Senior Associate, Investment & Local Engagement

Senior Associate, Investment & Local Engagement
Any CEO Office
Hybrid
Anticipated deadline to submit application: March 25, 2024 by 9:00am EST. Position may close early if application limit is met. Apply promptly for full consideration.

The Opportunity

The Senior Associate, Investment & Local Engagement focuses on developing and securing new business opportunities and/or developing new government partnerships for CEO. This involves bringing on additional partners for CEO, as well as deepening our relationships with current partners, particularly in local government. The Senior Associate role involves leading CEO's efforts to engage and develop relationships with business leaders and government officials in local jurisdictions, as well as formerly incarcerated individuals and community-based organizations, with the goal of increasing government investment in CEO's social enterprise and supporting CEO's growth and sustainability in the communities in which we work.

As part of our mission, we strongly encourage individuals who have lived experience of incarceration or involvement in the justice system to apply for this role.

Who We Are

The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) provides employment services to people recently released from incarceration. Across the United States, 8,000-9,000 people participate in CEO each year, transitioning to employment that supports themselves, their families, and their communities.

What began as a demonstration project of the Vera Institute of Justice in the 1970s to address employment barriers facing the formerly incarcerated following release in New York City has grown into the leading reentry employment organization in the country, where over 30,000 formerly incarcerated individuals have secured full-time employment since 1996.

Who You Are

• You have at least 3-5 years of experience in sales, business development, policy or programming related to criminal justice and/or workforce development
• You have excellent written and oral communication skills
• You have strong organizational and project management skills
• You have strong interpersonal skills and a passion for team-based work
• You can engage and motivate a diverse group of stakeholders
• You are a creative problem solver, thriving in environments without a previously established path to success and adapting and adjusting course as needed
• You have experience cultivating lasting relationships with people and businesses, helping them understand how our work can help them achieve their business strategy and goals
• You can be a self-starter and work well independently
• You have the experience, skill set, and passion for working within a fast-paced, mission-driven, and social justice-minded nonprofit organization
• You have lived experience or have a commitment to racial justice
• You have proficiency in Google Suite and Salesforce (preferred)
• You have experience, either through personal connection and history or through work experience, with communities impacted by the criminal legal system
• You can communicate effectively with diverse audiences (advocates, policymakers, and individuals involved in the legal system)

What You'll Be Responsible For

Key responsibilities of the Senior Associate, Investment & Local Engagement include but are not limited to:

Investment and Local Government Engagement

• Develop new stakeholder relationships with business leaders and the public sector by leveraging multiple sources and skills (e.g., networking, research, lobbying etc.)
• Develop sales proposals and move opportunities along in the sales process; directly engage with prospective customers, negotiate and close sales, leading to additional and new crew partnerships
• Partner with CEO site directors and Program leadership to ensure high-levels of partner satisfaction and identify areas for potential for stakeholder engagement
• Lead and manage the development and improvement of internal processes and systems related to CEO's investment work
• Support Program staff in developing relationships with local public sector leaders who oversee agencies where we have crew prospects
• Advance local CEO's engagement, through driving relationships in CEO site jurisdictions to support investment campaigns
• Develop partnership proposals, including concept papers and funding proposals, to facilitate engagement with local officials and business leaders
• Conduct timely analysis and maintain ongoing monitoring of government budgets and share analysis with internal and external stakeholders
• Develop an informed CEO local investment strategy through collecting, summarizing and analyzing city/county-level, industry-specific data and CEO program data
• Attend trainings, conferences and other meetings that help further inform CEO's Investment strategy
• Ability and willingness to travel

Collaboration and Communication

• Provide internal stakeholder engagement capacity building to Program team through the development of trainings and/or learning tables
• Develop key messaging for local stakeholders and communications strategy
• Draft communications materials in collaboration with CEO's Communications team, including briefs, op-eds, blogs, editorial board memos, marketing materials and other pitches
• Work with other members of the Investment team and the organization's Fund Development team in support of CEO's fundraising agenda

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $57,600-$77,000/annually. CEO's compensation philosophy considers a variety of factors including experience, internal equity, and the labor market associated with the city in which the position is located. This position can be located in any of the cities in which CEO operates. The labor markets associated with the cities in which CEO is based are variable, and the salary range included here reflects this. Our salary offer will fall within this range and will be reflective of the labor market of the city in which the position is based, as well the other factors named above.

We recognize that salary is a part of the overall compensation package and also provide a comprehensive benefits package, including medical and dental coverage, as well as professional development opportunities to our staff.

We also offer paid parental leave, participation in a retirement plan, sick and vacation leave, paid holidays and more. We are a workplace that promotes continual learning and teamwork, offering lunch and learns, team outings, holiday gatherings and more for our staff.

More About Us

The Center for Employment Opportunities believes that everyone deserves the chance to shape a stronger future for themselves, their families, and their communities. Our commitment to being an anti-racist organization that is inclusive across all identities and experiences drives us forward every day. We exist to create greater opportunities for people who face multiple barriers to personal and professional success, and we're passionate about being agents of change who promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and access to opportunities for all.

People who are justice involved, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ+ , and people with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels. CEO's commitment to DEI aligns with the CROWN Act, creating an open space where our employees can present as their true authentic selves. We are an equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, color, citizenship, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran or reservist status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

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