California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE), Chief Executive Officer

Edgility Search · Walnut · $230,000–$250,000 (stated in the posting)

ORGANIZATION

For over 50 years, the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) has been a leading voice in advancing bilingual and multilingual education, biliteracy, multicultural competency, and educational equity. CABE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting high-quality educational experiences and opportunities for all students, with a particular focus on multilingual/English learners and their families.

CABE's strength is rooted in its history of advocacy, dedicated members, experienced staff, and extensive network of educators, administrators, families, researchers, policymakers, and community partners. As a membership-based organization, CABE values the voices, expertise, and engagement of its members, who serve as advocates, leaders, and ambassadors for bilingual and multilingual education. Through its members and statewide partnerships, CABE builds collective capacity to influence educational policy, strengthen instructional practices, and advance opportunities for multilingual learners and their communities.

CABE maintains strong relationships with policymakers and educational leaders, including an active presence in Sacramento, and is recognized as a trusted advocate for multilingual education and educational equity. Its influence extends statewide, nationally, and internationally through advocacy, research-informed initiatives, professional learning, and collaborative partnerships.

CABE is also a respected provider of professional learning and leadership development in bilingual education, dual language immersion, English language development, and family and community engagement. Through its annual and regional conferences, institutes, professional learning services, and educational initiatives, CABE supports educators, administrators, families, students, and community partners in transforming research and policy into effective practice.

With an annual operating budget of approximately $7 million, a dedicated professional staff, and a statewide network of members and partners, CABE is positioned to build upon its rich legacy while strengthening its organizational capacity, financial sustainability, and collective impact.

To learn more about CABE, please visit www.gocabe.org.

OPPORTUNITY

The next Chief Executive Officer will have the opportunity to lead a highly respected, mission-driven organization with a rich history, experienced and dedicated staff, an engaged membership, and a strong network of educational and community partners. As CABE enters its next chapter, the CEO will play a pivotal role in strengthening its organizational foundation, advancing its mission, and positioning the organization for long-term sustainability and impact.

CABE seeks a visionary, collaborative, and strategic leader who combines a deep commitment to bilingual and multilingual education with strong executive leadership, financial stewardship, organizational development, and relationship-building skills. The CEO will work in partnership with the Board of Directors, staff, members, community partners, and other stakeholders to advance CABE's strategic priorities and expand its influence and impact.

A central priority will be strengthening CABE's financial sustainability through diversified revenue streams, strategic fund development, expanded partnerships, and responsible fiscal management. Equally important will be strengthening organizational systems, developing leadership capacity, and fostering a positive, transparent, collaborative, and accountable organizational culture.

The CEO will recognize CABE's members as the heart of the organization and an essential force in advancing its mission. The next leader will prioritize meaningful member engagement, strengthen relationships with members, expand membership opportunities, and ensure that member perspectives inform CABE's strategic direction, advocacy, programs, and services.

This position calls for a leader who is both strategically visionary and practically grounded—someone who honors CABE's history, values the expertise of its staff and members, embraces innovation, and leads with integrity, cultural humility, and respect. The CEO will balance collaborative leadership with sound decision-making, accountability, and the ability to guide organizational growth and change.

This is an extraordinary opportunity to lead an organization whose mission remains critically important and to help shape the future of multilingual education for generations to come.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership and Organizational Direction

Provide visionary and strategic executive leadership to advance CABE's mission, vision, core values, and long-term organizational sustainability.
Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of CABE's Strategic Plan in collaboration with the Board of Directors, staff, members, and key stakeholders.
Establish clear organizational priorities, measurable goals, and performance expectations aligned with CABE's strategic direction.
Identify emerging opportunities, challenges, and trends in education, public policy, and nonprofit leadership to guide organizational planning and decision-making.
Promote innovation, organizational effectiveness, and continuous improvement while honoring CABE's history and foundational commitments.

Board Governance and Executive Leadership

Serve as CABE's chief executive, accountable to the Board of Directors for organizational performance, fiscal stewardship, and implementation of Board-approved policies and strategic priorities.
Establish a strong, collaborative, and transparent working relationship with the Board while maintaining appropriate distinctions between governance and management responsibilities.
Provide timely, accurate, and meaningful information to support effective Board governance, strategic oversight, and informed decision-making.
Partner with the Board to strengthen organizational accountability, Board leadership capacity, leadership continuity, and long-term planning.
Support effective communication and positive working relationships among the Board, executive leadership, and staff.

