Chief Executive Officer

Lynx Employer Resources is proud to support Circuit Rider in their search for a Chief Executive Officer!

(Please note: Submissions will be accepted through November 1, 2024).

Our Mission: To empower individuals from all backgrounds to improve their own lives, the lives of others, and the environment we share.

Our Vision: That all people reach their full potential by working to create a healthy environment and thriving community.

In support of our mission and vision, our multifaceted programs are designed to address the interdependent links between the health of the individual person, the greater community and the natural environment.

If you're someone who…

• Is a mission-driven, level-headed, executive leader who embraces collaboration, exhibits excellent communication skills, and forges strong connections built on trust, respect, and integrity.
• Is a visionary and strategically curious thinker who is operations and finance savvy and possesses a high degree of business acumen.
• Brings heart, empathy, transparency, and humility to your leadership.
• Has a passion and talent for building, developing, and inspiring teams to excel and succeed together.
• Has a reputation for actively fostering solid, trusted relationships with staff, boards, community members, and donors.
• Sets the bar high and brings an adaptable, creative, innovative, and flexible approach to achieving organizational excellence.
• Utilizes your development acumen to expand community presence and diversify funding streams.
• Believes no task is too big or small and embodies a roll-up-your-sleeves attitude.
• Understands that challenges are inherent in growth and success, and embraces them with a proactive mindset.
• Has uncompromising ethics and is versed in handling complex situations with diplomacy and tact.

… then we encourage you to read on to learn more!

About Circuit Rider Community Services

Since 1976, Circuit Rider has been providing multifaceted services designed to address the interdependent links between the health of the individual person, the greater community, and the natural environment. Our mission has evolved along with the needs of our community, and we have blossomed into a complex and successful organization. Circuit Rider has a history of innovation in the field of behavioral science, juvenile justice, workforce development, and ecological restoration.

As a culturally diverse organization developed in recognition of the needs of Sonoma County’s residents, Circuit Rider’s social services are offered in English and in Spanish and are designed to support and advance the healthy functioning of the local environment, youth, adults, and families.

Circuit Rider maintains a powerful vision of a sustainable future and makes a substantial contribution to the health of our community. Circuit Rider develops creative programs and services that promote and facilitate health, social stability, and human potential with responsible use of, and care for, our natural resources. This diversity of programs, presence in several Sonoma County communities, and its long history all position Circuit Rider well to meet the challenges of evolving community needs.

Circuit Rider maintains strong relations with its funders in the counties in which it operates, and is known for the caliber of its services and for adapting rapidly to changes in the needs of community members and the local environment.

About the Position

This is a rare opportunity for a visionary and seasoned professional to lead a well-respected, effective, and unique social service and ecological restoration agency known for its innovation and commitment to the community. The new CEO will leverage the size and scope of Circuit Rider to respond to growth opportunities and build on a strong legacy of community impact while implementing innovative approaches and maintaining the strength of the organization.

The new CEO will build upon Circuit Rider’s solid reputation, and work with an effective and dedicated team, including senior managers with institutional knowledge and a talented group of program service providers. Circuit Rider is grounded in core values that guide its programs, policies, and operations. Successful candidates will be aligned with these values and committed to ensuring they continue to guide Circuit Rider’s current and future plans and practices.

Primary Responsibilities:

Strategic Direction

• Leads the organization in the development and implementation of long-term vision, strategies, and plans designed to maximize the effectiveness of programs and services for clients, while maintaining a sustainable business model.
• Develops strategies that balance the organization's social service initiatives with ecological restoration efforts, ensuring both areas grow revenue streams while maintaining alignment with the overall mission and long-term sustainability.
• Ensures that Circuit Rider meets the challenges of the changes in funding, and delivery of behavioral health services in California.
• Develops a process for planning, implementing, and evaluating short- and long-range goals for the agency.

Administration

• Oversees the development, delivery, and evaluation of Circuit Rider programs, services, and resources consistent with the mission, values, and goals of the organization.
• Ensures sound financial planning, management, and organizational accountability.
• Coordinates the development and implementation of the annual budget, including adequate financial controls and practices.
• Oversees financial and operational management systems that support all service lines, ensuring resources are allocated effectively and all program areas remain aligned and financially balanced.
• Maintains a workplace environment that attracts, retains, and motivates a diverse, high-caliber team of staff, volunteers, and board members.
• Oversees the recruitment, employment, and development of all personnel.
• Develops and implements professional human resource practices, including position descriptions and regular performance evaluations.
• Ensures that the agency complies with all relevant laws, regulations, and applicable policies set forth by the Board of Directors (the Board) and regulators.
• Negotiates and ensures accountability for all agency contracts and grants.

