Chief Executive Officer; CEO

The Opportunity

National Council For Adoption  (NCFA) seeks an experienced executive who is passionate about the mission of NCFA and has a track record of providing adoption and support services to birth families, adoptive families, and children.

The next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) should be a thought leader in child welfare and have deep insight into the challenges and opportunities facing stakeholders in the entire adoption community. The new CEO will lead NCFA as it considers how to maximize impact by advancing sound adoption policies, improving practice, and strengthening the field amidst a changing external environment.

This position is in-office in Alexandria, VA, with regular domestic travel expected (usually a few days every three months, but occasionally with more frequency).

About NCFA

Founded in 1980, NCFA is a leading national organization dedicated to advancing a world in which all children, everywhere, have nurturing permanent families. Since its inception, NCFA has worked tirelessly to increase public understanding of adoption and promote a positive image of adoption as a loving way to build families.

NCFA advocates for ethical, sound policies and services regarding adoption in an inclusive, non-partisan way. NCFA monitors federal and state legislation, addressing policies and laws that create barriers to children finding the families they deserve. It also collaborates with adoption service providers, like-minded national advocacy and education groups, individuals, and child welfare authorities worldwide to promote the best interests of children everywhere.

NCFA has become the nation’s top authority on adoption issues, including domestic infant adoption, international adoption, and adoption from foster care. The organization is committed to being a lifelong trusted resource for adoptive families, adopted individuals, and birth families, as well as the professionals who serve them and the policymakers whose decisions impact them. NCFA has a budget of approximately $2M and a staff of 10.

The CEO Role

To advance NCFA’s mission, the CEO will serve as a trusted voice and resource for the adoption community (including birth parents, current and prospective adoptive parents, adoptees and adoption professionals), government officials, policymakers, and the public. This leader is responsible for growing and serving as a steward of NCFA’s financial resources, collaborating with diverse stakeholders in the adoption community and scaling current programmatic work (including research, education, and federal grant management among other activities), while maintaining a results-oriented approach focused on measurable outcomes.

Beyond oversight of organizational performance, the CEO will nurture a culture of innovation and teamwork. By setting a clear tone at the top, the CEO will advance the organization’s strategic vision.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Management

• Deliver outstanding strategic vision and leadership for NCFA in service of its mission, with a focus on development and allocation of resources to achieve ambitious but specific goals.
• Ensure that NCFA’s vision and values are expressed in every aspect of the organization, including its culture, personnel, and programs.
• Center the human right to a permanent, loving family in NCFA’s decision-making processes.
• Serve as the external and internal leader of NCFA by effectively communicating the mission and vision to a broad array of stakeholders, including adoptees, adoptive families, expectant parents, birth parents, adoption professionals, government officials, and policymakers.
• Inspire, motivate, and foster collaboration of a small NCFA team, whose members include both in-person and remote staff and interns.
• Maintain direct, consistent, and clear guidance for the team, including determining programmatic priorities, role responsibilities, and goal setting.
• Oversee the organizational infrastructure and establish clarity and consistency in roles, policies, processes, and internal operations to build a high-performance operation that well-supports the infrastructure and positions it for growth.

Fundraising

• Lead and…