Job Description
A Better Way is conducting a search for its next Chief Executive Officer. The incoming CEO will inherit an organization that is mission-clear, community-trusted, and operationally grounded — and will be charged with leading it into its next chapter of growth, innovation, and impact.
The Board of Directors seeks a visionary and entrepreneurial leader who combines genuine compassion for children and families with the strategic acumen to manage a complex, multi-county, government-funded organization. This leader will be deeply at home in the Bay Area's child welfare and behavioral health landscape, building trust with county partners, funders, and community stakeholders while nurturing a high-performing, culturally humble internal team.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Organizational Leadership & Vision
• Articulate and advance a compelling vision for A Better Way that inspires staff, board, partners,
and funders
• Lead the organization in developing and implementing long-range strategic plans in partnership
with the Board of Directors and senior leadership team
• Foster an organizational culture grounded in cultural humility, trauma-informed practice, equity,
accountability, and continuous learning
• Serve as a compelling public spokesperson and advocate for A Better Way's mission, programs,
and the communities it serves
• Maintain an effective, transparent, and collaborative partnership with the Board of Directors as a
whole and with individual board members, supporting strong governance practices, board
development, and clear delineation of roles and responsibilities
Fiscal Management & Financial Health
• Develop, manage, and monitor the organizational budget in partnership with the Chief Financial
Officer and the Board
• Ensure appropriate financial controls, risk management frameworks, and audit readiness across
all programs and contracts
• Strategically align revenues and resource allocation to manage agency growth and
programmatic sustainability
• Maintain and grow the agency's financial reserves and long-term fiscal resilience
• Ensure compliance with nonprofit governance and financial requirements, including IRS
regulations, audits, and required filings (e.g., Form 990)
Board Partnership & Engagement
• Build and sustain a relationship of trust, candor, and mutual accountability with the Board of
Directors, anchored in transparency, integrity, and a shared commitment to mission
• Engage the Board as a strategic thought partner — proactively seeking input on consequential
decisions, surfacing emerging risks and opportunities, and bringing forward well-framed
questions for board deliberation rather than pre-decided conclusions
• Communicate consistently and proactively with the Board Chair and individual directors between
meetings, ensuring no surprises and timely escalation of significant issues, financial
developments, or reputational matters
• Partner with the Board Chair to design board and committee meetings that focus on strategy,
governance, and generative discussion, with materials distributed in advance and time reserved
for substantive dialogue
• Support board recruitment, onboarding, development, and committee effectiveness, helping
cultivate a board that reflects the diversity of the communities A Better Way serves and brings
the skills, networks, and lived experience needed for the agency’s next phase of growth
• Foster individual relationships with board members that respect governance boundaries while
leveraging each member’s unique networks, expertise, and capacity to advance the agency’s
mission, fundraising, and advocacy goals
• Demonstrate openness to board feedback, challenge, and oversight, modeling a culture of
psychological safety, constructive dialogue, and continuous improvement at the highest levels of
the organization
• Uphold clear role clarity between governance and management, helping the Board operate at
the strategic level while protecting the executive team’s space to lead day-to-day operations
Fundraising & Development
• Ensure systems and infrastructure are in place to support fundraising operations, including
donor management, grant tracking, and reporting
• Deepen and expand the agency's relationships with public agencies, foundations, corporations,
and individual donors
• Personally cultivate and solicit major donors; demonstrate a track record of successful major gift
fundraising
• Collaborate with the Development team to build and execute a diversified, data-informed fund
development plan
• Represent A Better Way at community events, donor cultivation activities, and public forums
Program Excellence & Service Delivery
• Drive innovation in program design and service delivery models to respond to evolving
community and system needs
• Oversee the quality, effectiveness, and compliance of all programs and services across multiple
counties
• Ensure all programs reflect best practices, evidence-based approaches, and align with A Better
Way's values and emerging community needs
• Establish systems to regularly evaluate program outcomes and translate data into continuous
improvement
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory agencies, accrediting bodies, and county/state/federal
requirements
People Leadership & Culture
• Lead, inspire, and develop the Executive Leadership Team toward shared goals and a unified
culture
• Champion workforce diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across the agency
• Oversee succession planning, talent development, and employee retention strategies
• Model and promote a trauma-informed, culturally humble approach to leadership and service
• Foster a high-performance culture with clear expectations, accountability, and continuous
feedback
Community & Government Relations
• Cultivate and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with county departments, government
officials, and community partners to expand impact and funding opportunities
• Advocate at the policy level on issues affecting children, families, and the child welfare system
• Represent A Better Way on regional coalitions, committees, and in public forums
• Position A Better Way as a thought leader and trusted voice in the Bay Area child welfare and
behavioral health landscape
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Experience
• Minimum 15 years of progressive leadership experience in human services, behavioral health,
child welfare, or a closely related field
• Minimum 5 years of executive leadership experience in a complex organization, including
oversight of 100 or more staff. Prior CEO or Executive Director experience preferred
• Demonstrated budgetary oversight and accountability of at least $10 million
• Proven track record in fundraising, including major donor cultivation and direct personal
solicitation
• Experience managing complex government contracts and county/state funding relationships
• Experience overseeing multi-site or multi-county program operations
• Demonstrated success developing and executing organizational strategic plans
• Proven ability to build and retain diverse, high-performing teams in a mission-driven environment
• Experience ensuring compliance with regulatory, licensing, and accreditation bodies
• Track record of successfully navigating organizational change and transitions
Skills & Competencies
• Outstanding communicator — written, verbal, and public speaking — with the ability to move
diverse audiences
• Deep financial literacy and ability to translate complex financial information for board and
stakeholder audiences
• High degree of emotional intelligence; skilled at building relationships across differences
• Strategic, big-picture thinking combined with the discipline to execute on specific goals and
metrics
• Proficiency in advocacy, policy engagement, and representing organizations before elected
officials
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, resource-constrained environment
Personal Characteristics
• Deep, authentic commitment to A Better Way's mission and to the children, youth, and families it
serves
• Genuine compassion for vulnerable communities, especially those impacted by trauma, poverty,
and systemic inequity
• A visible, mission-forward leader who thrives as the public face of an organization
• A collaborative, empowering leadership style that elevates others and builds trust
• Commitment to cultural humility and equity in all dimensions of leadership and service
• Entrepreneurial spirit paired with sound judgment in complex decision-making
• High integrity; unwavering ethical standards
Education
• Master's degree required, preferably in Social Work, Public Health, Nonprofit Management,
Public Administration, or a related field
• Knowledge of the Bay Area child welfare and behavioral health landscape is highly desirable
WORKING CONDITIONS & REQUIREMENTS
• This position is based in Berkeley, California. The CEO is expected to be based in the Bay Area or willing to relocate, with a hybrid schedule that includes a regular on-site presence.
• Travel is primarily local within the Bay Area, with occasional regional or national travel as
needed
• Successful candidates must pass background checks and meet all applicable health and licensing requirements
• This role requires occasional evening or weekend commitments for board meetings, events, or community engagement