Financial Stewardship and Fund Development

Provide strategic oversight of CABE's financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, audits, reserve management, and long-term fiscal planning.
Develop and implement a comprehensive financial sustainability strategy that strengthens and diversifies CABE's revenue sources.
Lead and expand fund development efforts, including foundation and corporate partnerships, philanthropic giving, grants, sponsorships, and other funding opportunities.
Strengthen earned revenue opportunities through conferences, professional learning services, district contracts, membership, and other mission-aligned initiatives.
Build organizational capacity for fund development through effective systems, strategic relationships, and appropriate staffing structures.
Ensure responsible financial management, transparency, accountability, and alignment of resources with CABE's mission and strategic priorities.

Membership Engagement, Growth, and Leadership

Recognize and champion CABE's members as essential partners, advocates, and leaders in advancing the organization's mission and influence.
Develop and implement strategies to strengthen membership engagement, recruitment, retention, and growth, ensuring that CABE remains responsive to the evolving needs of its members.
Foster meaningful relationships with individual and institutional members and membership networks throughout California and beyond.
Expand opportunities for members to participate in advocacy, leadership development, professional learning, networking, and organizational initiatives.
Establish effective mechanisms for listening to member perspectives, gathering feedback, and incorporating member voices into CABE's strategic planning, programs, services, and advocacy priorities.
Promote a strong sense of belonging, shared purpose, and connection among CABE's diverse membership communities.
Collaborate with the Board and staff to strengthen CABE's membership value, benefits, services, and engagement opportunities.

Organizational Leadership, Culture, and Staff Development

Provide executive oversight of CABE's operations, ensuring organizational effectiveness, accountability, and alignment with strategic priorities.
Lead, mentor, and empower CABE's leadership team, establishing clear roles, responsibilities, expectations, and performance measures.
Strengthen leadership capacity throughout the organization by fostering trust, collaboration, mutual respect, and inclusive decision-making, while supporting the professional growth and development of staff and emerging leaders.
Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive organizational culture grounded in transparency, equity, shared accountability, and continuous learning.
Recognize and value the knowledge, experience, and contributions of staff while promoting professional growth, leadership development, and succession planning.
Strengthen organizational systems, communication structures, decision-making processes, and operational practices to improve effectiveness and efficiency.
Promote responsible innovation and the effective use of technology, data, and organizational resources to support CABE's work.
Model ethical leadership, cultural humility, effective communication, and a commitment to CABE's values.

Advocacy, Educational Leadership, and Mission Advancement

Serve as a leading voice and advocate for bilingual and multilingual education, biliteracy, multicultural competency, and educational equity.
Provide strategic leadership in advancing policies and initiatives that support multilingual/English learners, their families, and educational communities.
Maintain current knowledge of relevant educational research, policy, legislation, and effective practices in multilingual education.
Collaborate with CABE's program leadership and staff to ensure that professional learning, conferences, advocacy initiatives, and educational services remain relevant, high-quality, research-informed, and aligned with CABE's mission.
Strengthen CABE's role in connecting research, policy, and practice to advance educational opportunities and outcomes for multilingual learners.
Represent CABE in legislative settings, public forums, conferences, media engagements, and other professional and community events.

Partnerships and External Relations

Build and sustain strong relationships with school districts, county offices of education, institutions of higher education, policymakers, community organizations, funders, and business partners.
Strengthen collaborative relationships with CABE's members, affiliates, partner organizations, and professional networks.
Expand strategic partnerships at the local, state, national, and international levels to advance CABE's mission and organizational sustainability.
Identify and cultivate opportunities for collaborative initiatives, funding, professional learning, advocacy, and organizational growth.
Serve as an effective ambassador for CABE, communicating its mission, accomplishments, priorities, and impact to diverse audiences.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

The following leadership qualities and competencies are desired for this position:

Visionary and Strategic Leadership

Demonstrates the ability to articulate a compelling organizational vision and translate strategic priorities into actionable goals and measurable outcomes.
Balances long-term strategic thinking with practical decision-making, sound judgment, and effective implementation.
Embraces innovation and organizational change while respecting institutional history, relationships, and values.

Financial Stewardship and Resource Development

Demonstrates strong financial acumen, fiscal accountability, and experience overseeing complex organizational budgets.
Possesses the ability to develop diversified revenue strategies, cultivate philanthropic partnerships, and strengthen long-term financial sustainability.
Understands the relationship between mission impact, organizational capacity, and financial performance.

