Job
President & CEO
| Location | Oakland, CA |
| Date Posted | July 11, 2025 |
| Job ID | 12948 |
| Employment Type | Retained |
Scion Executive Search is honored to partner with The Greenlining Institute in the search for a visionary President & CEO who is deeply committed to advancing social justice and equity and ensuring that race is never a barrier to opportunity for communities of color. This is an extraordinary opportunity to lead a nationally recognized organization unapologetically committed to dismantling structural racism and building a just economy where communities of color can thrive. The next President & CEO will be a courageous and compassionate changemaker who leads with purpose, uplifts community voice, and boldly advances Greenlining’s powerful legacy. This full-time, hybrid leadership role is based in Oakland, CA, and offers an annual salary of $300,000- $350,000 DOE and a comprehensive benefits package. We strongly encourage applications from those whose lived experience reflects the communities Greenlining serves.
Position Overview
The Greenlining Institute seeks a bold and visionary strategist—an inclusive leader who embodies the spirit of justice, collaboration, and transformative change. The President & CEO will chart the path forward for one of the nation’s most impactful racial and economic justice organizations. The President & CEO will harness the collective power of staff, partners, and community to accelerate systems change and drive equitable outcomes. This role calls for a relationship-centered leader with deep emotional intelligence, the courage to challenge the status quo, and the skills to lead an organization through its next chapter of strategic growth. Grounded in Greenlining’s mission, the President & CEO will be the driving force behind a movement for a more just and inclusive economy.
Responsibilities
Strategic Direction & Oversight
Board & Staff Relations
Fundraising & Financial Management
Communication & External Relations
Required Experience
Compensation & Benefits:
In addition to a competitive annual salary of up to $300,000-$350,000 DOE, The Greenlining Institute offers a very generous benefits package that includes medical (100% covered for employee and family), dental, vision, life insurance, retirement plan, FSA, commuter benefits, professional development, 16 paid holidays, generous PTO, and sick days.
TO APPLY:
The Greenlining Institute has retained the services of Scion Executive Search, a national executive search firm specializing in mission-driven organization recruitment, to assist in conducting this important search. Please apply with your resume and cover letter formatted in Microsoft Word for immediate consideration via https://scionstaffing.com/job/12948/
Please address applications to:
Krista Sietsema, Senior Executive Search Principal
Scion Executive Search
Review of applications, nominations, and expressions of interest will begin immediately and continue on a confidential basis until an appointment is made.
ABOUT OUR FIRM:
Scion Executive Search is a national award-winning executive search firm. Our track record and recruitment process have made us one of the top recruitment firms in the United States. Through innovative team building and recruitment solutions, Scion Executive Search seamlessly bridges the gap in interim and executive searches.
We are proud to be part of the Forbes lists of the Best Recruitment Firms and the Best Executive Search Firms in America. Additionally, Scion has been recognized as a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing firm and a top recruitment firm by The Business Times. Additional information about our firm and our practices can be found online.
Scion Executive Search is an equal opportunity employer and service provider and does not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation, or any other protected class. We are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value, for ourselves, our client companies, and the candidates we represent.
For opportunities located in a region that has enacted fair chance, arrest, or conviction-based employment ordinances, Scion Executive Search proactively follows the enacted guidance and considers for employment all qualified applications with arrest and conviction records. We engage in socially conscious business practices and believe that diverse, equitable, inclusive, and non-biased talent and recruitment processes are foundational to the success of Scion as well as every client organization with whom we partner.
Position Overview
The Greenlining Institute seeks a bold and visionary strategist—an inclusive leader who embodies the spirit of justice, collaboration, and transformative change. The President & CEO will chart the path forward for one of the nation’s most impactful racial and economic justice organizations. The President & CEO will harness the collective power of staff, partners, and community to accelerate systems change and drive equitable outcomes. This role calls for a relationship-centered leader with deep emotional intelligence, the courage to challenge the status quo, and the skills to lead an organization through its next chapter of strategic growth. Grounded in Greenlining’s mission, the President & CEO will be the driving force behind a movement for a more just and inclusive economy.
