CEO - Volunteers of America Southwest

Scion Executive Search has been exclusively engaged to conduct an immediate search for a highly relational and experienced CEO for our client, Volunteers of America Southwest, a $28 M faith-based human services nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals and strengthening communities through housing, health services, employment programs, and supportive services across the United States. This is a full-time position based in the San Diego area, with regular regional travel required.

ABOUT VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA:

Volunteers of America is a national, faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals and families in need rebuild their lives and reach their full potential. For more than a century, the organization has delivered critical services including affordable housing, healthcare, employment assistance, veteran support, and programs for seniors and at-risk youth. Guided by a strong commitment to compassion, dignity, and social justice, Volunteers of America partners with communities across the country to create long-term solutions to homelessness, poverty, and hardship.

ABOUT VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA SOUTHWEST: VOA Southwest offers programs in housing, health, education, food, treatment, and support throughout San Diego, San Bernardino, and Imperial County. With a team of over 300 staff and the support of dedicated volunteers, the organization works to close gaps in access to essential services, fostering resilience and well-being for people of all ages and backgrounds. The VOA Southwest organization is led by a CEO who reports to an independent local board of directors and has an operating budget of approximately $28M.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Reporting to the Volunteers of America Southwest Board, the CEO will be a forward-facing, highly relational leader who will provide strategic and operational leadership for the VOA Southwest Affiliate organization. The VOA Southwest CEO will lead organizational growth, strengthen community impact, and advance the mission of serving individuals and families through integrated health, children and family services, and supportive housing services.

The CEO of a VOA affiliate leads with a high degree of autonomy while benefiting from the strength of a national organization that provides resources, strategic guidance, and valuable connections to support and expand local impact

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Visionary & Mission-Driven Leadership

• Sets and advances a compelling organizational vision aligned with mission, values, and long-term impact.
• Leads with adaptability, transparency, and sound judgment in complex, rapidly evolving environments.
• Maintains focus on both immediate priorities and future growth.
• Drives growth and innovation through program expansion, new service models, and strategic partnerships that increase regional impact.
  
  

Program Strategy & Service Excellence

• Ensures delivery of high-quality, mission-aligned human services responsive to community needs.
• Integrates faith-based values into strategic and operational decision-making.
• Oversee program outcomes and performance metrics to ensure services are effective, measurable, and aligned with community needs.
• Experience in behavioral health programs is highly desirable.
  
  

Financial Stewardship & Revenue Growth

• Provides executive oversight for budgeting, financial planning, and fiscal stewardship to ensure strong financial health and transparency.
• Demonstrates strong nonprofit financial acumen and governance.
• Leads fundraising and development efforts, including major gifts, grants, and public-private partnerships.
• Strengthens revenue through strategic partnerships with government entities, foundations, corporations, and major individual donors.
  
  

Organizational Leadership & Culture Building

• Builds, inspires, and leads a diverse, high-performing executive team and workforce.
• Fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the organization and program delivery.
  
  

Faith Commitment

• The VOA Southwest CEO is required to become a Volunteers of America commissioned minister within 3 years of employment. Ministerial credentialing is a unique opportunity to embody VOA’s faith-based mission, leading with compassion and service to uplift the most vulnerable in our communities.
  
  

External Relations, Brand & Advocacy

• Serves as the organization’s chief ambassador and public representative.
• Strengthens relationships with government agencies, donors, community partners, policymakers, and other key stakeholders.
• Strengthens brand identity and public trust through transparent communication, consistent storytelling, and proactive community engagement.
  
  

Innovation, Technology & Strategic Growth

• Champions innovation and data-driven decision-making to enhance operational effectiveness, service quality, and scalability.
• Technology to support organizational growth, efficiency, and long-term sustainability.
• Strengthens organizational infrastructure, systems, and processes to support scalable and sustainable operations.
  
  

Board Partnership, Governance & Compliance

• Partners closely with the Volunteers of America Southwest Board of Directors to uphold strong governance, ethical leadership, and fiscal and organizational integrity.
• Provides regular, transparent board reporting on organizational performance, financial health, strategic initiatives, and risk management.
• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations, accreditation standards, and ethical guidelines.
• Maintains national charter standards and requirements.
  
  

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of senior executive leadership experience within a nonprofit, healthcare, housing, or human services organization, including oversight of complex, multi-site or regional operations
• Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, financial management, and organizational leadership within highly regulated program environments.
• Proven success in fundraising and relationship-building with donors, foundations, public agencies, and community partners
• Demonstrated experience partnering effectively with a Board of Directors, including recruiting, engaging, and developing high-functioning board members to support strong governance and organizational strategy.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and executive decision-making skills
• Willingness to travel up to 20%, primarily within San Diego, San Bernardino, and Imperial Counties
• Become a Volunteers of America commissioned minister within 3 years of employment.
  
  

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

In addition to a competitive salary in the range of $220,000- $260,000, depending on experience. This position offers medical, dental, and vision coverage; Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA); Short-term (STD) and Long-term Disability (LTD). Comprehensive retirement benefits include a 403(b) plan and an executive deferred compensation plan, and a minister’s pension plan in addition to 4 weeks of vacation, 6 days of sick time and 16 observed paid company holidays and relocation assistance.

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS:

Volunteers of America has retained Scion Executive Search, a national executive search firm specializing in nonprofit recruitment, to assist in conducting this important search. For immediate consideration, please apply with your resume and cover letter, formatted in Microsoft Word, via: https://scionexecutivesearch.com/job/13853.

Review of applications, nominations, and expressions of interest will begin immediately and continue on a confidential basis until an appointment is made.

ABOUT OUR FIRM:

Scion Executive Search is an award-winning retained executive search firm. Our track record and recruitment process have made us one of the top recruitment firms in the United States. Through innovative team building and recruitment solutions, Scion Executive Search seamlessly bridges the gap in interim and executive searches. Our track record and recruitment process have made us one of the top recruitment firms in the nation.

We are proud to be part of the Forbes lists of the Best Recruitment Firms and the Best Executive Search Firms in America. Additionally, Scion has been recognized as a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing firm as well as a top recruitment firm by The Business Times. Additional information about our firm and our practices can be found online.

Scion Executive Search is an equal opportunity employer and service provider and does not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation, or any other protected class. We are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value, for ourselves, our client companies, and the candidates we represent.

For opportunities located in a region that has enacted fair chance, arrest, or conviction-based employment ordinances, Scion Executive Search proactively follows the enacted guidance and considers for employment all qualified applications with arrest and conviction records. We engage in socially conscious business practices and believe that diverse, equitable, inclusive, and non-biased talent and recruitment processes are foundational to the success of Scion as well as every client organization with whom we partner.