Chief Executive Officer

Position Overview

This CEO role offers a unique chance to lead a highly regarded child welfare nonprofit at a pivotal time of growth. Backed by a supportive Board, skilled leadership team, and committed staff and partners, the CEO will steer the organization through its next growth phase, emphasizing strategic vision, collaboration, and a culture of accountability and respect. The leader will inspire philanthropy, engage government officials, support youth with foster care experience, and nurture staff development and organizational values.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive the mission with visionary leadership, organizational oversight, strategic fundraising, financial responsibility, and steadfast commitment to youth and families served.
• Lead and develop a dedicated team, fostering an inclusive, high-performing workplace culture aligned with long-term sustainability and organizational goals.
• Define and execute a strategic vision responsive to evolving needs of young people with foster care experience.
• Work collaboratively with the Board on strategic planning, governance, and organizational effectiveness.
• Position the organization as an authoritative voice in child welfare, education, and related fields through partnerships and advocacy.

Organizational Leadership

• Develop and implement long-range strategies based on existing plans.
• Explore growth opportunities to enhance impact and visibility.
• Maintain operational excellence amid change, using data and organizational values to guide decisions.
• Manage financial health in partnership with finance and development teams.

Cultivating Culture

• Promote a culture of trust, transparency, inclusion, collaboration, and responsibility.
• Encourage senior leadership involvement as strategic collaborators.
• Support employee development, coaching, and succession planning.
• Lead empathetically with humility and emotional intelligence.

Program and Mission Excellence

• Show a genuine dedication to improving outcomes for youth with foster care backgrounds, valuing their resilience and aspirations.
• Engage deeply with programs and staff, ensuring decisions focus on participant success.
• Encourage innovation while strengthening proven programs.
• Integrate youth perspectives into decision-making and use data to enhance outcomes.

External Engagement and Fundraising

• Develop strong relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, government, and civic leaders to advance fundraising and organizational visibility.
• Lead diversified fundraising approaches and serve as the organization's chief spokesperson.
• Represent the organization with authenticity and credibility.

Building Partnerships

• Establish and maintain collaborative partnerships across government, philanthropy, education, and nonprofits.
• Maintain key partnerships, including with Administration for Children's Services (ACS) and city agencies.

Board Relations

• Support governance effectiveness and leverage the Board as a strategic resource.
• Maintain transparent communication and align governance with management.
• Assist in Board recruitment and engagement efforts.

Candidate Profile

• Proven leadership in nonprofit, public, philanthropic, or mission-driven organizations.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and organizational growth.
• Strong skills in influence, collaboration, fundraising, and relationship building.
• Outstanding communication and storytelling capabilities with executive presence and approachability.
• Mission-driven with commitment to equity, inclusion, and partnership.
• Experience related to child welfare, youth development, education, or adjacent sectors preferred.
• A leader who values both strategic acumen and empathetic collaboration.

Additional Details

• Location: New York City; residence within commuting distance required for in-person collaboration.
• Salary Range: $270,000 to $310,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
• Benefits: Comprehensive health and dental plans, generous paid time off, family leave, life insurance, disability coverage, retirement plan, flexible spending accounts/health savings accounts, commuter benefits, employee assistance program, and wellbeing resources.