Responsibilities
Strategic Direction & Oversight
- Provide strategic leadership alongside program leadership to advance racial and economic justice equity at the local, state, and federal levels
- Ensure the organization has long-range strategies to achieve its mission and track progress
- Lead the development of high-quality, forward-thinking programs and policy strategies aligned with financial and organizational plans, in collaboration with staff and guided by the Board
- Oversee the implementation of governance and management policies adopted by the Board
- Stay abreast of best practices, industry advancements, and policy shifts
- Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations
Board & Staff Relations
- Inform the Board regularly on organizational status and key influencing factors
- Facilitate productive and meaningful connections between staff and board.
- Engage the Board for guidance, approval, and involvement in major strategic initiatives
- Oversee recruitment, employment, development, and retention of diverse, talented staff
- Demonstrates alignment with our organizational values, including respect for the right to unionize, recognition of the importance of worker power, and a commitment to maintaining professional and respectful negotiations.
- Cultivate a strong executive leadership team with succession planning
- Foster a diverse, inclusive workplace that attracts and retains top talent
- Apply a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) framework across internal processes and infrastructure
Fundraising & Financial Management
- Lead the execution of annual fundraising and revenue strategies for long-term sustainability.
- Ensure sound financial practices and responsible stewardship of organizational resources
- Oversee and collaborate with staff and the Board on budget development and fiscal management
Communication & External Relations
- Strategically promote and position the organization and its programs to relevant stakeholders
- Strengthen and mobilize The Greenlining Coalition around shared racial and economic equity goals
- Support and engage the Greenlining Academy Alumni Association
- Build and maintain partnerships with allied community organizations
- Serve as the primary representative and spokesperson for the organization to position Greenlining as a racial equity expert and deftly represent the organization’s work and perspectives through writing, speaking, conferences, and public engagements
- Enhance relationships with current funders and cultivate new funding partnerships
Required Experience
- Fundraising and fiscal oversight experience aligned with a $7 M+ organizational budget
- 10+ years of senior management experience in nonprofit, philanthropic, government, or private sector
- 10+ years of experience advancing equity for communities of color through policy advocacy, strategic campaigns, or related initiatives
- Master’s or doctoral degree in policy, law, politics, advocacy, a related field is highly desirable, or equivalent professional experience
- Strong knowledge of relevant local, regional, and national issues and stakeholders
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with a strong presence as a public speaker and a confident representative of the organization
- Visionary and collaborative leadership with high accountability and integrity
- High emotional intelligence with the ability to build consensus and lead diverse teams
- Experience in public policy, law, and/or research related to Greenlining’s mission
- Proven experience in strategic planning and leading complex programs and initiatives, with demonstrated expertise in aligning operations with organizational goals
- Strong analytical skills to evaluate systems and implement improvements
Compensation & Benefits:
In addition to a competitive annual salary of up to $300,000-$350,000 DOE, The Greenlining Institute offers a very generous benefits package that includes medical (100% covered for employee and family), dental, vision, life insurance, retirement plan, FSA, commuter benefits, professional development, 16 paid holidays, generous PTO, and sick days.
TO APPLY:
The Greenlining Institute has retained the services of Scion Executive Search, a national executive search firm specializing in mission-driven organization recruitment, to assist in conducting this important search. Please apply with your resume and cover letter formatted in Microsoft Word for immediate consideration via https://scionstaffing.com/job/12948/
Please address applications to:
Krista Sietsema, Senior Executive Search Principal
Scion Executive Search
Review of applications, nominations, and expressions of interest will begin immediately and continue on a confidential basis until an appointment is made.
ABOUT OUR FIRM:
Scion Executive Search is a national award-winning executive search firm. Our track record and recruitment process have made us one of the top recruitment firms in the United States. Through innovative team building and recruitment solutions, Scion Executive Search seamlessly bridges the gap in interim and executive searches.
We are proud to be part of the Forbes lists of the Best Recruitment Firms and the Best Executive Search Firms in America. Additionally, Scion has been recognized as a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing firm and a top recruitment firm by The Business Times. Additional information about our firm and our practices can be found online.
Scion Executive Search is an equal opportunity employer and service provider and does not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation, or any other protected class. We are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value, for ourselves, our client companies, and the candidates we represent.
For opportunities located in a region that has enacted fair chance, arrest, or conviction-based employment ordinances, Scion Executive Search proactively follows the enacted guidance and considers for employment all qualified applications with arrest and conviction records. We engage in socially conscious business practices and believe that diverse, equitable, inclusive, and non-biased talent and recruitment processes are foundational to the success of Scion as well as every client organization with whom we partner.
