Description

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The California Youth Defender Center (CYDC) is a nonprofit organization that trains defenders throughout California and advocates for policy and legislation on behalf of youth in the juvenile delinquency system statewide. We have delivered catalytic impact that belies our size since our founding in 1999. At a time when the juvenile justice system in California is experiencing substantial, persistent challenge, we are looking for an exceptional leader to serve as our next Executive Director.

The next Executive Director will cultivate strong relationships with staff, the Board of Directors, partners, and stakeholders, while fostering collaboration across California’s youth justice ecosystem. This role requires a hands-on, values-driven leader with strong management and fundraising experience and a deep commitment to equity and justice reform. The ideal candidate will bring a track record of leading impactful change, building high-performing teams, and navigating complexity with integrity, adaptability, and vision.

This is a unique opportunity to lead a respected and influential organization at a pivotal moment, shaping the future of youth justice in California and ensuring that all young people have access to the support and opportunities they deserve.

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH DEFENDER CENTER

CYDC seeks to set the standard for youth justice in California. Our statewide efforts seek to ensure that: 

• Every county has a holistic team ready to defend and transform the potential of each young person; 
• Every community has place-based alternatives to youth detention; and 
• Every child has an equitable chance to heal, grow and thrive. 

CYDC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. For more than 25 years, CYDC has strengthened youth defense in California by equipping defenders with the training, tools, and community needed to advocate effectively for young people. Through a small, experienced staff and a robust, dedicated, statewide network of members, CYDC delivers high-impact training, advances policy reform, engages in strategic litigation, and promotes equity to improve outcomes for youth. 

By pairing defender capacity building with advocacy and systems change, CYDC has helped drive significant reforms across California and continues to champion community-based solutions that reduce incarceration and strengthen pathways to opportunity for young people. 

CYDC is a leading voice in youth justice in California with four major initiatives:

• Legal Training and Support. CYDC guides over 2400 youth defenders and advocates so all young people in California are represented by skilled youth defense counsel with the requisite expertise to vigorously defend their clients’ rights.
• Coalition Building and Public Advocacy. CYDC collaborates on policy strategies as an integral member of the California Alliance for Youth and Community Justice (CAYCJ), the largest statewide coalition of system impacted and grassroots groups addressing racism and systemic reform. With CAYCJ, CYDC zealously advocates for community-based solutions that deliver better long-term outcomes for the tens of thousands of youth charged in California’s juvenile courts annually.
• Legislation and Amicus Briefs. CYDC co-sponsors transformative legislation, provides technical assistance to California lawmakers, and authors amicus briefs to shape the law in the appellate courts.
• Fighting Systemic Injustice. CYDC strives to expose, challenge, and correct discrimination and the disproportionate incarceration of young people of color through litigation, policy, media outreach, and publications.

More information about California Youth Defender Center may be found at www.cayouthdefenders.org/.

THE OPPORTUNITY

CYDC seeks a strategic, relational leader with strong executive presence, fundraising acumen, and a deep commitment to youth justice and related systems reforms in California. The next Executive Director will join CYDC at a critical moment in the organization’s evolution, ensuring ongoing stability while shepherding a long-term vision for impact. CYDC currently has a staff of three, and this role requires someone who is both hands-on and a visionary, with the skills to strategically and sustainably build and grow the organization. Opportunities for impact in this role include the following: 

Strategic Leadership. Continually develop bold new approaches and evaluate impact in collaboration with staff, members, and external partners.

Management. Ensure the ongoing stability and operation of the organization, including recruiting and leading a talented and diverse team. Oversee and optimize core organizational functions including fiscal planning, budgeting, general management, human resources, event planning, organizational culture, technology, safety and security, and legal compliance. 

Fundraising. Create and implement annual and long-term strategic fundraising plans, cultivating and stewarding sustained relationships with philanthropic partners and individual donors and securing the support necessary to ensure stability and growth. Partner with those who support CYDC work to ensure they are informed and engaged. 

Public Relations and Communication. Serve as a public-facing thought leader, spokesperson, and advocate for CYDC and the issue areas and campaigns we engage in to increase our visibility, amplify the voices of our members and partners, and help to shift the narrative about youth justice issues in California. Raise awareness and create urgency around matters of priority for CYDC. Ensure visibility and knowledge of CYDC in appropriate public arenas to ensure meaningful presence and influence in dialogue and decision-making. 

Board Relations. Build and maintain a robust partnership with the Board of Directors and ensure they have the tools and information needed to govern the organization. Provide regular reporting to inform the Board about CYDC operations, programs and activities, achievements, and challenges. Lead and coordinate input from the Advisory Board, ensuring alignment with the Strategic Plan and the ongoing development of this group. 

Partnerships and Collaborations. Play an active role in establishing and maintaining partnerships with our members, advocacy allies, and movement partners, and regularly identify opportunities for collaboration and greater impact.

WORK LOCATION, COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Work Location: This role is remote and can be based anywhere in California.

This is a full-time position. The salary range is $140,000 to $160,000, with a generous benefits package that includes health insurance, a 403b retirement plan with employer matching, eighteen paid holidays (including closure between Christmas and New Year’s Day), paid sick time, and four weeks of paid vacation.

TO APPLY

This search is being led by Ellen LaPointe and Phuong Quach of NPAG. Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Candidates may submit their cover letter, outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume via NPAG’s website.

Studies show that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every qualification. We do not expect every applicant to have every skill and qualification listed here, and we will consider the combination of formal education, training, and lived experience of each applicant. We are committed to supporting the career development of our employees and reflecting the diverse community around us. We strongly encourage people of color, women, and folks who are LGBTQ+ identifying, neurodivergent, and differently abled to apply.

Requirements

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Executive Leadership 

• Inspiring, values-driven leader with significant senior or executive-level experience leading an organization, team, or major initiative of comparable size and complexity. 
• Demonstrated track record of initiating and leading strategic change efforts that produced meaningful impact. 
• Skilled at leading through change management, conflicts and moments of growth with steadiness, humility, and clarity. 
• Ability to lead with high integrity, self-awareness, optimism, and a commitment to listening to and valuing diverse perspectives.
• Learner’s mindset with continuous curiosity and interest to grow in this role. 

Operations and Internal Management 

• Ability to work independently from home and manage a small staff remotely. 
• Strong people management with experience building, mentoring and supervising high-performing teams and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and learning. 
• Experience overseeing organizational operations, including planning, budgeting, staff coordination, and administrative systems. 
• Exceptional organizational, interpersonal, and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and navigate complexities. 
• Cultivate a strong team culture through clear structure, defined roles, and aligned organizational direction.

Legal & Youth Justice Expertise 

• Experience leveraging litigation, policy advocacy, and community-centered legal strategies to advance equity and challenge harmful systems. 
• Significant professional experience in criminal or youth justice, juvenile defense, movement lawyering, or youth defense policy and advocacy fields. 
• Understanding of youth justice systems, legal practice, and policy reform strategies, with an appreciation for the ways legal advocacy can support broader systems change. 
• Juris Doctor (J.D.) preferred, or equivalent deep experience working in close partnership with legal teams. 

Fundraising and Resource Development 

• Proven track record of cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major grants from philanthropic and government institutions and securing major gifts from individual donors.  
• Experience designing/overseeing long-term fundraising strategies, cultivating new donors and funder relationships. 

Movement & Community Partnership 

• Demonstrated commitment to racial justice, equity, and transformative change, with a history of working in partnership with impacted communities, grassroots organizations, families, and system-involved youth. 
• Knowledge and familiarity with the youth justice ecosystem in California.