Chief Executive Officer Search
Northeast Treatment Centers (NET) has served children, youth, and families across the Philadelphia region since 1970. Through its subsidiary NET Community Care, NET operates as a Community Umbrella Agency under contract with the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, delivers juvenile justice programs in partnership with the Philadelphia Juvenile Probation Office, and provides foster care, adoption, case management, violence prevention, and family support services across multiple city sites.
In May 2026, NET and JEVS Human Services jointly announced a service integration in which NET’s behavioral health services will be integrated into JEVS. Developed collaboratively with Community Behavioral Health, the plan ensures continuity of care for clients and continued employment for staff. The integration is expected to complete by the end of 2026.
NET’s continuing service portfolio, operating at approximately $32 million in annual revenue, includes case management, foster care, residential care, adoption, juvenile justice services, violence prevention, parenting programs, and child welfare services across Philadelphia-based locations. The organization carries no debt, runs largely on program funding rather than fee-for-service, and enters its next chapter with an operating surplus, balance sheet stability, a strong and tenured senior team, and an engaged Board.
POSITION OVERVIEW
NET seeks a Chief Executive Officer to lead the organization into its next chapter following the JEVS integration. The work of stabilization is substantially complete. The new CEO inherits a focused service portfolio, a respected senior team, and the opportunity to build externally and entrepreneurially on a foundation that has been intentionally refocused.
The role calls for a leader who can represent NET credibly across Philadelphia’s civic and philanthropic landscape, partner closely with a new Chief Financial Officer and an engaged Board, develop the organization’s philanthropic capacity, and explore growth into adjacent social service domains and surrounding counties. The CEO reports directly to the Board of Directors.
Top Responsibilities
- Set a clear, credible vision for NET’s role in Philadelphia child welfare, juvenile justice, and social services; develop and execute a multi-year strategic plan in partnership with the Board.
- Serve as NET’s primary public face, cultivating relationships with the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, Juvenile Probation Office, the Mayor’s Office, City Council, and key civic and philanthropic partners.
- Lead and build NET’s philanthropic function, beginning with foundation and institutional grant-making and developing toward individual donor cultivation; diversify revenue across government contracts, grants, and philanthropy.
- Partner with the Chief Financial Officer and Board finance leadership to maintain disciplined fiscal management, including the recruitment and onboarding of the next CFO.
- Identify entrepreneurial opportunities to extend NET’s capabilities into adjacent social service domains and evaluate geographic expansion into surrounding Pennsylvania counties.
- Lead a strong, tenured senior team; partner with the Board on governance, board development, and committee structure.
- Champion equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practice across the organization.
Must-Have Qualifications
- Minimum ten years of progressive senior leadership in nonprofit, public sector, or comparable mission-driven organizations, with full operational and financial accountability for a multi-program enterprise.
- Substantive grounding in child welfare, juvenile justice, foster care, or closely related human services, with the credibility to represent NET before city officials, regulators, and partner organizations.
- Strong financial acumen, including the ability to partner with finance leadership and exercise sound judgment on operating and capital decisions.
- Demonstrated success cultivating external relationships across government, philanthropy, and community partners; prior visibility in Philadelphia or the broader Delaware Valley strongly preferred.
- Track record in nonprofit resource development, including foundation cultivation, government grants, and early-stage individual donor engagement.
- Genuine commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive leadership; emotional durability and a long-horizon orientation.
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in social work, public administration, public health, or a related field strongly preferred.
Search Team
Northeast Treatment Centers has retained Criterion Search Group to identify its next Chief Executive Officer. For more information regarding this leadership opportunity, or to apply, please contact Criterion Search Group at administrator@criterionsg.com or 610-581-0590.
