Summary

• Dependency Advocacy Center (DAC) was founded on the belief that traditional legal advocacy is insufficient to adequately represent families in child welfare cases. DAC’s goal is to promote timely reunification and preservation of these families in a safe, healthy environment.
• DAC is seeking a strategic and collaborative leader to serve as its next Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
• The CEO will join a team that is effective, closely bonded, and deeply dedicated to the cause. For the full job announcement, please click here.
• This position offers a competitive salary range of $165,000-$175,000 per year, commensurate with experience and a generous benefits package. DAC has a compensation policy that prioritizes equity and transparency.
• DAC serves clients in Santa Clara County, CA. The CEO must be able to attend internal and external meetings in person. Some remote work may be possible.

How to Apply

• Please send a resume and thoughtful cover letter to DACjobs@sccdac.org with the subject line: “DAC CEO Search”. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.
• DAC thrives on our diversity and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

The Opportunity

• DAC seeks a forward-thinking candidate who recognizes that dismantling systems that contribute to inequity and disparities requires transformative thought and action.
• The CEO will lead the executive team and is responsible for the overall functioning and management of the organization, including program development, infrastructure, financial health, talent development, policy, media strategy/communications, and fulfillment of its contractual obligations of accountability to the court and various funders.
• The CEO both serves on, and reports to the board of directors and engages in strategic planning and risk management.
• The CEO also serves as a key organizational ambassador who develops and nurtures connections with service providers and agencies.
• The CEO also leads by example to develop and enhance an organizational culture of transparency, respect, connection, and excellence. Alongside these leadership skills, the CEO will bring an unwavering commitment to improving the lives and outcomes of families and communities that is explicitly rooted in racial and social justice.

Who We Are

• DAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides interdisciplinary family defense legal services to indigent parents and children involved with Santa Clara County’s child welfare system and the juvenile dependency court. For more information, please visit the DAC website.
• Additionally, DAC has established innovative programs focused on preventing unnecessary entry into the dependency court and foster care systems by offering crucial early access to legal advice and resources designed to assist parents who are at risk of having their children removed.
• Our adult clients face the risk of permanent separation from their children due to allegations of abuse and neglect. Substance use disorder, intimate partner violence, and mental health concerns are commonly presenting issues, often rooted in the layered effects of poverty, marginalization, and intergenerational trauma. DAC's focus on legal advocacy work coupled with social services resources helps our parent and youth clients be fully supported in a system that would otherwise neglect them.
• The holistic support offered by DAC’s interdisciplinary team of attorneys, social workers, and peer mentors provides parents and children with a more comprehensive network of resources and pathways to success. DAC is making a difference for thousands of underserved families in Santa Clara County.
• DAC is increasingly focusing on early intervention and preventive approaches, alongside its deep expertise in legal advocacy. DAC is committed to addressing injustice and ensuring that families receive the support they need to thrive in our communities.

Who You Are: Ideal Candidate Profile

• Dependency Experience: Experience in child welfare/juvenile law in the dependency court setting
• Proximity and Connection to Community: Commitment to equity and racial justice in all elements of strategy and organizational leadership.
• Strong Emotional Intelligence & Relational Abilities: Engages with colleagues and network partners with integrity, empathy, kindness, humility, compassion, diplomacy, and loyalty.
• Fundraising & Ambassadorial Skills: Palpable passion and dedication to the DAC mission and vision; Experience raising money from private and public sources,
• Visionary Organizational Leadership Experience: Collaborative & Team Oriented - leads with a “power with” not “power over” approach.
• Results-driven: Strong voice of authority and advocacy externally for DAC’s staff, needs, and role.

Other Job Requirements and Qualifications

• JD Degree; Preferably licensed by the CA State Bar.
• At least 10 years of relevant leadership experience in juvenile dependency law or related social justice fields, including several years of executive-level leadership.
• Strong interpersonal and listening skills required, with sensitivity and appreciation for diverse viewpoints and various communication styles.
• Fundraising and development skills and a high degree of sophistication in curating and executing a sustainable fundraising strategy with foundations, public sector contracts, and major donors.
• Experience with financial oversight, including budgeting, planning, and reporting.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a highly collaborative, multi-stakeholder environment.
• Experience overseeing fundraising and external relations, government contracts, partnerships, programs, finance, HR, administration, marketing/communications, policy, events, and board engagement.
• Demonstrated management experience including hiring and development of a team.