Executive Director

The Organization

As San Francisco grapples with an unprecedented mental health crisis, low-income individuals and marginalized communities experience the greatest impact. Against this backdrop, Access Institute for Psychological Services (Access Institute) fills the gap by providing direct services to meet community needs for mental health services, while training the next generation of mental health professionals. The Institute stands out for the high quality of its services and its rigorous training curriculum that values human complexity, supports socially conscious practices, and promotes sustained human growth. The Institute’s innovative partnerships and multi-level approach create a citywide “mental health safety net” with impact that extends deep and wide across San Francisco, providing essential support to adults, young children, families, teachers, elders, caregivers and more. The Access Institute model allows comprehensive mental health services to be made accessible and affordable to virtually anyone who needs care.

The Opportunity

The need for Access Institute’s high-quality psychological care and community-centered clinician training program has never been greater. Access Institute is entering an exciting new era following 20+ years of successful leadership under the founding director. Despite being highly regarded, Access Institute remains a relatively hidden resource. To meet increasing demand for high-quality psychological care among those with the greatest need and least access—while training the next generation of mental health professionals—will require strong leadership, an elevated public profile for Access, and expanded fundraising and partnerships.

The Board of Directors seeks a strategic, entrepreneurial Executive Director (ED) to lead the organization into its next phase of prominence and growth by securing broader sources of funding and targeted strategic partnerships guided by the 2024-2029 strategic plan. Our ideal candidate is deeply committed to serving the community and will boldly advance the organization's mission to expand support to others who remain in critical need of services. The new ED will work on-site in collaboration with the board and staff to provide strong organizational leadership and stewardship, elevate the organization’s profile, develop new partnerships and new revenue streams, and make business decisions that strengthen its current operations and drive organizational growth.

Organizational Impact Highlights

• Delivered more than 13,500 sessions of free and low-fee mental health care in 2023
• Served 720+ diverse, low income individuals and families in 2023 ranging from 7 to 88 years old
• Provided mental health care to students, families, and communities at seven San Francisco elementary schools; all families served were living below the poverty line and by the end of the year, 95% of students showed improvements with 70% making significant gains across multiple domains
• Achieved continued excellence in its training programs, including our Doctoral Internship (accredited by the American Psychological Association), our Postgraduate Fellowship and, through a new partnership with UCSF, a cutting-edge Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Training Program
• More than 190 clinicians from 18 classes have graduated from these three programs to date

Key Responsibilities

Development, Communications, and Strategic Growth - 50%

• Lead creation of a multi-year fundraising and partnership development plan/campaign with a focus on funding program expansion into areas with the greatest need, e.g. SFUSD schools, elder programs and uninsured or underinsured community members
• Collaborate with the Board to define annual, data-driven growth targets and strategic plans to deliver those targets
• Provide leadership to the development team in identifying, cultivating, and closing new funding opportunities aligned with the mission and strategic plan
• Manage a portfolio of key individual, institutional, and corporate donors with the goal of strengthening and deepening relationships with existing donors and building a network of new and prospective donors
• Elevate the organization's public profile, brand, and reputation by evaluating and executing strategic opportunities—including digital content and campaigns, speaking opportunities, and strengthened community relationships

Organizational Leadership - 30%

• Provide leadership, oversight, and executive decision making that is actively informed by feedback from Access Institute’s staff, volunteers, board members, alumni, partnering organizations, and funders
• Collaborate with the Directors of Internship and Fellowship Training to maintain program excellence, accreditation, and rigorous evaluation
• Lead, coach, and invest in professional development for Access’ staff
• Ensure effective systems are in place to track progress and regularly evaluate programs to measure success
• Collaborate with the board to support the board recruitment pipeline in alignment with the organization’s goals

Budget and Fiscal Management - 20%

• Use sound fiscal best practices to develop balanced annual budgets, develop earned and contributed revenue projections, track financial progress, and oversee fiscal activities
• Steer the organization’s operations and finances to ensure budgets are met, with the goal of building a financial reserve to stabilize funding for the organization
• Provide oversight for contract and grant negotiation, execution, implementation and reporting
• Ensure communication of accurate and timely financial reports to donors and the Board of Directors

Ideal Candidate Qualities and Qualifications

You identify as a bold, ambitious, entrepreneurial leader with a bias for action who relishes the opportunity to lead a high quality organization, build major funding relationships and partnerships, expand programs and drive progress forward. You delight in connecting partners and donors to greater opportunities for impact and meaningful relationships. You’re most fulfilled when empowering teammates to identify, leverage, and amplify their unique skills and talents.

In addition, you bring:

• A passion for cultivating the next generation of mental health leaders while serving marginalized communities with outstanding mental health services
• At least 5+ years of senior non-profit leadership and management experience and 15+ years overall experience with a focus on fundraising, operations, financial management, board development and communications/public relations
• At least 5 years of experience successfully managing direct reports, including coaching and developing employees
• Demonstrated skills in sound fiscal management including budget preparation, analysis, reporting and ongoing oversight to meet goals, as well as long-term growth planning
• Demonstrated success developing and implementing fundraising growth plans, including increasing and diversifying revenue streams
• Outstanding written and verbal communication and presentation skills, including the ability to effectively communicate in a variety of formats and venues in both casual and formal contexts
• Direct experience working with a Board of Directors to cultivate existing and new board member relationships
• Commitment to social justice and equity best practices through cultural humility