Executive Director

Executive Director

This position is open until filled with an initial application review to take place on October 29, 2025. The starting salary range for this position is $15,833.00 - $18,333.00 per month depending upon qualifications and is non-negotiable.

Academy for Professional Excellence, a project of San Diego State University School of Social Work, was established in 1996 with the goal of revolutionizing the way people work to ensure the world is a healthier place. Our services integrate culturally responsive and recovery-oriented practices into our daily work to promote healing and healthy relationships. Providing approximately 50,000 learning experiences to health and human service and justice system professionals annually, the Academy provides a variety of workforce development solutions in Southern California and beyond. With seven programs, three divisions and over 100 staff, the Academy's mission is to provide exceptional learning and development experiences for the transformation of individuals, organizations, and communities.

As a member of the Academy team you will be engaging in communal development of heart, mind, and practice. You are expected to foster culturally responsive practice behaviors to promote well-being and a culture that focuses on healing, healthy relationships and changed behaviors.

Responsibilities

Under the general direction of the Director of San Diego State University's School of Social Work, the Executive Director provides visionary leadership and strategic oversight for the organization, ensuring its mission, programs, and operations align with the broader goals of SDSU. This role is responsible for driving innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable growth across the organization's three divisions :

• Finance and Business Services
• Strategy, Development, and Organizational Advancement
• Workforce Development Programs

The Executive Director also serves as a visible and influential leader, cultivating strong partnerships with industry partners, primarily Health and Human Services agencies, to inform development and implementation of customized services, and modeling and reinforcing the Academy's Core Values : Accountability, Collaboration, Diversity, Flexibility, Innovation, Integrity, Professionalism, and Well-Being.

This position oversees over 110 staff, 4 of whom are direct reports.

This is a 40-hour a week on-site position, typically working M-F from 8 : 00 to 4 : 30 p.m. and is based on contract funding subject to annual renewal. The position requires some travel, including but not limited to travel to Southern California counties, to Sacramento, and to other states where we have new business opportunities and conferences. This position may be subject to intermittent overnight travel and work shifts outside of normal business hours, including weekends and evenings if needed.

This position requires that you reside within California throughout the duration of your employment and live within a commutable distance from the worksite your work supports. This position will be working out of our San Diego office.

Note : Some duties may include working with and / or exposure to sensitive / traumatic topics or material dealing with child abuse, elder abuse, and / or issues and scenarios related to mental health, substance use, or racism.

As a project of San Diego State University Research Foundation, the Academy is grant-funded and serves as an auxiliary to the University. We are based near, but not on campus, and do not have direct responsibilities for working with or teaching college students.

Strategic Leadership

Strategic Relationship Management

Academy Leadership

Organization Culture Development

Supervision

Staff Development :