FOR NOMINATIONS/INFORMATION, EMAIL:  JCCA@SANDLERSEARCH.ORG

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
JCCA has been a trusted leader in child welfare and children’s behavioral health since 1822. JCCA provides comprehensive, high-quality services to 17,000 children, young people, and families across New York’s diverse communities by addressing such challenges as abuse, neglect, poverty, developmental disabilities, and mental health issues. Guided by the Jewish principle of tikkun olam (repairing the world), JCCA is dedicated to ensuring that every child experiences safety, stability, and community support.

Through compassionate, quality care, JCCA supports abused, neglected, and traumatized children in their physical and emotional recovery, empowering them to grow and thrive. JCCA works in partnership with families to preserve family units when possible and create new supportive environments when necessary. JCCA provides foster care, residential treatment, mental health services, case management, educational programs, and support for children who have experienced abuse. JCCA’s programs are designed to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of New York’s most vulnerable children and families.

To learn more about JCCA and its impact, please visit their website.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
JCCA is seeking a bold, visionary, and mission-driven Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the organization into its next chapter of growth, innovation, and impact. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced, dynamic executive to build on JCCA’s storied 200-year legacy while shaping JCCA’s future as a leading organization in New York’s child welfare, behavioral health and social services sector.

The CEO, reporting to and working closely with the Board of Directors, will oversee a $120M budget, largely supported by government funding, and lead a dynamic workforce of nearly 1,000 professionals across multiple sites, including unionized staff. The CEO will serve as JCCA’s primary external representative and champion, strengthening partnerships with government agencies, community leaders, and philanthropic supporters to expand resources and drive policy initiatives that advance child welfare and behavior health.

This high-profile, high-stakes position requires a credible and authentic leader who thrives at the intersection of mission and management. By fostering a culture of collaboration, the CEO will motivate and empower diverse staff at all levels to contribute meaningfully to JCCA’s mission. The CEO must make strategic decisions, lead high-performing teams, build coalitions, and drive transformational fundraising to secure JCCA’s future as a pillar of support for New York’s most vulnerable children, families, and communities.

The CEO’s key responsibilities include:
Mission-Driven, Visionary, and Strategic Leadership

• Position JCCA as a leader in child welfare, family support, and behavioral and mental health, enhancing programs and strengthening JCCA’s reputation as an innovator in the field.
• Develop and execute a forward-looking vision that strengthens JCCA’s impact and inspires engagement from the Board, staff, funders, government agencies, and community partners.
• Align teams, systems, and programs to deliver high-quality services that address the evolving needs of vulnerable children and families.
• Apply deep expertise in child welfare while integrating emerging trends and community insights to evaluate programs, improve outcomes, and shape best practices.

Financial and Operational Oversight

• Oversee JCCA’s budget, endowment, and physical assets, including campus facilities and real estate holdings, ensuring responsible financial management and long-term sustainability.
• Strengthen and modernize internal systems, technology, and processes to enhance efficiency and position JCCA for sustainable program growth and innovation.
• Navigate evolving regulatory frameworks, maintaining compliance while optimizing behavioral and mental health service delivery.
• Lead risk management and crisis response efforts, ensuring operational resilience and continuity in the face of challenges.

Stakeholder Engagement, Fundraising, and Advocacy

• Serve as JCCA’s primary spokesperson, fundraiser, and advocate, deepening and expanding relationships with government agencies, funders, and community stakeholders.
• Leverage JCCA’s expertise, relationships, and voice to advocate for public policies and funding that support child welfare, children’s behavioral health and family services.
• Manage and partner with the Board of Directors, promote strong governance and transparency, and recruit Board members with expertise and networks that advance JCCA’s mission.
• Oversee an ongoing capital campaign and expand revenue sources, including government funding, private philanthropy, and institutional partnerships.

Team Management and Organizational Culture

• Lead, mentor, and empower a high-performing senior leadership team to drive strategic priorities, program excellence, and operational effectiveness.
• Attract, retain, and develop top talent across the organization, ensuring JCCA remains a competitive and desirable employer in its sector.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, trust, and dignity where staff, clients, and families served feel valued and supported in JCCA’s emotionally complex environment.

ABOUT THE NEXT CEO
The ideal candidate will be a bold, strategic leader with a deep passion for child and family services and children’s behavioral health, the vision to strengthen JCCA’s impact, and the expertise to drive meaningful change.

Key professional qualifications include:

• Organizational Leadership and Management: Extensive experience leading large nonprofit, government, healthcare, and/or social services organizations, with a demonstrated ability to build and align teams, lead strategically, and allocate resources to maximize impact and innovation.
• Strategic and Operational Excellence: Ability to lead a multifaceted organization and team through transition and growth, ensuring efficiency, financial sustainability, and long-term success. Experience with regulatory frameworks preferred, including Medicaid managed care.
• Board Engagement and Collaboration: Proven success partnering with Boards of Directors to drive strategic priorities, strengthen governance, and mobilize support for organizational growth.
• Fundraising and Resource Development: Strong track record of securing transformational funding through government partnerships, private philanthropy, and institutional support.
• Advocacy and Communications: Excellent communication skills and credibility to serve as JCCA’s public face and liaise with government partners, community leaders, and media.

As a person, the CEO of JCCA will be:

• A visionary and motivational leader who inspires staff, funders, and partners with a clear and compelling vision for JCCA’s future.
• A decisive and adaptable strategist who makes high-stakes decisions with confidence and can balance immediate organizational needs with long-term goals.
• An emotionally intelligent relationship-builder who engages diverse stakeholders, grasps the realities of child welfare, and connects on a human level with vulnerable children and families.
• A resilient and principled executive who leads with integrity, empathy, and optimism, ensuring stability and confidence in times of transition.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree preferred.

LOCATION: The CEO will share time between JCCA’s sites in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Westchester campus.

COMPENSATION: Salary range of $425,000–$475,000 commensurate with experience.

TO APPLY: Please submit your resume and a thoughtful cover letter here.

JCCA is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity and expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Individuals of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply for this job.