President & CEO

East Bay SPCA; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

East Bay SPCA in Oakland, CA, seeks a President & Chief Executive Officer to lead a historic, mission-driven nonprofit focused on transforming animal welfare. The CEO will advance fundraising, external partnerships, and strategic growth while guiding operations, finance, and staff across departments.

The ideal candidate brings proven nonprofit leadership, comprehensive fundraising success, and a collaborative, transparent leadership style to foster trust with staff, volunteers, donors, and the

Qualifications

• Twelve+ years in an executive leadership role for a nonprofit.
• At least five years as a CEO/Executive Director or comparable senior executive with broad leadership experience.
• Experience leading a complex nonprofit with multiple programs, locations, staff and sizable budget.
• Demonstrated fundraising success with major gifts and relationships with high-capacity donors, foundations, corporations, and partners.
• Experience building, motivating, and developing staff in a cross-functional team setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead the organization with executive staff, ensuring trust, collaboration, accountability, inclusion and respect.
• Provide Board with timely, accurate information for governance and decision-making, including key metrics.
• Oversee development/marketing/communications to expand fundraising and visibility.
• Ensure programs, operations, medical services, finance, philanthropy, HR, and communications meet high standards.
• Drive risk management, compliance, and data-driven decision making across the organization.

Skills

Fundraising

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic planning

Board relations

Education

Bachelor’s degree (required)

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

ORGANIZATION: East Bay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (East Bay SPCA), founded in 1874, is proud to be one of the oldest shelters in the country and one of the most innovative in their region. Their mission is to transform the lives of cats and dogs by enriching the human-animal bond through respected and accessible expertise. They are a local non-profit that is not affiliated with any national organization. The organization is comprised of a strategic and engaged Board of Directors, experienced executive leadership, and a talented, energetic, dedicated and committed staff.

The organization is supported by approximately 100 staff and 500+ active volunteers. They have an annual operating budget of approximately $14 million and an endowment of $30 million. Their main campus is located in Oakland, with an adoption center in Dublin and spay/neuter surgery center also in Oakland.

In 2025, East Bay SPCA facilitated more than 2,700 adoptions, distributed pet food to nearly 700 households, and benefited from more than 35,000 volunteer hours.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP: The President & CEO reports directly to the Board of Directors.

POSITION SUMMARY: East Bay SPCA is seeking a President & Chief Executive Officer who is excited to inherit a skilled and dedicated organization recognized in the community as a leader in animal welfare. The President & CEO will bring proven experience building strategic plans, an experienced fundraiser and leading strong operational and financial performance, and will foster a culture of trust, collaboration, and accountability.

The ideal candidate will be a highly collaborative thinker with experience in managing nonprofit organizations. Previous animal welfare experience is not required but preferred. Prior extensive experience with nonprofit fundraising is required. This role will focus 60% of their time externally (fundraising,government/external affairs, visible thought leader and brand advocate) and 40% internally (operations, finance, human resources and shelter & veterinary administration).

Key staff that report to the CEO include the Vice President of Finance, Vice President of Medical Services, Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Philanthropy.

SCOPE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

I. LEADERSHIP OF THE ORGANIZATION

Staff

• Serve as an advocate for staff. Ensure the recognition of excellence in employee performance, as well as the development of employees’ skills and effectiveness at the organization.
• Build and sustain a high-performing, mission-driven leadership team.
• Develop, retain, and attract exceptional talent at all levels of the organization, that delivers specific measurable results in all aspects of EBSPCA’s deliverables.
• Foster an organizational culture characterized by trust, collaboration, accountability, inclusion, transparency, and respect.
• Ensure employees have the resources, support, development opportunities, and leadership necessary to perform at their best.
• Recognize the emotional demands inherent in animal welfare and veterinary work and promote a healthy, sustainable workplace.
• Champion professional development, succession planning, leadership development, and organizational learning.
• Lead the strategic planning and implementation of EBSPCA’s strategic plan.

Board

• Develop a strong, transparent, and trusting partnership with the Board Chair and Board of Directors.
• Provide the Board with timely, accurate, and meaningful information necessary for effective governance and decision-making. Ensure periodic and proactive reporting to the Board on the financial and operational status of EBSPCA that includes key metrics.
• Support the Board in strategic planning, policy development, financial oversight, CEO evaluation, and organizational stewardship.
• Engage Board members according to their individual expertise, networks, resources, and capacity to advance the mission.
• Ensure the Board is aligned with the organization's vision and goals.

