Job Description

The Center for Alexandria's Children is the City’s primary resource for the prevention, investigation, and treatment of child abuse. The Executive Director is responsible for leading an accredited Children’s Advocacy Center serving the City of Alexandria, as well as overseeing all prevention programs, including Learn&PlayGroups. This role involves serving as the public face of the organization, ensuring financial sustainability, and promoting the Center’s brand at local, state, and national levels. The Executive Director ensures programmatic excellence, sound fiscal management, compliance with accreditation standards, and strategic growth through effective leadership and relationship-building.

The targeted salary range for this role is $100,000 - $115,000 plus comprehensive benefits.

Responsibilities

Institutional Advancement

• Develop and implement an annual fundraising plan in collaboration with the Board of Directors, setting clear goals across all revenue streams.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with major donors, corporate sponsors, and community stakeholders.
• Manage the full lifecycle of grant applications, from identification of opportunities to submission and reporting, ensuring timely and high-quality proposals.
• Lead the strategic planning, execution, and evaluation of planning and execution of fundraising events and campaigns.
• Establish and maintain relationships with national, state, and local stakeholders (e.g., National Children's Alliance, Virginia CACs, City Council, Department of Human Services), ensuring alignment with current child advocacy priorities.
• Serve in leadership roles on relevant boards, task forces, and committees, advocating for the Center and elevating its profile in the community and sector
• Act as the primary spokesperson for the Center, managing media relations, public speaking engagements, and representing the organization in public forums
• Collaborate with the Director of Operations to execute a communications strategy and maintain consistent public engagement

Program Strategy, Oversight, and Delivery

• Manage and support the Board of Directors in strategic decision-making, fundraising, and oversight.
• Provide direct supervision and mentorship to Program Coordinators, ensuring professional development and access to appropriate training.
• Oversee continuous evaluation of program outcomes and refine service delivery based on data and best practices.
• Provide leadership in program delivery across all service areas, including the Children's Advocacy Center, Learn&PlayGroups, ALX Closet, Darkness to Light training, and public outreach.
• Serve as a primary or backup forensic interviewer, conducting forensic and extended forensic interviews as needed, including providing court testimony.
• Provide consultation in complex child abuse cases, ensuring quality case review and case management with the MDT.
• Maintain and strengthen partnerships with the MDT, oversee MOU updates, and actively participate in monthly case reviews.

Business Operations

• Provide input into and approve the annual budget, ensuring responsible fiscal management and sustainability.
• Review monthly financial reports to monitor accuracy and alignment with fiscal goals.
• Approve policies, procedures, and operational protocols developed by the Director of Business Operations.
• Ensure compliance with National Children's Alliance (NCA) accreditation standards and Virginia DSS Child Advocacy Center standards.
• Establish and maintain expectations for operational excellence, fostering a trauma-informed, family-centered, and supportive workplace culture.
• Provide direct supervision to the Director of Business Operations, ensuring oversight, mentorship, and appropriate training opportunities.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW), Psychology, Public Administration or relevant professional experience
• Minimum of five (5) years' experience working at an accredited Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) in a leadership, forensic interviewing, or program oversight role.
• Extensive knowledge of child abuse and neglect investigations, multidisciplinary team (MDT) models, and child welfare systems.
• Demonstrated experience conducting forensic interviews of children and/or vulnerable populations; trained in multiple nationally recognized forensic interviewing protocols (e.g., ChildFirst, NCAC, APSAC).
• Strong understanding of Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) policies, child protection standards, and relevant child welfare laws.
• Experience with National Children's Alliance (NCA) Accreditation standards and successful leadership in achieving and maintaining accreditation.
• Ability to work effectively with law enforcement, child protective services, medical, and mental health professionals.
• Proven ability to manage high-risk and complex child abuse cases, providing leadership in crisis situations and coordinating effective multi-agency responses.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, including securing funds from individuals and corporations.
• Grant writing experience with both foundation and government sources.
• Proven ability to build, lead, and sustain high-functioning multidisciplinary teams (MDTs), including facilitating collaboration, resolving conflicts, and ensuring alignment with child protection best practices.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, including diplomacy, mediation, and team management.
• Experience leading strategic planning processes, organizational development initiatives, and change management in nonprofit or child advocacy settings.
• Skilled in building and sustaining partnerships with municipal, state, and community agencies to advance child protection initiatives.
• Strong relationship-building skills with donors, partner organizations, board members, and multidisciplinary professionals.
• Experience engaging with policymakers, delivering public testimony, or participating in legislative advocacy efforts related to child welfare and family services.
• Experience in working closely with a board of directors, providing guidance on strategic decisions and ensuring governance practices.
• Proven ability to manage organizational budgets, including financial planning, oversight and allocation of resources.
• Experience supervising and mentoring teams, including providing guidance, conducting performance evaluations, fostering professional development, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals and child protection standards.
• Commitment to trauma-informed practices and demonstrated ability to lead organizations in delivering trauma-informed services to children and families.
• Proficiency with technology, including MS Office applications and internet-based tools.
• Strong problem-solving abilities with a creative and proactive approach to challenges.
• Experience as a prevention educator, including designing and delivering prevention curricula.
• Experience working with culturally diverse populations, understanding their unique needs and developing tailored services and outreach programs to address disparities in child welfare services.
• Knowledge of or experience with trauma-informed care practices, particularly in creating and implementing programs that address the needs of children and families affected by abuse and neglect.
• Ability to pass background checks, including a criminal records check and Child Abuse registry.
• Experience managing a nonprofit organization or leading a major child-focused initiative, with a demonstrated ability to drive organizational growth, enhance community engagement, and increase programmatic impact.
• Prior experience providing court testimony as an expert or fact witness in child abuse cases.
• Proven experience in child abuse prevention education, including delivering nationally recognized training programs such as Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children or equivalent curricula, and developing educational materials tailored to diverse audiences.
• Familiarity with digital fundraising platforms and CRM systems (e.g., DonorPerfect, Salesforce) to track donations, engage with donors, and streamline fundraising efforts.
• Ability to work from the Alexandria, VA office for this in-office role

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