Chief Executive Officer

Tennyson Center for Children; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 175,000 - 215,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance

Generous Paid Time Off

13 paid holidays

Retirement Plan with a match up to 4%

Employee Assistance Program

Professional Development Assistance

Job summary

Tennyson Center for Children seeks an Executive Chief Officer to lead organizational strategy, fundraising, and operations from our Denver campus. This full‑time, on‑site role reports to the Board and will collaborate with senior leadership to drive mission impact and program excellence.

The CEO will oversee finance, program development, and development efforts while maintaining strong community and donor relationships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Five or more years of leadership experience in child‑serving or behavioral health organizations.
• Seven or more years of executive‑level experience managing personnel, supervision, and business development for a multi‑million‑dollar budget.
• Proven fundraising success with individual donors, foundations and institutional funders.
• Colorado driver’s license (or ability to obtain).
• All positions require pre‑employment checks including drug test and background checks.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Partner with the Board to execute a multi‑year strategic plan and ensure alignment across departments.
• Financial Stewardship: Oversee the budget, revenue forecasting, and annual audits.
• Fundraising & Development: Serve as chief fundraiser and spokesperson to cultivate donors and funders.
• Operational Excellence: Ensure safe, high‑quality, data‑driven programs with regulatory compliance.
• Team & Culture: Direct and mentor a senior leadership team and foster an inclusive, trauma‑informed culture.
• Community Advocacy: Liaise with policymakers and state agencies to support abused and neglected children.
• Compliance and Quality: Adhere to policies and best practices across all operations.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising

Strategic planning

Financial stewardship

Regulatory compliance

Board communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Job description

Job Summary and Purpose

At Tennyson Center for Children, our core values guide everything we do. We are Joyful, finding optimism and strength even in challenges; Curious, always learning and innovating to provide the best care; Dependable, building trust through reliability; Authentic, celebrating uniqueness and creating safe, inclusive spaces; and Compassionate, deeply caring for our teammates, our clients, and the community we serve. If these values resonate with you, we’d love to have you join our team and help us make a lasting impact on the lives of children across Colorado!

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) oversees and is accountable for all aspects of operations, fundraising, financial management, program development, and strategic planning. The CEO is the President of the Corporation, reports to the Board of Directors, and attends Board and committee meetings as a non‑voting participant. The CEO manages the Chief Program Officer, the Chief Finance and Operations Officer, and the Chief Development Officer.

The CEO is a visionary leader who is action‑oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and who has an innovative approach to business planning, a passion for social impact, and the ability to foster collaboration among diverse donors, funders, community stakeholders, board members, staff and volunteers. This role requires the ability to run a stable and high‑functioning organization in a dynamic and autonomous environment, with a strong operating model at both the detail and big‑picture levels. In addition to their operational responsibilities, the CEO will be a passionate leader who inspires others to engage with our mission. They will work closely with the Board of Directors to ensure that the organization is fulfilling its mission and serving its constituents effectively.

This is a full‑time, in‑person executive leadership role based at Tennyson’s Denver, Colorado campus. Regular, visible, on‑site leadership in Denver is an essential function of the CEO position.

Essential Job Functions

• Strategic Leadership: Partner with the Board to execute a multi‑year strategic plan, ensuring alignment across all departments and long‑term sustainability.
• Financial Stewardship: Oversee the financial model and revenue mix, be accountable for budget performance, revenue forecasting, and timely corrective‑action plans, and ensure accurate financial reporting and annual audits.
• Fundraising & Development: Serve as chief fundraiser and primary spokesperson, cultivating major donors, foundations, and institutional funders to build a culture of philanthropy.
• Operational Excellence: Ensure the delivery of safe, high‑quality, data‑driven programs while maintaining strict compliance with all licensing, accreditation, and regulatory standards (CDHS, CDE, BHA, COA).
• Team & Culture: Direct and mentor a senior leadership team; foster a diverse, accountable, and high‑performing culture that prioritizes professional growth and trauma‑informed practice.
• Community Advocacy: Serve as the key liaison with policymakers and state agencies, advocating for the resources and policies needed to support abused and neglected children and their families
• Supports and advances quality improvement efforts through adherence to Tennyson Center policies and procedures, regulatory standards, and best practices

Physical Requirements

• Minimal physical requirements, occasional lifting up to 10 pounds

Working Conditions

• General office environment
• May require traveling to and from local or state‑wide events as needed

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: A Bachelor’s degree in a related field. Professional substitution: A minimum of five [5] years of leadership experience in child‑serving or behavioral health organizations.
• Senior Management: A minimum of seven [7] years of executive‑level experience managing personnel, supervision, and business development commensurate with an organization operating a $10 million budget.
• Fundraising: Demonstrated personal success in fundraising, and the ability to cultivate and sustain relationships with individual donors, foundations and institutional funders.
• Financial & System Stewardship: Demonstrated success evaluating, managing, and stabilizing complex financial and organizational systems to optimize efficiency and success.
• All candidates must have (or qualify to obtain) a current Colorado driver’s license
• All positions require a pre‑employment drug test, FBI fingerprint check, CBI criminal records check, child abuse registry check, motor vehicle record check, academic record verification, and reference checks

Preferred Qualifications

• Clinical & Program Models: Experience with, and commitment to, trauma‑informed care and positive youth development models serving high‑risk youth with complex needs.
• Regulatory & Funding Streams: Direct experience with government contracts, Medicaid, or other public funding (such as the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing), and in building programs sustained by blended public and private funding.
• Compliance Standards: Proven familiarity with licensing and accreditation standards, such as the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), and the Council on Accreditation (COA).

Benefits

For employees working 30 or more hours per week:

• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance options
• Generous Paid Time Off
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Mental Health days to regroup & recharge
• Retirement Plan with a match up to 4% of your annual salary
• Pet, Legal & Identity Theft insurance options
• HSA & FSA options
• Accident, Critical Illness, Disability & Hospital Indemnityinsurance options
• Company paid Life Insurance & AD&D with options to purchase additional coverage
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Professional Development Assistance
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs

The budgeted salary range for this position is $175,000 to $215,000 and will be commensurate with the experience level of the chosen candidate; Tennyson Center is open to further discussion based on the candidate's experience and skill set if necessary and would encourage all interested and qualified applicants to apply.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

EEOC

Must demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States in compliance with federal law. All persons hired will be required to verify their eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Tennyson Center for Children currently does not sponsor work visas.

Tennyson Center is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer; we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We seek applicants of diverse backgrounds and prohibit discrimination based on race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, military status, conditions relating to pregnancy or childbearing, and/or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. If you have any questions, email our team at [e-mail]. We appreciate your interest in Tennyson Center for Children.