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Job Description
ABOUT PEERS PEERS
Envisioning and Engaging in Recovery Services is a peer-led behavioral health nonprofit headquartered in Alameda County, California, with service operations expanding to Contra Costa County and other California counties, statewide, and nationally as needed. Founded on the principles of lived experience, community voice, and systems transformation, PEERS delivers peer support, wellness programming, advocacy, and community-based behavioral health services.
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
The Chief Government & External Affairs Officer (CGEAO) is the executive responsible for all government affairs, multi-level funder relations, community and external partnerships, and program oversight at
PEERS. PEERS
is positioning for multi-year, diversified funding through grants, contracts, fundraising, and philanthropic growth and development. The CGEAO simultaneously leads PEERS' sustainability plan development and the organization's expansion strategy across California counties, statewide, and nationally as needed, making this one of the most consequential executive hires in PEERS' history.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Government & Funder Relations:
Serve as PEERS' primary government affairs executive across county, state, and federal or national funders.
Funding Sustainability:
Develop and execute
PEERS' BHSA
sustainability plans and lead positioning for multi-year diversified funding through grants, contracts, awards, and philanthropic fundraising.
Multi-County & National Expansion:
Lead PEERS' expansion strategy across other California counties, statewide, and nationally as needed, cultivating funder relationships and building PEERS' presence as a contracted behavioral health partner in new markets.
Program & Budget Oversight:
Carry executive authority over all organizational programs, deliverables, contract and grant compliance, outcomes, data, staffing, training, and associated budgets, in coordination with relevant C-suite executives as appropriate.
Policy & Advocacy:
Represent PEERS in statewide behavioral health policy forums including the California Behavioral Health Planning Council (CBHPC), advancing PEERS' peer-led perspective on workforce, housing, and systems transformation.
Strategic Partnerships:
Build and sustain partnerships with government agencies, community organizations, behavioral health networks, philanthropic partners, and advocacy coalitions.
Strategic Planning:
Assist with organizational strategic planning, policy development, and risk management, and maintain organizational records, documents, and communications.
Executive Leadership:
Serve as a member of the PEERS C-Suite executive team, providing strategic counsel to the CEO and fiduciary accountability to the Full Board of Directors.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
Bachelor's degree in a related field required; Master's degree preferred. Candidates without a degree may be considered upon demonstration of all of the following: A minimum of 15 years of sustained civic leadership and government advisory service, including documented service on a minimum of three formally appointed county, state, or federal advisory bodies A minimum of 10 years of direct experience working within or alongside California's behavioral health, human services, or corrections-adjacent systems at the county or state level Verifiable relationships with senior county or state behavioral health leadership A demonstrated record of securing, maintaining, or expanding government contracts or public funding for a community-based organization Equivalent qualifications are evaluated in totality; no single criterion substitutes for formal education.
Strongly Preferred:
Active California Behavioral Health Planning Council (CBHPC) membership, particularly on committees addressing workforce development, housing and homelessness, or systems and Medicaid integration. Direct experience with county, state, and federal or national behavioral health contracting and funder relationship management. Experience in a peer-led or consumer-driven behavioral health organization; lived experience of mental health or behavioral health conditions, substance use recovery, housing instability, or justice system involvement. Knowledge of Medi-Cal, or commitment to complete Medi-Cal training within 6 months of hire, combined with knowledge of MHSA, county behavioral health delivery systems, and BHSA / Proposition 1 implementation.
COMPENSATION & REPORTING
Salary:
$150,000 per year, full-time, benefited.
Reports To:
Chief Executive Officer (solid-line administrative reporting); fiduciary accountability to the Full Board of Directors (dotted line).
Direct Reports:
Programmatic, Ancillary, Clinical (Administratively), and Contractors.
HOW TO APPLY
Submit the required documents to the following email addresses.
To:
R. Laguna, Chief Executive Officer — rlaguna@peersnet.org
Cc:
I. Brooks, Board Secretary — bellambrooks@gmail.com
Subject Line:
Chief Government & External Affairs Officer Required Documents:
Letter of Interest or Cover Letter addressing (1) multi-county government relations experience, (2) advisory board or council service, and (3) approach to BHSA sustainability planning and program oversight Current Résumé or Curriculum Vitae Four (4) Professional References — at least one from a county or state government funder partner Two (2) Letters of Recommendation from professional colleagues, government partners, or community leaders
Application Deadline:
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 11:59 PM Pacific. Applications will be reviewed as received, and the position will remain open until filled. Candidates selected to advance will be contacted directly with interview scheduling details. PEERS is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates with lived experience of mental health or behavioral health conditions, substance use recovery, housing instability, or justice system involvement are strongly encouraged to apply. Accommodations available upon request.
Pay:
$150,000.00 per year
Benefits:
401(k) Dental insurance Family leave Flexible spending account Health insurance Paid time off Parental leave Vision insurance
