Chief Executive Officer

Sacramento


Sterling Search Inc. has been exclusively retained to recruit for the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), for Sacramento Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA Sacramento).

Mission: Ensuring consistency and support for children in the foster care system through the use of volunteer advocates advancing the best interests of each child.

Vision: Every child in need is appointed a CASA to champion them in Court, without compromise, on the path to a safe and permanent home.

Overview: CASA Sacramento is a community-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to recruiting, training, and supporting Court Appointed Special Advocates who serve Sacramento County’s children in the foster care and juvenile justice systems.

Founded in 1991, through major support of the Junior League of Sacramento and the Superior Court of California, Sacramento County, CASA Sacramento has sworn in over 1,913 volunteers who have served over 4,468 foster youth.

CASAs play a unique role in their CASA youths’ lives, serving both as a mentor to the youth and as a best interest advocate before the Court.

Our volunteers help children and non-minors involved in the juvenile dependency and juvenile justice systems, by advocating for safe and permanent homes, identifying and addressing urgent needs, and developing permanent connections within communities to ensure that support will continue as a young person exits foster care. With respect and recognition of every child’s worth, strengths, and resiliency in the face of challenges, CASAs can help advocate for educational support, elevate a child’s voice within a confidential system, teach independent living skills, and create space for positive childhood experiences.

Today, there are over 1,100 children in care in Sacramento County. We are committed to providing one-on-one volunteer advocacy and mentorship for every foster youth in Sacramento County who needs it. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, we served 246 youth.

A CASA helps alter the odds, increasing the chances for a child in foster care to lead a healthy, happy life in a safe and permanent home.


The Opportunity:

Under the visionary leadership of a dedicated Executive Director, CASA Sacramento has transformed into a highly esteemed nonprofit organization in the Sacramento region. Guided by a 15-member Board of Directors known for their dedication and passion and supported by a diverse and dynamic team of 18 professionals, the organization has flourished into a financially robust and well-governed 501(c)(3). CASA Sacramento now boasts an annual revenue of $1.8 million and maintains a prudent operating reserve of just under one year's budget.

The executive director and her team of staff and over 250 CASA volunteers have cultivated strong relationships and earned exceptional trust within the court systems and juvenile justice network. As a result, CASA has distinguished itself as the most respected organization in the region dedicated to pairing young individuals with trained adult advocates and mentors. This unique program provides invaluable one-on-one support and advocacy before the juvenile court, cementing CASA's position as the sole provider of such specialized services in the area.

The incoming CEO will be poised to elevate CASA Sacramento to new heights, focusing on two key strategic objectives: diversifying revenue streams and expanding the volunteer advocate base. This growth initiative aims to extend CASA's reach, enabling the organization to serve a greater number of children in need. Crucially, this expansion will be carefully managed to preserve the high-quality programming and esteemed reputation that CASA Sacramento has cultivated within the community.

This pivotal role demands a dynamic leader with a bold vision and entrepreneurial drive. The ideal candidate will excel in forging robust relationships, both internally with the board and staff, and externally with key stakeholders. They will possess the strategic acumen to chart CASA Sacramento's fiscal and programmatic future, ensuring sustainable growth and impact. Central to their leadership will be the cultivation of an organizational culture that champions recognition, inclusivity, and innovation.

The incoming CEO will benefit from the unwavering support of a dedicated Board of Directors and a team of passionate and experienced staff members. Led by the California CASA Association, there is a strong statewide coalition which involves funding opportunities, marketing campaigns, and robust resources to inform standards and best practices.

This is a phenomenal and rare opportunity for a CEO to work with an organization that has exceptional programs, a solid balance sheet, and a Board of Directors and staff who are excited for the next stage of CASA Sacramento’s growth. 

The Board of Directors is seeking a passionate and visionary leader to serve as the next CEO. The CEO will provide strategic direction, leadership, and oversight to ensure the organization fulfills its mission of providing trained volunteers who are compassionate and effective advocates for vulnerable children in the court system.

Position Description:

The new CEO will be an innovative and accomplished visionary leader who will inspire staff, board, and volunteers. They will be charged with building on CASA Sacramento’s track record of success by further developing the organization’s vision, and achieving its goals for continued financial stability, community engagement, and enhancing the impact of its programs.

This individual must possess intellectual horsepower and be naturally persuasive and fair, and value accountability for themselves and others. The new CEO will lead based on the core ethics of collaboration, self-improvement, and the drive for excellence, ensuring that the best programs are being delivered to the children and youth it serves.

Leadership

  • Works closely with the Board of Directors, establishing a shared vision for the future of the organization and develop and manage appropriate goals and strategies to advance the mission and growth of CASA-SACRAMENTO.

  • Oversees the development and implementation of short- and long-range asset and fiscal strategic planning initiatives to ensure that current and future services and fiscal goals/needs are clearly identified and addressed. 

