Job Description

WHAT WE DO

For more than 60 years, MAAC has been a champion for underrepresented communities throughout San Diego County, providing families with resources to achieve self-sufficiency, economic mobility, and realize their aspirations. What began in South San Diego has grown into a regional organization operating nearly 40 sites from San Ysidro to Fallbrook, with a recent expansion into Imperial County. With an annual operating budget of $68 million, MAAC employs nearly 450 staff (including 300 union-represented) who provide life-changing services to 100,000 individuals annually through programs in 5 core focus areas: Education, Economic Development, Health & Wellbeing, Housing, and Advocacy & Leadership Development. Today, MAAC is one of the region’s largest nonprofit social service organizations, helping individuals and families build pathways to self-sufficiency, economic mobility, and lasting opportunity. For more information, please visit:

LEADERSHIP & CULTURE

MAAC is governed by a highly engaged and connected Board of 11 community leaders and supported by an experienced Executive Leadership Team. The President & CEO reports directly to the Board and leads a diverse, mission-driven workforce serving communities across the region. MAAC invests in leaders from within: more than one-third of its employees have served the organization for 10 years or longer. Many team members first came to MAAC as clients and later returned to serve their communities, bringing lived experience that deepens the organization’s impact and connection to the families it serves. This shared commitment to mission, people, and place is the heart of the MAAC Familia.

MAAC’s culture is rooted in collaboration, community, and possibility. At the same time, the organization operates within a complex environment shaped by public funding, regulation, policy, and changing community needs. MAAC seeks a President & CEO who will bring energy and clarity to that complexity—inspiring people, strengthening culture, championing innovation, and mobilizing partners around a bold vision for impact.

This President & CEO will serve as a visible and influential voice for economic mobility in San Diego and beyond. MAAC’s breadth of work, spanning housing, early childhood development, education, workforce, and economic opportunity, provides its President & CEO a unique platform to shape the regional and broader conversation about what it takes for families to thrive, build economic security, and break cycles of poverty.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Salary – $320,000 – $400,000, based on experience
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer contribution
• PTO: 20 paid days off, 40 hours of Management Leave, 8.66 hours of sick time accrued per month, 14 paid holidays plus 1 floating holiday
• Flexible Spending Accounts and Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Voluntary supplemental insurance options

LOCATION

This is an in-person leadership position based in Chula Vista, California, with regular travel to MAAC’s Vista, CA campus and other program locations throughout San Diego County. Periodic travel to Sacramento, Washington, D.C., and other cities for conferences, advocacy, and partner meetings is also required.

POSITION SUMMARY

MAAC is seeking a bold, grounded, and community-centered leader to guide one of the region’s most established nonprofit organizations into its next chapter. In close partnership with the Board of Directors, the President & CEO will be accountable for MAAC’s impact, financial sustainability, organizational culture, and long-term success. This leader will manage and develop an experienced Executive Leadership Team of five direct reports: the Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Interim Vice President & Chief Impact Officer, Chief People Officer, and Executive Support Manager.

The President & CEO will lead a large, complex, multi-site enterprise spanning diverse programs, funding streams, and communities. The successful candidate will pair visionary, community-centered leadership with strong financial and operational discipline, positioning MAAC to respond to changing needs, navigate shifts in government funding, and pursue opportunities for responsible growth.

As MAAC’s chief ambassador, the President & CEO will be a visible, trusted presence across the organization and the communities it serves. This leader will build meaningful relationships with employees, residents, labor representatives, government agencies, funders, elected officials, community leaders, and partners throughout the region, state, and nation. Internally, the President & CEO will foster transparency and accountability, develop leadership capacity, and align MAAC’s people, programs, and resources around its mission and strategic priorities.

First Year Priorities

• Listening, Learning, and Relationship Building: Build trust and credibility with employees, Board members, community stakeholders, labor representatives, government agencies, and partners. Maintain a visible presence across all MAAC locations and invest significant time in listening and learning.
• Financial Stability and Revenue Diversification: Assess MAAC's long-term funding opportunities and develop strategies that strengthen organizational resilience, diversify revenue sources, and support responsible growth amid evolving federal and state funding environments.
• Real Estate and Community Development Strategy: Evaluate MAAC's real estate portfolio and development pipeline, and establish a clear framework for future investments, community development opportunities, and long-term asset management.
• Organizational Alignment and Culture Setting: Assess leadership structure, establish clear goals and accountability measures, strengthen labor relations, and position the organization for long-term success. Develop a roadmap for policies, procedures, and standard operating practices that promote consistency and continuity across the organization.
• Strategic Planning: Complete the final phase of the current strategic plan, while partnering with the Board, leadership team, staff, and community stakeholders in shaping MAAC's next strategic plan and long-term vision for growth, sustainability, advocacy, and impact.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Lead the development and execution of MAAC's strategic vision and priorities.
• Engage proactively with the Board of Directors to strengthen governance, strategic oversight, and shared accountability.
• Lead the organization through external challenges, growth opportunities, and change.
• Ensure alignment between mission, strategy, programs, and resource allocation.

Financial Stewardship & Sustainability

• Oversee the financial health and long-term sustainability of the organization.
• Provide oversight of budgeting, forecasting, audits, financial controls, and organizational risk management.
• Lead revenue diversification efforts across public funding, philanthropy, partnerships, and other funding sources.
• Monitor emerging policy and funding issues that may affect MAAC and the communities it serves.

People & Culture Leadership

• Lead, develop, inspire, and retain a high-performing Executive Leadership Team.
• Foster a healthy, inclusive, mission-driven culture rooted in respect, accountability, and transparency.
• Advance talent development, succession planning, and employee engagement.
• Build constructive labor-management relationships and lead effectively within a large, unionized workforce.

Operational Excellence

• Ensure effective systems, infrastructure, compliance, and operational performance across all programs and locations.
• Oversee organizational performance, risk management, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Use data and community feedback to guide decisions, improve programs, and evaluate impact.

External Relations, Partnerships & Advocacy

• Advance MAAC's advocacy efforts and commitment to meaningful social change.
• Elevate MAAC as a leading regional voice in community development, economic opportunity, education, housing, and family well-being.
• Serve as MAAC's chief spokesperson and represent the organization with credibility, warmth, and conviction.
• Strengthen relationships with government agencies, elected officials, funders, community leaders, and strategic partners.
• Serve as a visible and influential voice for economic mobility in San Diego and beyond.

BACKGROUND PROFILE

• A deep commitment to community impact and to the diverse populations MAAC serves.
• Significant executive leadership experience in a complex nonprofit, public-sector, community development, human services, or mission-driven organization.
• Knowledge of affordable housing, community development, education, health and human services, workforce development, or related fields is preferred.
• A bachelor's degree is required; an advanced degree is preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading large, multi-site organizations with diverse funding streams and operational complexity.
• Strong financial and operational acumen, including experience overseeing large budgets, risk, and compliance-driven environments.
• A record of working effectively with governing boards and engaging a broad range of community stakeholders.
• The presence and emotional intelligence to inspire confidence, build trust, and authentically engage employees, partners, residents, and community leaders.
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and change management skills.
• Experience navigating government funding, public policy, regulatory environments, and labor relations.
• Cultural humility and a nuanced understanding of the communities MAAC serves. Bilingual and bicultural experience is highly valued.

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