Description
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THE ORGANIZATION
The California Building Industry Association (CBIA) Board of Directors, upon the planned retirement of its highly regarded President and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Dan Dunmoyer, seeks an exceptional executive to lead CBIA into its next era of statewide leadership and impact.
THE POSITION
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President & Chief Executive Officer has overall responsibility for the leadership, strategy, financial strength, organizational effectiveness, advocacy impact, and external presence of CBIA. This is an opportunity to aggressively elevate the Association’s influence, strongly advance its role as the unifying voice of the California building industry, prepare the organization for its next decade of forceful leadership, and help create an environment where more Californians have the opportunity to achieve homeownership. For an executive motivated by California public policy challenges, organizational leadership accomplishments, purposeful relationship-building and lasting statewide impact, few organizations offer a broader platform to make a profound difference.
The new CEO will inherit a respected and integrity-based organization with experienced staff, strong industry relationships, substantial financial resources, and a well-established presence in Sacramento. The Board expects the CEO to build boldly upon that foundation—not simply preserve it—while executing an ambitious agenda for the next several years.
The CEO will serve simultaneously as an engaged enterprise leader, forceful industry advocate, effective coalition builder, respected Board partner, and clear public voice for California's homebuilding industry.
Lead California's Housing Agenda
The CEO will build upon CBIA's leadership to California's housing debate—anticipating issues rather than simply reacting to them, and advancing legislative, regulatory, legal, and political strategies that measurably improve the environment for housing production. This will require exceptional political judgment, a clear-eyed understanding of how policy is shaped in California, and the ability to translate the hard realities of building housing into compelling economic and public policy arguments.
Broaden CBIA's Coalition and Influence
A central priority is to extend CBIA's reach beyond its traditional constituencies. The CEO will build relationships with organizations and leaders in banking, insurance, technology, retail, higher education, affordable housing, business, labor and other sectors affected by California's housing shortage, including coalitions with organizations that may not naturally identify themselves with the building industry but share common objectives. The objective is to create a broader and more influential coalition around the economic and social consequences of insufficient housing production.
Expand the Membership and Leadership Community
The CEO will lead efforts to grow and diversify membership, deepen engagement with existing members, and strengthen the relationship between CBIA and its local Building Industry Associations. The CEO will expand builder/developer membership, increase membership retention, engage affordable housing builders and other industry segments, activate Board members as ambassadors, and develop the next generation of volunteer leadership. The CEO will also ensure that PCBC, educational programs, member communications, and leadership development activities reinforce the value of belonging to CBIA.
Advance a Strong, Enduring Institution
The CEO will be responsible for CBIA as a business as well as an advocacy organization. Priorities include improving net profitability through revenue growth, operational efficiencies and expense discipline; maintaining strong reserves; enhancing PCBC's profitability; and investing in organizational capabilities. The CEO will also thoughtfully adopt AI and other emerging tools to improve member targeting, communications, advocacy, and organizational effectiveness.
The CEO will develop, retain, and recruit exceptional staff, elevate performance and accountability, strengthen financial discipline and organizational bench strength, and work with the Board to ensure CBIA has the leadership and resources required for greater impact and sustained success.
COMPENSATION, TRAVEL AND INTERVIEW PROCESS
CBIA offers a competitive base salary range of $500,000 to $650,000, reflecting the breadth of experience and leadership backgrounds that may be appropriate for this important role, and a generous benefits package. The upper end of the salary range is reserved for someone bringing unusually significant CEO experience, California advocacy stature, industry relationships, and demonstrated organizational/financial leadership to advance CBIA’s influence and impact throughout the state. The Search Committee will consider the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience in determining final compensation.
The position requires approximately 20% travel, primarily in-state day travel. Additional travel is expected during the first year.
Selected candidates will participate in interviews with the Search Committee on Tuesday, November 3rd in Sacramento, with finalist interviews the following morning. Employment will be contingent upon successful completion of reference, background, and credential verification consistent with CBIA's executive hiring practices.
PROCEDURE FOR CANDIDACY
Confidential inquiries, nominations, and applications are welcomed and held in confidence. Interested candidates should submit:
* A current chronological resume outlining executive leadership experience and organizational responsibilities (to include budget size and number of staff reports)
* Base salary range expectations.
Application materials should be submitted no later than COB September 30, 2026 to:
CBIA-CEO@wilcoxcareer.com
Requirements
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (in priority order)
* Significant success navigating California politics, the Legislature, the Governor’s Office and regulatory environment, with demonstrated advocacy, policy or political accomplishments.
* Executive leadership experience in a trade association, membership or advocacy organization, business, government or similarly complex organization.
* Strong financial and business leadership, including budgeting, resource allocation, revenue development and organizational sustainability.
* Proven success leading, retaining and developing talented professionals and working effectively with a volunteer Board and senior corporate executives.
* Experience building coalitions beyond an industry's traditional allies and managing productive relationships with diverse members, affiliated organizations, policymakers and stakeholders.
* Experience using communications, data and emerging technology strategically to advance advocacy, member engagement and organizational effectiveness.
* Familiarity with housing, homebuilding, land use, development, real estate or another highly regulated industry is a plus.
COMPETENCIES (in priority order)
* Politically savvy and bipartisan
* Dynamic executive presence
* Strategic and results-oriented
* Financially savvy with a business mindset
* Proactive and assertive advocate
* Exceptional communicator and listener
EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS (in priority order)
* A bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and substantial executive experience is preferred; an advanced degree is a plus.
CULTURE (in priority order)
* Integrity and trustworthiness
* Politically effective, pragmatic and bipartisan
* Laser-focused on member value
