family serving organization, or another relevant nonprofit. Public policy experience in the areas of child welfare or children’s mental health is highly desirable. Experience working with a board of directors of a nonprofit will be highly valued. A deep passion for the issues facing children and families is essential. 

EDUCATION        

An advanced degree in social work, human services management, public administration, public policy, nonprofit management, or a related field is preferred. However, a demonstrated successful history serving in a senior leadership position in a complex human services organization recognized for their commitment to exemplary service to the community and clients will be considered of equivalent value to a degree.

COMPENSATION & ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

The annual salary range for this position is $230,000 - $250,000. Relocation assistance, if needed, is negotiable. A comprehensive and competitive benefits package will be provided.

The CEO is expected to have a regular presence in the office and be available for frequent in-person meetings with staff, board members, and legislators. Although a majority of the staff works remotely, the CEO should reside near Sacramento as regular and unanticipated meetings will occur depending on the cycle of policy and legislation.