Fund Development

• Serves as the lead fundraiser by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding potential and existing funders to boost organizational sustainability.
• Creates and leads a diversified and sustainable fund development strategy, including but not limited to individual, corporate, and foundation contributions; contracts; grants; and in-kind donations.
• Works with grant writer to develop annual Grant Calendar and tracking.
• Promotes the organization's work through networking, including meetings with potential donors, board members, and community partners; aligns these individuals and groups as ongoing agency supporters and contributors.
• Works closely with the Board to ensure all board fundraising and donor development activities align with the overall fund development strategy and Circuit Rider’s mission.
• Oversees production and organization of special events.

Board of Directors

• Reports regularly to the Board regarding organizational objectives, financial status, and other relevant issues.
• Attends all Board meetings and serves as an ex-officio member of all task forces and committees, as needed.
• Supervises the implementation of Board policies.
• Provides the Board with information to help members reach sound decisions in accordance with established policies.
• Provides support, education, and leadership to Board members to assist in their roles and responsibilities.
• Assists the Board in identifying and recruiting Board members with the skills needed to help support the mission and vision of Circuit Rider.
• Creates effective and appropriate lines of communication and linkages between the Board and staff.
• Implements Board policy and direction to meet the goals and objectives of the Strategic Plan.

Programmatic Impact

• Assumes overall accountability for programmatic success, including ensuring that outcomes are set, measured, and met/exceeded.
• Ensures delivery on requirements of County contracts and effectively advocates for innovations and financial sustainability.
• Oversees continual assessment of program relevancy and sustainability.
• Ensures that the programmatic outcomes in social services and ecological restoration complement each other, while preserving the integrity and alignment of both program areas with the organization's mission.
• Develops and maintains a thorough knowledge of the issues and stakeholders surrounding integrated substance use and mental health treatment.
• Ensures that programs and organizational direction follow the strategic plan, and guides, edits, and updates the strategic plan.

Community Relations

• Leads the development and preparation of numerous government funding proposals and reports.
• Identifies and develops a broad range of community resources and support necessary to accomplish the goals of Circuit Rider.
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with appropriate community, government, and nonprofit organizations.
• Represents Circuit Rider in the community.
• Develops relationships and collaborations with appropriate community and government funding sources to build a strong awareness of community needs and the agency's role in serving those needs.

Professional Development

• Creates an annual plan to develop or strengthen essential relationships and skills critical to the Chief Executive Officer's success, in conjunction with the Board.
• Ensures ongoing support for staff development and invests in strengthening the leadership and management skills of senior staff.

Professional Experience/Qualifications

Experience

• 3+ years of management experience in a nonprofit, community-based organization serving diverse, low-income and at-risk populations. Equivalent experience will also be considered.
• Substantial experience in the provision of social service programming, mental health, and/or substance use services, and/or behavioral health (dual-diagnosis) services.
• Strong knowledge of habitat restoration techniques.
• Record of success in anticipating and responding strategically to changes in the social service and restoration ecology field.
• Experience hiring, leading, and retaining highly effective management professionals.
• Experience that demonstrates the ability to identify and respond to emerging trends and changes in public sector funding.
• Record of success in developing and maintaining productive, collaborative relations with government funders, and in negotiating financially sustainable contracts.
• Experience serving culturally, racially, and economically diverse populations.
• Experience developing and managing operational budgets.

Skills

• Inspirational, collaborative, and inclusive leader with record of hiring and developing talented staff members and building high-performing teams.
• Strong business management skills and financial acumen, including the ability to analyze and use financial information for business planning.
• High comfort level with technology for both personal use and as a tool for improving client outcomes and organizational effectiveness.
• Proven ability to ensure high quality, culturally relevant services in a multi-lingual, multicultural, community setting.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of best practices and trends in the provision of behavioral health services in a community-based setting.
• Strong knowledge of best practices in the provision of culturally relevant services to at-risk populations.
• Strong understanding of nonprofit financial models and of the financial constraints and reporting requirements of services funded through public sector contracts.

Personal Characteristics

• Skilled communicator who enjoys being the public face of an organization.
• Collaborative and inclusive leader with strong listening skills.

Education

• An advanced degree in nonprofit administration, psychology, environmental science, social work, or a related field is preferred, though equivalent experience and relevant certifications will also be considered.

Preferred

• Prior experience as a Chief Executive Officer of a community-based nonprofit and/or experience as a regional director for a large nonprofit providing social service, mental health, and/or environmental science.
• Prior experience in engaging in fundraising through individual donor relations and/or grant seeking, or comparable experience that demonstrates the ability to fundraise.
• Has a current C-27 landscape contractor’s license or qualifies to apply for the C-27 license upon start date.