Collaborative and Values-Centered Leadership

Models integrity, transparency, cultural humility, respect, equity, and servant leadership.
Builds trust, empowers others, develops leadership capacity, and promotes shared accountability.
Demonstrates emotional intelligence, effective communication, active listening, and the ability to navigate complex relationships and organizational challenges.
Leads with confidence, compassion, decisiveness, and a commitment to continuous learning.

Commitment to Membership and Community Engagement

Understands and values the essential role of members in the identity, vitality, advocacy, and sustainability of a membership-based organization.
Demonstrates the ability to cultivate meaningful relationships, strengthen member engagement, and build a sense of shared ownership and belonging.
Values diverse voices and perspectives and creates opportunities for members, affiliates, families, and community partners to contribute to organizational priorities.

Expertise and Advocacy in Multilingual Education

Demonstrates a strong understanding of bilingual and multilingual education, educational equity, language policy, and the needs of multilingual/English learners and their families.
Values research-informed educational practices and understands the importance of high-quality professional learning, leadership development, and advocacy.
Communicates effectively and passionately about the importance of biliteracy, multicultural competency, linguistic diversity, and educational opportunity.

Organizational Effectiveness and Change Leadership

Demonstrates the ability to lead complex organizations, strengthen systems, manage organizational change, and promote continuous improvement.
Establishes clear expectations, effective decision-making processes, and structures that support communication, accountability, and collaboration.
Demonstrates knowledge of human resources management, personnel policies and procedures, employment regulations, and equitable workplace practices to ensure organizational compliance, accountability, and effective staff management.
Empowers leadership teams and staff while maintaining responsibility for organizational performance and outcomes.

Relationship Building and External Leadership

Builds and sustains productive relationships with diverse stakeholders, including governing boards, staff, members, policymakers, educational leaders, community organizations, and funders.
Demonstrates strong public speaking, interpersonal, negotiation, and communication skills.
Serves as a credible, influential, and inspiring representative of CABE and its mission.

Requirements

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

Demonstrated success in senior executive leadership, organizational management, or a comparable leadership role within a nonprofit organization, educational institution, public agency, or other mission-driven organization.
Proven ability to provide strategic leadership, guide organizational planning, and lead complex initiatives.
Strong financial management experience, including budget oversight, fiscal accountability, and organizational sustainability.
Demonstrated experience leading and developing teams, strengthening organizational culture, and supporting professional growth and accountability.
Knowledge of and demonstrated commitment to bilingual and multilingual education, educational equity, and the needs of multilingual/English learners and their families.
Experience building and maintaining collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders, including governing boards, staff, members, educational partners, and community organizations.
Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and public communication skills.
Demonstrated commitment to ethical leadership, cultural responsiveness, transparency, collaboration, and accountability.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, make informed decisions, manage competing priorities, and respond effectively to changing organizational needs.
Ability and willingness to travel throughout California and, as needed, nationally and internationally, including occasional evening and weekend commitments.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's or doctoral degree in education, educational leadership, nonprofit management, public administration, or a related field.
Experience serving as a Chief Executive Officer, Executive Director, Superintendent, or comparable senior executive.
Experience working with nonprofit governing boards and supporting effective governance practices.
Demonstrated success in fundraising, grant development, philanthropic partnerships, or revenue diversification.
Experience leading or working within membership-based organizations, professional associations, or organizations with active affiliate networks.
Knowledge of California educational policy, bilingual education, dual language immersion, English language development, and relevant state and federal requirements.
Experience in statewide or national educational advocacy, coalition building, and legislative engagement.
Experience overseeing professional learning, educational programs, conferences, or other mission-aligned services.
Bilingual proficiency in English and another language; proficiency in additional languages is valued.
Experience leading organizations with multiple programs, revenue streams, and geographically diverse partnerships.

Benefits

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

This position offers:

A full-time, exempt position with a competitive annual salary range of $230,000 - $250,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
A comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and a 403(b) retirement plan.
The opportunity to lead a respected, mission-driven organization dedicated to advancing multilingual education, biliteracy, multicultural competency, and educational equity.

Location: Walnut, California. Work arrangement and travel expectations will be discussed during the selection process.

Additional information regarding benefits and employment conditions will be provided upon request.

TO APPLY

Please submit a resume online at https://apply.workable.com/j/C778B6E345.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) is an equal opportunity employer committed to fair, equitable, and inclusive employment practices. CABE does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal or California law.

Consistent with its mission and core values, CABE welcomes qualified candidates with diverse backgrounds, experiences, cultures, and linguistic identities. Employment decisions are based on job-related qualifications, experience, and organizational needs. CABE is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process.

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