  • Leads a collaborative process with the Board of Directors and its committees, executing decisions effectively and ensuring that the Board of Directors and its committees are informed of critical developments in a timely and effective manner.

  • Inspires through best practices, goals, and rewards systems.

  • Guides the increased awareness and impact of CASA-SACRAMENTO, clearly articulating its mission, vision, services, and strategic direction.

  • Models respectful, collaborative, and empowering interactions with the Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, vendors, donors, and the children and families CASA-Sacramento serves.

  • Fosters an inclusive work environment, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.  

External Affairs / Public Relations / Funding

  • Represents the organization’s interests at the regional level for the constituents it serves.

  • Serves as chief fundraiser sustaining current funding levels and actively expanding networks from which new funding can be cultivated across a diverse mix of corporate, foundation, individual, public-sector funders, etc.

  • Engages with community groups, juvenile justice, local government, and other nonprofits in the community to assess community needs, evaluating partnership opportunities to promote and support the mission.

  • Builds and stewards successful relationships with funders including private, corporate, and local government.

Program Management & Quality Assurance

  • Works closely with the Associate Director to ensure the effective recruitment, training, and supervision of volunteer advocates.

  • Monitors program outcomes and impact, making data-driven decisions to improve services and meet the needs of children and families.

  • Stays informed about best practices and trends in child advocacy and incorporates them into the organization's programs.

Human Resources

  • Oversees human resources and ensures the organization is compliant with all Federal, State, and local laws and regulations.

  • Manages and implements an effective performance management system for all employees, which includes setting objectives and evaluation on an annual basis.

  • Engenders a collaborative environment which encourages staff opportunities for growth within the organization.

  • Define and execute the strategy of effectively mobilizing volunteers in support of the organization.

Financial and Risk Management

  • Oversees the preparation of the annual budget for the Board of Directors’ financial management, allocation and expenditure controls for the operations of the organization.

  • Oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of objectives, policies/procedures, and operations for contract service areas to ensure maximum revenue reimbursement and funder compliance.

  • Directs the management of information technology functions including systems applications and development, database administration, and financial systems.

  • Responsible for proper compliance and risk management, ensuring strict contract compliance with funder requirements.

Administration and Operations

  • With the Board Chair, coordinates the efforts and initiatives of CASA-SACRAMENTO’s Board Committees and Task Forces, Board meeting agendas, Board retreats; recruits diverse, talented, and experienced new Board members; encourages and plans Board members’ involvement in a range of the organization’s activities including in development of the strategic plan, fundraising, financial oversight, program review, etc.

  • Develops and recommends policies and procedures as requested by the Board of Directors, implements approved Board policies, program goals, and objectives, and works collaboratively to enable the Board, its committees, and individual board members to fulfill their governance functions.

  • Directs day-to-day operations and oversees the administration, coordination, and implementation of organizational policies, procedures, strategic planning, and services. 

  • Regularly provides concise reports to the Board on the state of the organization (key compliance issues, program delivery and outcomes, revenue and expenses, and related administrative matters toward the development and execution of the organization’s mission, policy, and procedures).

  • Oversees facilities management and safety.

  • Executes all other reasonable duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree required; graduate degree in a relevant field (Nonprofit Management, Social Work, Law, Public Administration, etc.) preferred.

  • Minimum of 5 years of senior leadership experience in a nonprofit organization, preferably in child advocacy, social services, or a related field.

  • Proven track record in fundraising, financial management, staff oversight, and strategic planning.

  • Strong understanding of child welfare issues, particularly those related to abuse and neglect is preferred.

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and inspire a wide range of stakeholders.

  • Demonstrated ability to lead and manage a diverse team effectively.

  • Experience working with a Board of Directors and knowledge of nonprofit governance best practices.

  • Passion for the mission of CASA Sacramento and a commitment to advocating for the rights of children.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

This position offers a base salary of $135,000 to $170,000 plus comprehensive benefits, based upon qualifications and experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy:

CASA Sacramento is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to the following: race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, citizenship and/or immigration status, pregnancy, genetic information including family medical history, physical or mental disability, child or spousal support withholding, military or veteran status, medical condition, marital status, AIDS/HIV, natural hair styles, political activities or affiliations, domestic violence, assault, or stalking victim status, application for or enrollment in Medi-Cal, lawful conduct occurring during nonworking hours away from the employer’s premises, credit report or credit information, prior non-conviction arrest record, and any other protected class, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.


Please contact Linda Yeomans for a confidential conversation and to learn more about this opportunity.

Phone: (714) 388-8602
Email: Linda@SterlingSearchInc.com

Please direct all correspondence, emails, and telephone calls to Sterling Search, Inc. Any communication with CASA Sacramento will be redirected back to Sterling Search.

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