CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Casa De Amparo is seeking a new Chief Executive Officer, due to the retirement of the incumbent. Casa De Amparo is looking for a leader to head a team of dedicated staff affecting change in children that have experienced trauma, neglect, and abuse. Operating two Short Term Residential Therapeutic Programs (STRTP’s) on a large campus in San Marcos, California, Casa also provides transitional age housing and support services for former foster youth and others. Altogether, Casa De Amparo serves 75-100 clients at any given time and operates with an annual budget of approximately $11 million with 100 employees. Casa De Amparo anticipates filling the position in February or early March 2024, when the current CEO retires. An earlier start date is negotiable.

The Opportunity

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) serves as chief executive of the organization and, in partnership with the Board, is responsible for its success. Together, the Board and CEO ensure Casa De Amparo’s clients and families receive the best care and are treated with respect and dignity. The CEO is the face of Casa to the community promoting its mission, vision, and values to all its constituents: clients, families, donors, sponsors, media, and partners. The Board delegates responsibility for management and day-to-day operations to the CEO, and the CEO has the authority and obligation to carry out these responsibilities, following the organization’s by-laws and policies. The CEO keeps the Board informed of related industry trends that may impact its decisions and provides guidance to ensure it effectively carries out its governance functions.

Qualifications

EDUCATION: A baccalaureate degree in mental health, public health, human services management, or a related field is required. An advanced degree in behavioral sciences is preferred. Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of the educational requirements on a case-by-case basis.

TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS DESIRED: As the Chief Executive Officer, this individual will demonstrate critical competencies in four broad categories: commitment to results, business savvy, leading change, and motivating staff. Commitment to results: The CEO is a systems thinker who is consumer-focused, and goal driven. An initiative-taker and team player, this individual identifies relevant information and helps transform it into individual and organizational knowledge and learning. The successful candidate will be action-oriented, innovative, and able to translate broad goals into achievable steps. The CEO anticipates and solves problems and takes advantage of opportunities. The CEO understands evidence-based and outcomes-oriented results as it relates to client and program evaluations and is committed to strengthening these activities at Casa De Amparo and in the industry. Behavioral Health and Housing Business Savvy: This position requires an individual with knowledge of and experience in mental health, transitional age housing, management, and administration. The position requires demonstrated experience in integrating and coordinating diverse areas of management and payers such as managed care Medi-Cal, commercial insurance, County Behavioral Health, and Child Welfare. Knowledge in the following areas is required: human services, finance, personnel management, delivery of evidence-based mental health and special education services, oral and written communication skills, planning and evaluation, and governance. An elevated level of personal skill is required to make formal, persuasive presentations to groups and to effectively communicate with people from all segments of the community. The ability to successfully moderate divergent business challenges and resolve conflicts is essential. Leading Change: The chief executive possesses the skills and implements the functions of a leader. The CEO consistently displays integrity, models Casa De Amparo’s core values, develops people, builds teams, and achieves results. This individual is entrepreneurial by seeking new opportunities that benefit clients and the community while supporting the organization's strategic plan. The CEO manages demanding situations effectively and brings people together to achieve a common goal through persuasive communication skills. The successful candidate recognizes the unique challenges and complexities facing those working in the mental/behavioral health field and understands how to advocate and collaborate to bring about system change. Motivating: The chief executive manages continuity, change and transition. This individual knows how to influence and empower others to achieve positive results. The CEO addresses the impact of attitude and action on the organization and its participants to ensure an encouraging and constructive environment. This individual will have the ability to develop and deliver persuasive presentations as well as the aptitude to communicate complex ideas to various stakeholders. The CEO must be passionate about the mission of Casa De Amparo.

COMPENSATION: The anticipated salary range is $180,000 to $210,000 dependent on experience. Relocation assistance, if needed, is negotiable. A comprehensive benefits package will be provided.

CAREER TRACK LEADING TO THIS POSITION: The ideal candidate will have at least eight years of progressively responsible executive experience, including a proven record of success managing a large staff and external constituencies. The incoming CEO’s career should include experience with the day-to-day operations of nonprofit organizations or public sector human service providers and the advocacy and fundraising relationships needed to meet Casa’s goals. The incoming CEO will have experience developing and managing budgets and successful experience with individual, corporate, government and foundation fundraising. Exceptional financial, organizational, administrative, and verbal and written communication skills are essential and expected. Experience in the fields of philanthropy, not-for-profit management and governance, and community relations are preferred. The ideal candidate will have experience working in community-based organizations, transitional age housing, residential behavioral health settings, and knowledge of special education and specialty mental health services. Experience providing behavioral health services, especially to children and transition age youth would be highly beneficial.

THE ORGANIZATION: Casa De Amparo’s mission is to support those affected by and at risk of child abuse and neglect, through a range of programs and services that promote healing, growth, and healthy relationships. Our vision is that Casa de Amparo is recognized as a major force in child abuse prevention. Partnering with the greater San Diego community, we ensure that children and their families receive unique and innovative services for healing, for stopping child mistreatment of any kind, and for ending generational cycles of abuse. The result is a community where child abuse and neglect are not tolerated, and where child abuse awareness and prevention are priorities. Over the years, many volunteers and professionals have dedicated their lives to developing additional programs that provide the highest quality care and services for children and families.

