Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer

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 leadership priorities for the incoming CEO include:

• Executing a strategic vision for A Better Way's next phase of programmatic and fiscal growth
• Serving as organization's lead fundraiser, actively cultivating & securing philanthropic support, diversifying and strengthening the agency's revenue model, reducing reliance on county contracts and expanding unrestricted funding
• Strengthening and retaining a talented, mission-driven workforce in a competitive Bay Area labor market
• Sustaining and expanding valued county relationships and government contracts
• Building on A Better Way's strong accreditation standing and culture of quality improvement
• Elevating the agency's public profile and advocacy presence in the child welfare field
• Strengthening internal systems, infrastructure, and operational efficiency to support scale and long-term sustainability

A Better Way empowers children and families to develop the insights, life skills, and permanent relationships that promote their social, emotional, educational, and economic well-being.

Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Berkeley, California, A Better Way, Inc. is a Bay Area nonprofit with a clear and urgent purpose: to keep families together, heal the wounds of trauma, and create pathways to permanence for children who need them most. For nearly three decades, A Better Way has partnered with Alameda, San Francisco, Solano, and Contra Costa Counties to deliver culturally responsive, evidence-based services to some of the region's most vulnerable children, youth, and families.

A Better Way's portfolio of services is wide-ranging and deeply integrated within the child welfare system. Programs include community-based mental health services, parent advocacy and peer support, family strengthening and differential response, transitional housing for young adults aging out of foster care, and a robust suite of community and professional training. The agency is the sole provider of Alameda County's Differential Response program, Another Road to Safety (ARS), and operates Parent Engagement and Peer Parent Programs across multiple counties.

A Better Way holds Joint Commission accreditation and a four-star Charity Navigator rating — signals of the organization's commitment to quality, accountability, and continuous improvement. The agency currently has a budget of approximately $13 million and a staff of 100+ dedicated professionals. A Better Way's values — Family Empowerment, Successful Outcomes, Cultural Humility, Community Collaboration, and Professional Workforce — are not aspirational statements but operating principles embedded in every program and every client interaction.

A Better Way operates within a complex regulatory and funding environment requiring strong compliance, operational discipline, and cross-sector collaboration.

Professional qualifications and 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

Compensation:

The anticipated salary range for this position is $200,000 to $230,000, commensurate with experience, along with a comprehensive benefits package and generous paid time off.