CEO​/President

Salary & Location

Salary Range: $150,000 - $180,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Location:

Onsite, Bakersfield Union Office.

The Farm workers Institute of Education & Leadership Development (FIELD) is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1978 by Farm worker Leader César

E. Chávez. Our core purpose is to empower underserved communities to achieve self‑sufficiency through education, workforce development, and employee‑owned social enterprises. We advance our mission through a continuum of programs, including:

• EPIC de Cesar Chavez High School (EPIC) – a WASC‑accredited charter high school for adult learners providing standards‑aligned instruction, ESL, and pathways that integrate academics with workforce preparation.
• Cesar Chavez Environmental Corps (CCEC) – FIELD’s state‑certified local conservation corps (est. 2017), certified by the California Conservation Corps to operate statewide. CCEC employs young adults (ages 18–26) as paid Corps members and provides workforce training while delivering critical environmental, recycling, emergency, and community services.

Our Core Values—Integrity, Innovation, Opportunity, and “Sí Se Puede/Yes We Can” guide our decisions and culture.

The President/CEO leads a values‑driven organization addressing California’s most urgent challenges—wildfire resilience, climate adaptation, clean‑energy workforce pipelines, and adult education access—through EPIC and CCEC. In partnership with a committed Board of Directors, the President/CEO sets strategy, ensures operational and financial excellence across a distributed footprint, builds a transparent, data‑driven management system, and serves as FIELD’s public voice with communities, funders, and policymakers.

The President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides visionary leadership to advance FIELD’s mission and strategic objectives; ensures program excellence and compliance; and cultivates partnerships and resources to sustain impact and growth. The President/CEO directly supports the Director of Programs for EPIC de Cesar Chavez High School EPIC to align academic strategy, compliance, and workforce integration. The President/CEO reports to the Board of Directors.

Exempt (Executive)

Full‑time

Strategic Vision & Leadership

• Collaborate with the Board and senior leadership to define and execute FIELD’s long‑term strategy.
• Communicate mission, goals, and progress clearly to internal and external stakeholders.

Organizational Oversight

• Oversee operational, financial, and programmatic performance; ensure alignment with strategy, policy, and risk‑management standards.
• Direct and support senior leaders to implement programs effectively.
• Provide strategic oversight and advocacy for EPIC to ensure instructional quality, accountability, and regulatory compliance.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communications

• Build strong relationships with community leaders, government agencies, educational institutions, funders, and partners.
• Serve as FIELD’s public representative; elevate visibility and earned media opportunities to showcase impact and support recruitment.

Financial Management & Sustainability

• Lead budgeting, multi‑year financial planning, and stewardship of resources.
• Secure and diversify revenue (grants, contracts, philanthropy, partnerships) in alignment with mission and compliance requirements.

Workforce Development & Equity

• Champion a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) across programs and operations.
• Advance workforce pathways responsive to FIELD’s target populations and California’s labor‑market needs.

Program Excellence & Compliance

• Drive continuous improvement, innovation, and measurable outcomes.
• Provide direct support to the Director of Educational Programs for EPIC to implement curriculum improvements, professional learning, and student‑success initiatives.

Board Collaboration & Governance

• Partner with the Board to strengthen governance and policy.
• Provide regular, data‑driven updates on performance, risks, and opportunities; coordinate staff support for effective oversight.

Leadership…