The following are the values that have guided the staff and Board of Directors in their decisions.

To demonstrate our commitment to preventing cycles of child abuse by remembering that at the heart of each program or service is an existing or future child who deserves to thrive without fear of abuse or neglect.
To be client centered, focusing on the individual strengths and needs of each.
To protect, nurture and guide survivors of abuse and neglect.
To encourage healthy family relationships and connections.
To provide clients with supportive interventions beyond necessities.
To develop programs that prevent abusive behavior toward children and do so in a culturally sensitive, responsive, and inclusive manner.
To support, educate and direct the energy of participating family members toward a positive and healthy home environment.
To equip clients with life skills and resources that enable them to become self-sufficient and cope successfully with the effects of abuse and neglect.
To partner with other private and public agencies for the benefit of our clients and to further the Casa mission.
To provide personal/professional growth opportunities for Board members and staff to enable them to effectively carry out their duties and to speak publicly to break the abuse cycle and prevent family violence.
To constitute a Board of Directors who are knowledgeable about the issues that face abused/neglected children, their families and the staff who provide services to them.

OUR HISTORY Established in 1978, Casa de Amparo is recognized as a major force in the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect in San Diego County. Casa de Amparo was founded by a small group of local women concerned about domestic violence and the welfare of children. Led by the Women’s Resource Center and supported by local police, this team pushed for a safe home for children (then known as The Crisis Center and now called Residential Services) for those affected by or at risk of child abuse. It was at this point that Casa de Amparo opened its doors.

In 2012, Casa de Amparo’s Residential Services relocated from Old Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside to the Casa Kids Campus in San Marcos, California. The Casa Kids Campus sits on 11.4 acres of land, providing cozy, home-like cottages, and expansive outdoor areas for recreation. In 2014, Residential Services began housing pregnant and parenting foster girls and their infants. Casa de Amparo is currently the only licensed residential treatment center in San Diego County to provide these services. Today, Casa de Amparo continues to expand by serving each Casa Kid’s individual and changing needs through all their stages of life. Casa de Amparo is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt non-profit organization offering programs serving all of San Diego County and clients from throughout California, with locations in Oceanside and San Marcos.

Specific duties include but are not limited to: I. Board Relations:

Represents the organization at the Board of Directors’ meetings
Provides information and reports about all operations as determined by the Board
Seeks and provides advice and direction in conjunction with the Board
Carries out directives of the Board and communicates appropriate information to staff
Serves as a voting, ex-officio, member of the Board of Directors and all related committees II. Financial:
Monitors, manages, and evaluates the fiscal performance of the organization to assure quality service within projected expenditures
Develops the annual capital and operating budget for the organization and monitors the receipts and expenditures with the Board
Supervises the business affairs of the organization to assure that its funds are expended to the best advantage possible
Represents the organization in business negotiations; enters business agreements/contracts on behalf of the organization III. Planning:
In conjunction with the Board of Directors, Senior Staff and Directors, develops, implements, assesses, and communicates strategic plans, including short-, medium-and long-range goals for the organization to ensure that community and organizational needs are being met
Develops and monitors annual operations plans
Plans and directs all investigations and negotiations of mergers, joint ventures, the acquisition of businesses, or the sale of major assets with the approval of the Board of Directors IV. Community Affairs:
Serves as liaison between the organization and the community, with charitable and other organizations, legislative bodies, and regulatory agencies
Promotes a positive organizational and personal image; is available to clients, and their families; develops and maintains contacts with individuals who are important to the organization
Stays abreast of industry/market needs and shifts, recommends, and implements modifications to meet changing needs; manages government relations
Represents the organization with state and county personnel, donors, benefactors, regulatory agencies, the financial community, and the public V. Administration:
Promotes an open communication system at all organizational levels and can develop a strong management team that is capable and comfortable working with people with diverse backgrounds and abilities
Organizes the administrative functions of the organization, delegates duties, establishes formal means of accountability on the part of subordinates; designates in writing other individuals by name and position who are, in order of succession, authorized to act during any period of absence from the organization
Ensures that a solid system of policies and procedures exists to guide the day-to-day operations of the organization; ensures that appropriate decision-making procedures exist in the organization
Oversees the program areas of the organization, ensuring that programs are administered in compliance with local, state, and federal standards; reacts to regulatory mandates
Oversees special projects and performs other duties as needed to fulfill the goals and objectives of the organization
Oversees the selection, employing, and discharging of employees, and the development and implementation of personnel policies and practices
Establishes and maintains an effective system of communications throughout the organization
Completes required training, seminars, and certification programs

HOW TO APPLY: Professionally qualified applicants should send their resume/CV along with an optional cover letter to lkarr@casadeamparo.org. Questions about this opportunity may be directed to Chief Executive Officer Michael R. Barnett at mbarnett@casadeamparo.org. The deadline for applications is Monday, October 30,2023 at 5:00 PM.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Casa De Amparo is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Casa De Amparo does not discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment decisions are decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need.

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