II. DEVELOPMENT/MARKETING/COMMUNICATIONS

• Working with the Vice President of Philanthropy, expand and enhance a diversified fundraising program that includes, but is not limited to, major individual giving, planned giving, foundation, corporate, government, in‑kind, and special events.
• Serve as the organization’s chief ambassador and principal relationship builder with major donors, foundations, corporations, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
• Partner closely with the philanthropy team and Board to strengthen a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.
• Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward significant individual and institutional donors.
• Build and deepen relationships with high-capacity Bay Area philanthropists and animal welfare supporters.
• Engage Board members and other volunteer leaders as effective ambassadors and fundraisers.
• Establish community and business partnerships to achieve EBSPCA’s vision.
• Act as the lead spokesperson for EBSPCA and represent EBSPCA at public functions.
• Cultivate and develop increased visibility of EBSPCA and foster excellent public relations to enhance the organization’s image and the stature of those served by EBSPCA.
• Ensure that fundraising strategy is closely connected to compelling organizational priorities, outcomes, and stories of impact.
• Working with the Vice President of Philanthropy, responsible for developing and implementing the marketing and communications plan.
• Strengthen the organization’s visibility and influence throughout the East Bay and greater Bay Area.
• Build strong relationships with government officials, municipal animal services, veterinarians, animal welfare organizations, foundations, corporations, community organizations, media, and other strategic partners.
• Develop collaborative partnerships that expand access to veterinary care, behavioral resources, pet support, education, adoption, and other services.
• Take an active role as a thought leader in animal welfare.

III. FINANCE/OPERATIONS/ADMINISTRATION

• Maintain rigorous financial oversight and ensure the long‑term financial health and sustainability of the organization.
• Develop and manage an annual budget and operating plan for the organization, as well as maintain an appropriate cash reserve.
• Work closely with the Vice President of Finance, Board Finance and Audit Committees on budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, investment decisions, and risk management.
• Working with the Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Finance on the organization’s operational and capital fiscal performance.
• Align financial resources with strategic priorities and organizational impact.
• Develop diversified and sustainable revenue strategies.
• Ensure responsible stewardship of donor and community resources.
• Execute the strategic plan, driving towards desired outcomes. Report on said outcomes. Ensure that quality data is captured, analyzed, and utilized to inform data‑driven decisions. Based on operating results and data analysis, make the appropriate adjustments and/or recommendations to influence the plan/strategy going forward.
• Provide effective leadership of the organization’s programs, operations, medical services, finance, philanthropy, human resources, communications, and other functions.
• Establish clear expectations, accountability, decision‑making processes, and performance measures for the senior leadership team.
• Ensure that animal care, veterinary medicine, sheltering, adoption, behavior and training, foster care, education, and community programs operate at the highest standards.
• Maintain a strong culture of safety, compassion, professionalism, accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure appropriate organizational infrastructure, policies, technology, systems, and talent are in place to support future growth.
• Effectively manage organizational risk, regulatory compliance, insurance, legal matters, and reputational considerations.

IV. PROGRAMS AND ANIMAL WELFARE

• Working with the Vice Presidents of Medical Services and Operations, ensure the highest standards of animal welfare, veterinary medicine, shelter operations, adoption, foster care, behavior, training, and enrichment.
• Promote evidence‑based approaches to animal welfare and positive‑reinforcement training.
• Ensure that organizational decisions reflect both compassion and sound professional judgment.
• Support continued innovation in preventing animal homelessness and addressing the underlying challenges facing pets and their families.
• Maintain a strong commitment to accessibility and to removing barriers that prevent community members from obtaining animal welfare resources.
• Ensure that the organization remains focused on measurable outcomes for both animals and people.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Twelve+ years in an executive leadership role for a nonprofit.
• At least five years of experience as a CEO, President, Executive Director or comparable senior executive with broad leadership experience.
• Experience leading a complex nonprofit organization with significant operating scale, multiple programs and/or locations, substantial staff, and a similar sized annual budget.
• Demonstrated fundraising success, including major gifts and relationships with high‑capacity donors, foundations, corporations, and other philanthropic partners.
• Experience in building, motivating, and developing staff as an effective leader within a cross‑functional team setting.

EDUCATION: A bachelor’s degree is required. An advanced degree would be preferred.

The complete position description can be found at: