Job Description

Chief Executive Officer

Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services

Los Angeles, California

The Moran Company ( is pleased to partner with Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services in Los Angeles, California to recruit the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer.

The mission of Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services ( is to support children and youth and their families, in and at risk of foster care, to build hope and achieve bright futures through wellness, education, relationships and career-focused services and resources Founded in 1914 as Strickland Home for Boys, it evolved into Optimist Boys’ Home and Ranch in the 1930s and later became Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services in 1999. Optimist has a rich heritage and an enduring commitment to serving youth in and at risk of foster care through innovative programs and services. It has stood as a beacon of hope, addressing the evolving needs of young people – often vulnerable and marginalized – through education, counseling, housing support and resources.

Today, the organization operates with an $18M annual budget and 135 employees and provides a full continuum of care aimed at supporting the diverse needs of youth and families throughout the Los Angeles region. Mental health resources are available to young people experiencing emotional, psychological or behavioral challenges. Optimist’s wraparound services help families provide a safe and nurturing home for vulnerable people – especially Transition Age Youth aging out of the foster care system – for economic success. Short-term housing options are currently available to those young people who turn to Optimist with limited options or needing significant care, including youth who have been victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services is seeking its next dynamic entrepreneurial leader to steer the agency into new funding sources, programming opportunities and creative ideas for repurposing its significant real estate assets.

The Chief Executive Officer is responsible to the Board of Directors and oversees all agency operations focusing on priorities that serve the organization's mission. The CEO is responsible for implementing the vision and executing the policies established by the Board of Directors, assuming full accountability for operational issues and all management decisions.

Qualified applicants will have a bachelor’s degree in a field related to the organization’s mission, a master’s degree is preferred. 5-7 years’ executive leadership experience, with 5 in a related field. Experience administering services to families, adults, youth and/or children. The skills necessary to oversee human resources and financial management matters. The ability to work effectively and proactively with other providers, and local, state and federal entities.

The annual salary range for this position is $265,000 - $290,000. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, vacation and sick days, 12 holidays per year, retirement plan with employer match, life insurance, and disability insurance.

The search for the new Chief Executive Officer is being conducted for Optimist by The Moran Company. To apply for this position, submit a cover letter and resume to Dacia Moore through the secure online portal. Resume should include all professional education and experience, dates of employment (month and year) and position/title and organization names. Cover letter should articulate relevant experience and fit within the stated preferences of the position. Applications accepted through January 10, 2025.

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