Job Opening – Chief Executive Officer

 

Chief Executive Officer

Position Description and Blueprint

The Guardian House Board of Directors is seeking an exceptional, mission-driven, and highly motivated leader to serve as its next Chief Executive Officer.

Strategic Mission Context

The mission of Guardian House is to embrace the best interests of every child by teaching families how to build strong, positive relationships.

Founded in 1997, Guardian House has served as a safe haven for children and families navigating high-conflict separations and domestic violence.  Through a wide range of therapeutic services, Guardian House works to break cycles of generational trauma and abuse, shield children from family conflict, and foster environments where healing and growth can take root.  

In 2025, Guardian House served 601 families – 947 children and 760 adults – over more than 12,000 encounters, providing them with trauma-informed services that promote healing, safety, and long-term stability.  Over 90 percent of its clients fall at or below 200% below the federal poverty line, demonstrating its vital role as a resource for families in Bexar County who might otherwise be unable to access professional, therapeutic support.

In 2025, Guardian House relocated to its renovated, state-of-the-art facility at the Harvey E. Najim Campus, a space intentionally designed to be both safe and secure while also feeling peaceful and calming.

The organization is financially stable, garnering a “Four-Star Charity” designation by Charity Navigator, and seeks to focus on having an even greater impact going forward. As Guardian House approaches its 30th anniversary, it is well positioned to continue to uniquely serve children and families in Bexar and surrounding counties.

For the past 13 years, Guardian House has been privileged to have Shannon White serve as its CEO, leading the organization’s expansion in facilities, families served, community impact, and public awareness. With her pending move out of state, Guardian House is approaching an important leadership transition.

Roles and Responsibilities

As the leader of the organization, the CEO is responsible for the overall performance of Guardian House in alignment with the organization’s mission, vision, and expected outcomes as established by the Board of Directors, in partnership with the CEO and Leadership Team.

Responsibilities of the CEO include:

• Board Governance: Collaborate with a passionate and committed independent Board of Directors to fulfill the organizational mission.
  
• Leadership and Management: Ensure ongoing clinical and programmatic excellence, consistent and accurate financial reporting and administration, and manage the timelines and resources needed to achieve strategic goals and objectives.
• Fundraising and Communications: Expand and diversify revenue through fundraising and increased community awareness. Develop, actively engage and energize Guardian House’s various stakeholders including donors, board members, community leaders, and funders. Deepen and refine all aspects of communications. Build a visible and influential external community.
• Planning: In collaboration with the Board of Directors and Leadership Team, update and implement a strategic business plan to provide continued best-in-class services to children and families.
• External Relations: Engage in activities and relationships outside the organization to further the mission and develop new revenue sources. Develop and lead Guardian House’s governmental relations strategy.

Key Organizational Opportunities and Challenges

Given the above foundational context, the following opportunities and challenges speak to the core issues that Guardian House is addressing and will continue to address within the next three to five years.

• Financial Stability and Growth: Achieve continued financial stability through new and enhanced revenue streams. Emphasize a mixed revenue model through an updated fundraising strategy and program.   
• Strategic Partnerships: Continue to form and strengthen strategic partnerships throughout South Texas.
• Fundraising and Communications: Continue to develop and maintain key constituent relationships with donors, key funders, the judicial system, and county and city leaders. 
• Strategic Planning: Working in partnership with the Board of Directors and in collaboration with the Leadership Team, provide the strategic vision and disciplined execution needed to successfully navigate change and enhance Guardian House’s impact.

Anticipated Accomplishments

By achieving these key priorities, under the leadership of its next CEO, Guardian House will:

• Expand its partnerships and reach 
• Enhance its financial stability 
• Further diversify its funding streams
• Become the provider of choice and demonstrate positive outcomes across its program areas
• Execute a robust fundraising strategy

Cultural Fit and Leadership Style

The successful candidate will bring a passionate commitment to the mission and a servant leadership philosophy to this role.  Critical roles that a successful candidate will be expected to perform include:

• Fundraiser: A leader who can effectively build relationships, increase awareness, and cultivate a community of supporters to increase funding for Guardian House.  
• Organizational Builder: A leader who focuses on creating a strong, thriving organization by fostering a positive culture, developing talent, and establishing clear goals and strategies, going beyond managing day-to-day operations.  
• Cultural Leader: A leader who can actively shape the culture, reinforcing its core elements and shifting norms or patterns of behavior to support new directions. This person must enlist key players in the change process and guide teams to provide leadership for change throughout the organization. 
• Inspirational Strategist: A leader who is astute about the internal and external forces that create a sustainable missional advantage for Guardian House. Surveys the marketplace and determines where to focus future resources and energy. With the Board, determines what Guardian House can become and inspires others to be part of the future.  
• Alliance Expander: A leader who sustains and builds lasting and mutually beneficial relationships between Guardian House and its key stakeholders.

Core Competencies

Core competencies being sought by the Board include the ability to build trust; demonstrated resilience; excellent written and interpersonal communication skills; emotional intelligence; courageous leadership; insightful use of data analysis; stewardship and resource management; the ability to effectively build, inspire and lead a team; and an uncompromising commitment to personal and organizational accountability.  

Motivational Fit

The successful candidate will be a compassionate and purpose-driven leader who finds deep fulfillment in helping children and families navigate and overcome the challenges associated with high-conflict separations and domestic violence. This individual will demonstrate strong self-motivation, a growth mindset, and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement. They will build meaningful relationships across diverse cultures and perspectives, fostering collaboration, trust, and positive outcomes for the children and families Guardian House serves.

Qualifications

Required

• Significant experience as a leader of a complex organization, preferably in social services.
  
• Demonstrated success in developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies that advance organizational growth and sustainability.
• Demonstrated experience leading, coaching, and developing direct reports.
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Provide digital fingerprints for screening and be able to successfully pass state, federal background checks.
• A willingness to live in the Bexar County region.  

Preferred

• Knowledge of and experience working within the social services arena in and around Bexar County. 
• An advanced degree or a minimum of five years of senior executive leadership experience.
• Knowledge of, or experience working in, a clinical setting and an understanding of the impact of trauma-informed services.
• Experience working in a nonprofit or other mission-driven organization.

Accountability, Salary and Benefits

The CEO reports directly to the Guardian House Board of Directors and is responsible for advancing the organization’s mission, strategy, and overall performance. The Board establishes compensation for the CEO, which will be determined based on experience and must meet the requirements defined by the Internal Revenue Service.

To Apply

Please submit an updated resume/CV and a cover letter outlining your interest in the position and highlighting the experience, qualifications, and skills that make you a strong candidate. Email your resume/CV and cover letter to:

CEO Search Committee  

searchcommittee@guardianhouse.org 

The application deadline is September 30, 2026.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with interviews scheduled as qualified candidates are identified.