Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Ralph Andersen; California (MO); On-site; USD 223,000 - 322,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare, Dental, Vision

ACERA retirement

457(b) Deferred Compensation

Life Insurance

Job summary

First 5 Alameda County is seeking a Deputy Chief Executive Officer to help lead the Agency through a defining moment for young children and families. The role requires strategic leadership, public policy acumen, and experience in managing complex programs within a public or private organization, with a track record of driving equity-centered outcomes for early childhood services.

Salary range and benefits reflect a competitive compensation package, with a strong emphasis on accountability,

Qualifications

• Eight (8) years of increasingly responsible experience in a public or private organization or community development agency, including five (5) years in a leadership and management capacity.
• Bachelor’s degree with major coursework in public policy, public administration, social services, public health, or a closely related field.
• Knowledge of strategic plan development, budget development and administration, and contract administration and management.

Responsibilities

• The Deputy CEO will help lead First 5 Alameda County through its transformation.
• Ability to align public funding, partners, and data to support an equity-centered early childhood system.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public administration, social services, public health, or related field

Job description

Deputy Chief Executive Officer – First 5 Alameda County

Client:First 5 Alameda County, Alameda, California
Position:Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Closing Date:October 7, 2026

First 5 Alameda County is seeking a Deputy Chief Executive Officer to help lead the Agency at a defining moment for young children and families, and for the systems designed to support them.

First 5 Alameda County is a public agency and system builder working to ensure every child — regardless of race, income, or neighborhood — has a strong start in life. They align public funding, partners, and data to build an integrated, equity-centered early childhood system that supports the whole child, whole family, and whole community.

Alameda County is making historic investments in early childhood. First 5 Alameda County is at the center of translating those investments into lasting change — stewarding significant public resources, aligning partners and programs, and building a stronger, more coordinated early childhood system. That opportunity brings an equally significant responsibility: to build the systems, infrastructure, and organizational capacity necessary to deliver.

First 5 is evolving alongside the work it leads. The Agency is growing in scale, complexity, and responsibility, expanding its role as a funder, administrator, partner, advocate, and system builder. More resources are flowing into communities. More partners are working together. And the expectations for strong execution, accountability, transparency, and measurable impact have never been higher.

The next Deputy CEO will help lead First 5 through this transformation.

Experience and Training

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. Additional experience and/or education can be substituted to meet typical qualifications. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Eight (8) years of increasingly responsible experience in a public or private organization or community development agency, including five (5) years in a leadership and management capacity; and equivalent to a bachelor’s degree with major coursework in public policy, public administration, social services, public health, or a closely related field.
• Additional relevant work experience may be substituted to meet the college coursework/ bachelor’s degree standard.

Knowledge of the Following is Strongly Desired

• Principles and practices of strategic plan development; budget development and administration; and contract administration and management.
• General principles of risk management related to the functions of the assigned area.
• Functions, authority, and responsibilities of an appointed Commission.
• Early childhood programs and agencies on a local, state, and national level.
• Local, state, and federal government operations and funding streams.
• Methods and techniques of preparing technical and administrative reports, and general business correspondence.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations as well as industry standards and best practices pertinent to the assigned area of responsibility

Compensation and Benefits

First 5 Alameda County offers a competitive salary with excellent benefits and the current salary range for the Deputy Chief Executive Officer position is $223,349.10 to $321,622.86. Placement within this range is negotiable and dependent upon experience and qualifications. First 5 Alameda County also offers an attractive benefits package which includes the following:

• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision coverage
• Retirement Plan through Alameda County Employees Association (ACERA)
• 457(b) Deferred Compensation
• Life Insurance