President & CEO Opportunity

The Organization

Since its founding in 1991, the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC) has been a beacon of hope and healing for children and families affected by abuse in Dallas County. DCAC has improved the lives of more than 100,000 children and their families, setting the standard for excellence in child abuse response, intervention, and education. Each year, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center serves over 13,000 individuals, the majority of whom have suffered severe physical or sexual abuse, neglect, or witnessed violent crime. To learn more about the organization’s impact in view its latest impact report.

Child Abuse Statistics

To deliver this care, DCAC operates under the nationally recognized Children’s Advocacy Center model, which unites key partners—law enforcement, child protective services, prosecutors, medical and mental health professionals, and family advocates—into one coordinated, trauma-informed system designed to reduce re-victimization of children and improve both healing and justice outcomes. This multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach ensures that each child tells their story only once, in a safe environment, where children and families receive comprehensive services including forensic interviews, family advocacy, therapy, and court support. The Dallas Police Department and Child Protective Services are co-located at DCAC’s headquarters, enhancing coordination and the effectiveness of the multidisciplinary response.

DCAC’s team of 114 dedicated staff collaborate closely with more than 90 multidisciplinary partners. These partners include representatives from the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, Dallas Police Department, Dallas County Health and Human Services, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, and Children’s Health. This integrated approach reflects DCAC’s unwavering commitment to a community-driven, compassionate response to child abuse.

Beyond direct service, DCAC is a global leader in child abuse education and professional training. Through its Crimes Against Children Conference—the largest event of its kind in the world—DCAC has educated more than 700,000 attendees on best practices for investigation, prosecution, and healing.

Financially strong and well-managed, DCAC operates with an annual budget exceeding $15 million, is debt-free, and benefits from the DCAC Foundation, which holds more than $12 million in assets to support long-term sustainability. DCAC is governed by a Board of 25 Directors.

The Opportunity

For over 30 years, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center has provided national leadership on child abuse issues and improved the lives of abused children in Dallas County by delivering intervention, support and ongoing treatment services and ensuring proper investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases. To further its powerful mission, DCAC is seeking a President and Chief Executive Officer to work collaboratively with the Board of Trustees, Foundation Board of Directors, staff, partners and volunteers to sustain relationships with the community, enhance partnerships and maintain and grow current and future funding sources to fulfill DCAC’s mission.

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the President and Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the leadership and overall management of Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center. The President and CEO directs the continued evolution of the agency’s strategic plan while embracing a commitment of stewardship and fiduciary accountability. This central role requires a strong focus on the successful achievement of goals in the strategic plan with emphasis on sustaining productive relationships with the community to enhance DCAC partnerships and raise the required funds to fulfill its mission.

The President and CEO is the steward of the collaborative model at the heart of the Center’s success and manages a six-member executive team, as well as serving as a liaison between the DCAC Board of Trustees, the Center, and the Foundation Board of Directors. The President and CEO also has a unique role in ensuring positive working relationships with agency Partners while overcoming obstacles to improved performance. The President and CEO must be able to maintain and grow current, and future, funding sources.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Executive Leadership: Reinforce and articulate the mission of DCAC within and outside the organization, communicate the mission and concentrate resources to achieve organizational objectives. Represent the organization faithfully and consistently to the communities the agency serves, its Partner Agencies, and the organizations and individuals who fund DCAC services.

Staff Leadership: Guide and direct staff so that strategic objectives are achieved within a healthy culture. Continue to build an inclusive team that is trained and motivated and to whom responsibilities may be delegated. Manage staff consistent with sound human resources management practices and guidelines, and model a healthy work/life balance.

Strategic Growth of Services: Provide high level focus on DCAC services provided to the most severely abused children in Dallas County, as well as trainings provided to those working in crimes against children. Ensure that DCAC services are meeting both state and national standards and that all children who need DCAC’s services receive them. Assure that all core programs, including case coordination, forensic interviewing, family advocacy, and clinical services, are working collaboratively with each other and are strongly administered and staffed. Assure that DCAC’s trainings and Crimes Against Children Conference continue to provide best-in-class education opportunities. The President and CEO should also examine opportunities to expand new services and new trainings to better equip those working in the area of crimes against children.

Financial Management: Direct and be accountable for the organization’s financial health. Oversee budgets and approve expenditures within DCAC’s policies. Collaborate with the Board of Trustees and key staff to plan for and provide budgets that meet strategic and programmatic objectives. Support the efforts of the Foundation Board and continue to work with investment committee and investment company to ensure funding is secure and growing.

Community Engagement: Share the story of DCAC’s mission and performance, strengthening ties with the community, to enhance fundraising efforts and awareness of the agency. Serves as a visible and credible ambassador for the organization, engaging confidently with media, donors, and community partners to advance its mission. Provide oversight and accountability for fundraising efforts including annual campaign, major gifts, special events, foundation and corporate support, as well as taking on a portfolio to cultivate donors and prospects.

Successful Candidate Overview

DCAC seeks a true executive able to delegate extensively with appropriate accountability while providing strategic, fiduciary and leadership that promotes excellent performance. With DCAC’s significant accomplishments and breadth of services, its dedicated staff, volunteers and committed Board of Trustees, the President and CEO position offers an exceptional opportunity for a truly talented leader. The successful candidate will step into an organization that is financially sound, has a highly regarded reputation and serves a compelling mission.

Successful candidates will demonstrate the following qualifications and experience:

• Undergraduate degree is required, graduate degree is desired.
• At least 15 years of professional experience, with at least 5 years in a substantial leadership role, including relevant executive experience in child welfare, child abuse, or related human services.
• Prior CEO experience preferred; demonstrated success leading multiple organizational functions at the executive level required.
• Proven ability to build and sustain strong relationships internally with staff and externally with partners, funders, and community stakeholders.
• Accomplished presence in public settings of all sizes and able to authentically inspire stakeholders to engage and support DCAC’s mission.
• Proven leadership of a complex organization and scaled staff, with a track record of achieving programmatic and financial goals.
• Effectiveness in motivating a highly driven staff, and partner agencies. Prioritizes team goals over individual accomplishments.
• Demonstrated experience transforming and introducing change to an organization that improves performance and achieves goals.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive culture reflected in both staff and programs.
• Exemplifies ability to listen to, learn from, and engage staff at all levels.
• A collaborative leader who builds bridges across internal teams and external stakeholders, fostering shared purpose, strong relationships, and a culture of inclusion and engagement.
• Strategic and forward-thinking leader with a track record of setting clear direction and driving organizational alignment.
• Demonstrated financial acumen with the ability to develop and manage budgets, ensure fiscal sustainability, and align financial decisions with strategic priorities
• Superb written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrates integrity, empathy, courage, patience and compassion coupled with a business and fiduciary acumen.
• Embodies the organization’s four core values:
  • We are child-centered, family-focused, and community-driven.
  • We act with dignity and compassion in all that we do.
  • We recognize our staff as our greatest asset.
  • We operate as a seamless team.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment at DCAC without regard to race; creed; color; religion; national origin; sex; age; disability; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; genetic predisposition or carrier status; veteran, marital, or citizenship status; or any other status protected by law. DCAC is proud to be an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer.

All finalists will need to pass a criminal background check from the Texas Department of Public Safety; a background check from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect; a credit check and a drug test.

For confidential consideration please submit your resume and cover letter here. Priority will be given to applications received by November 24, 2025. Submissions are welcome after that date and will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. For this role, all talent sourcing and candidate screening will be managed by our retained search partner, Victory Search Group. Interested candidates should submit their cover letter and resume directly through the provided link.