Compensation
$165,000-$185,000 base salary depending on experience. Benefits include 4 weeks’ vacation, a 401(k) plan with a 4% employer match, health care and dental coverage, 12 sick days and parking reimbursement for the City of Sacramento garage.
Application Process
CPA has retained Glick Davis & Associates, LLC to facilitate this search on their behalf. To apply, interested candidates should e-mail their cover letter and resume to: CPA@glickdavis.com
Resume(s) received without a cover letter will not be considered.
California Psychological Association is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and values diversity and its role in building a more inclusive culture and ultimately a more capable organization. CPA embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.
Required Education:
Masters
Summary
California Psychological Association (CPA) is seeking an experienced association leader with a passion for psychology. The new CEO will lead a 501(c)(6) founded in 1948 with over 3,000 members that represents the largest and most diverse state psychological association in the country. California Psychological Association is a powerful advocacy voice for psychologists of all specialties and for issues pertaining to mental health. Priorities for the new CEO include facilitating a strategic planning process to enhance advocacy efforts, increase revenues, and improve its member services.
The Organization & Programs
The California Psychological Association is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional association for licensed psychologists and others affiliated with the delivery of psychological services.
CPA was founded in Los Angeles in 1948 initially to work for the licensure of psychologists. As the role of California psychologists expanded over the years, so did CPA. To interact with the state legislature more closely, CPA moved from Los Angeles to Sacramento in 1989, and has sponsored many legislative proposals that have resulted in greater access to mental health care services for the consumer and extended protection of the rights of psychologists to practice to the full extent allowed by law.
In addition to the role of advocate for the profession of psychology, CPA’s members regularly provide free public service through programs such as its Public Education Campaign and its well-respected disaster response service. Additionally, CPA works closely with the media to provide timely and accurate information to demonstrate the positive role that psychology plays in our everyday lives.
California Psychological Association has eight specialty divisions for its members:
Local CPA chapters are found throughout the state and represent regional groups of psychologists.
CPA values diversity, both in backgrounds and experiences. The delivery of psychological services is a universal concern, and CPA is interested in finding a leader who can strengthen justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts to shape the future of psychology in California.
California Psychological Association acts as a networking hub for psychology professionals, allowing them to learn from leaders in the field, connect with career opportunities, and develop their individual passions and pursuits within psychology. For additional information about California Psychological Association, see the organization’s website: https://www.cpapsych.org/
The Position and Key Priorities
The new CEO will lead a longstanding organization committed to advocating for psychologists and mental health treatment. The new CEO will have four direct reports, and a Board that is eager to position CPA for dynamic change and growth in the future. With a healthy level of operating cash and investments on hand, a 3,000+ membership base, and access to many of the thought leaders in the space, CPA can consider multiple strategic options to continue its mission in the future.
The new CEO will be expected to maintain, build, and create new relationships with divisions, chapters, members, and government leaders while serving as the public face of the organization and establishing consistent methods and processes for communication among all stakeholders. CPA is seeking a leader who is passionate and experienced in addressing the myriad of challenges in the psychology arena, while simultaneously addressing organizational changes to enhance the association’s performance and advocacy success.
The new CEO’s first 18-24 months should focus on the following top strategic priorities:
Enhance CPA’s advocacy efforts at the state level to protect and grow the practice of psychology across all specialties. Communicate effectively with CPA leaders, Board members, and CPA membership about public policy developments. Work with team members to create cohesive advocacy strategies to positively impact psychologists across the state.
Facilitate a strategic planning process in collaboration with the board, staff, division leaders, chapters, and members to establish clearly defined goals and strategies around:
Diversifying revenue streams by analyzing, testing and/or launching new or expanded non-dues revenue sources
Increase CPA’s relevance to a diverse community of psychologists and allied members throughout California, to increase participation and grow membership
Enhancing communication and coordination among CPA’s staff, divisions, chapters, and various member groups to advance advocacy goals and provide member services
Increase CPA’s member offerings such as webinars and continuing educational materials
Building the staff capacity to achieve CPA’s strategic goals
Improve CPA’s website and social media presence, and better employ technology to best reach and serve the membership, including communications with new generations of psychologists.
Ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the organization, by implementing initial steps to increase non-dues revenues and membership.
Establish consistent culture of teamwork and healthy communication across the organization. Provide guidance to existing and future staff and ensure alignment of their efforts with organizational goals.
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS
California Psychological Association is seeking an outgoing and dynamic nonprofit leader who is passionate about psychology. The ideal candidate will have a successful track record working in an association and possess an understanding of public policy advocacy, specifically with regards to psychology and its diverse specialties. Essential qualifications include:
Visionary leader with extensive experience in legislative advocacy who can communicate effectively with board, members, chapters, divisions, staff coalition partners and state government to build a team and improve on CPA’s advocacy strategy.
Excellent communicator with professional speaking experience who can serve as the face of the association, its advocacy efforts, and the diverse psychologists across the state.
Entrepreneurial innovation and change management experience. Someone who is open to new ideas from CPA’s large membership and who can bring their own ideas to advancing CPA’s mission in new ways.
A track record of innovating new revenue sources, including a relevant combination of non-dues sources of association revenues and/or philanthropic fundraising experience relevant for CPA.
Executive association or nonprofit leadership experience, ideally with a complex association, and including experience working with and reporting to a representative board of directors.
Experienced financial leader who can manage a limited budget to increase the scope of member services, plan for future staff increases, and emphasize growth planning over cost reductions.
Inclusive leader who values the diversity of California communities’ different strengths, experiences, and backgrounds, and who has a passion for improving justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the association.
Familiarity with the field of psychology including an understanding of the various practices, specialties, and regulatory environment. Being a psychologist is a plus.
Advanced degree in a relevant field such as psychology, law, business, public administration, or another similar field.
The California Psychological Association (CPA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional association for licensed psychologists and others affiliated with the delivery of psychological services.
Glick Davis & Associates is a strategic organizational development firm nationally recognized as specialized performance improvement change agents for the public and nonprofit sectors. We drive organizational outcomes by engaging with boards of directors, executive leadership and other senior leaders to assess honestly and implement tailored approaches to strengthening leadership, strategies, results and impact.
