Overview
Family Resource Navigators (FRN) is seeking an Executive Director to extend their mission and values into the next phase of growth and expansion. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will provide overall strategic and operational leadership for FRN’s staff, programs, and mission delivery. They will strengthen organizational sustainability, deepen partnerships, and champion the voices of the communities FRN serves—ensuring that families continue to access the resources, support, and advocacy they deserve in a shifting social and political landscape.
FRN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the East Bay, with primary focus on Alameda County. FRN makes it easier for families to navigate, advocate, and obtain equitable access to resources for children with disabilities, development delays, or special health care needs. FRN is a parent-led and parent-directed agency, which creates a culture of understanding and a highly supportive community and workplace. FRN provides education, support, and advocacy to families across the East Bay to help them connect to and advocate for the services they need. FRN educates and mentors community members to become grassroots leaders, and FRN also organizes events for communities to connect with each other and provide mutual support. FRN services are free to families, and their work is funded through partnerships with Alameda County California Children’s Services, State Council on Developmental Disability, Department of Developmental Services (DDS), DDS Access and Equity Grants, California Department of Education, Full Circle Health Services (for Medi-Cal Enhanced Case Management), and Alameda County First Five/Help me Grow. FRN also receives funding from Heising-Simons Foundation and Magic Cabinet. As FRN continues to grow and serve more families, it focuses on long-term sustainability by diversifying funding streams, prioritizing expanding private contributions, and leveraging fee-for-service models.
The Position
Family Resource Navigators is seeking an Executive Director to extend their mission and values into the next phase of growth and expansion. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will provide overall strategic and operational leadership for FRN’s staff, programs, and mission delivery. They will strengthen organizational sustainability, deepen partnerships, and champion the voices of the communities FRN serves—ensuring that families continue to access the resources, support, and advocacy they deserve in a shifting social and political landscape.
Responsibilities
Leadership
- Drive FRN’s strategic direction grounded in its mission and be responsive to an evolving funding landscape.
- Oversee organizational ability to deliver high program impact while upholding quality standards in finance, administration, fundraising, communications, and systems.
- Promote a culture of understanding, equity, and respect, that embraces diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion of all voices.
- Build and support a robust Board of Directors, reflecting the diverse communities FRN serves.
- Collaborate with the Board of Directors and staff to define priorities and develop an effective strategic plan.
- Represent FRN as a thought leader and advocate for families locally and state-wide in collaboration with community stakeholders to develop and evaluate programs that meet community needs and address local challenges.
Management
- Lead, mentor, and retain a strong management team to carry out FRN’s mission, strategy, and programs.
- Clearly define the career continuum and outline transparent pathways for advancement and promotion. Emphasize workforce development for staff with lived experience of disability or health care needs from the community, recognizing their unique perspectives as valuable assets.
- Maintain and strengthen a welcoming workplace culture with flexible schedules and a hybrid environment.
- Standardize supervision and support to empower program managers to ensure highest quality services, contract compliance, and positive impact on families served.
- Ensure effective and efficient systems and processes to track program progress and meet requirements for reporting, with a strong understanding of service delivery models.
Finance
- Create and maintain an annual budget of approximately $2M, including cashflow and lines of credit, with a focus on thoughtful, steady growth to ensure long-term financial sustainability and the capacity to support more families over time.
- Ensure the organization’s financial practices follow the highest accounting standards and support clear, responsible use of funds.
- Build and expand fee-for-service partnerships with agencies in the medical and developmental disabilities sectors.
Fundraising and Community Engagement
- Build a comprehensive development program to expand and diversify funding to support the continuity of programs as well as sustainable organizational growth.
- Maintain and develop relationships with Alameda County and California state agencies that provide the bulk of FRN’s funding.
- Hold primary responsibility for developing new funding resources, including grant writing and responding to requests for proposals and campaigns for individual donors. Evaluate the most effective staffing structure to support fundraising goals, including the potential to hire a development professional or engage development consulting services.
- Enhance and refine all facets of communication, from online presence to external relations, with the aim of building a stronger brand.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will possess most of the following qualifications and skill sets:
- A belief in a world where children and adults with disabilities (and their families) easily get what they need from systems shaped by their voices, and a passionate, enthusiastic commitment to FRN’s mission and vision.
- At least five years of senior-level experience in mission-driven organizations that work with youth and families, particularly with special health care needs, developmental delays, and/or disabilities; extensive knowledge of the complex systems that serve adults and children with disabilities in California is preferred.
- A proven track record of community leadership on behalf of families of people with disabilities is preferred.
- Demonstrated success in managing or leading fundraising initiatives – particularly with individuals, corporations, and foundations – along with solid understanding of federal and state contracting requirements and reporting, especially those found in complex grants.
- Proven expertise in fundraising strategy and program execution, with the ability to adapt to a shifting funding landscape. Experience with transitioning to partial fee-for-service model or operating a blended model is highly desirable.
- Strong management experience with a collaborative and inclusive leadership style that champions individual growth, team development, and overall organizational capacity.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Experience building relationships, networking, and collaborating effectively with ethnically, culturally, socio-economically diverse populations and organizations.
- Dynamic and charismatic team player who enjoys representing the organization publicly.
- As a family-to-family organization, experiential knowledge with a disability, special health care concern, or developmental delay is strongly preferred.
Compensation and Benefits
The base pay range for this position is $110,000 - $130,000 per year. The salary range is provided by FRN; actual pay will be based on skills and experience. FRN offers comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and basic life insurance, generous paid vacation, holidays, and sick time. They offer access to a flexible spending account and a retirement plan with a 3% employer contribution. FRN also offers flexible, family-friendly schedules and a hybrid work environment.
Family Friendly Culture
- Flexibility for Caregivers – FRN understands that caregiving – whether for children, elders, or others – can't always be scheduled. They offer flexible work arrangements and empathetic support from leadership.
- Respect for Boundaries – FRN prioritizes work-life balance and avoids evening and weekend meetings unless essential.
- Supportive Workplace – FRN is a small, tight-knit team that looks out for one another – not just professionally, but personally.
What Makes FRN Different
We are a workplace where people feel seen – not just as employees, but as whole human beings. We don’t simply accommodate caregiving responsibilities; we recognize and support them as part of everyday life. It’s core to who we are.
Family Resource Navigators has retained Campbell & Company to conduct this search, and the team for this project includes Alex Catuara, Senior Consultant and Sarah Beraki, Vice President. To be considered for this opportunity, please submit your resume and cover letter to the apply now link via:
Seniority level
Executive
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Strategy/Planning, Management, and Finance
Industries
Individual and Family Services, Fundraising, and Health and Human Services
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