Senior Director of Development, Center for Employment Opportunities

CEO thrives on diversity and highly encourages applications from people of color and people with convictions. CEO is 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.

The Opportunity

CEO is seeking a Senior Director of Development who will lead CEO’s fund development efforts and have primary responsibility for strengthening the infrastructure needed to support and grow the organization’s budget through foundation, corporate, and individual donors, as well as other emerging revenue streams. As a valued member of CEO’s senior management team, this senior-level director will oversee the two philanthropic teams (institutional and individual/corporate) which are responsible for generating approximately $20 million annually, equal to 30% of CEO’s revenue. Under the strategic direction of the Senior Director of Development, CEO aims to strengthen its relationships with funders, while also expanding and diversifying its donor base and pipeline to include additional institutional, corporate, individual, and government support.

This full-time position ideally will be based in New York City or California with an option for other cities given the right candidate and ability to travel to NYC for meetings as necessary post-pandemic, and will be fully-remote for the foreseeable future. The Senior Director of Development will serve as a strategic thought-partner with and report to the Chief External Affairs Officer.

More About CEO

The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) is dedicated to providing immediate, effective, and comprehensive employment services to people with criminal convictions. CEO’s programs help participants regain the skills and confidence needed for successful transitions to stable, productive lives. CEO serves more than 8,000 participants a year, giving them the opportunity to support themselves and their families, remain crime-free, and contribute positively to their communities.

Headquartered in New York City, CEO currently operates in 28 cities across ten states. In 2016, CEO embarked on a five-year strategic plan to serve 9,200 participants annually. CEO has gained support to expand its programs through government, nonprofit, and private organizations, including Blue Meridian Partners, the Robin Hood Foundation, and the James Irvine Foundation, among many others. CEO’s theory of change posits that if the employment needs of persons with criminal convictions are addressed at their most vulnerable point—when they are first released from incarceration or soon after conviction—by providing life skills education, short-term paid transitional employment, full-time job placement, and employment retention services, they will be less likely to become re-incarcerated and more likely to build a foundation for a stable, productive life for themselves and their families. Based on CEO’s theory of change, CEO’s program model provides a road map for participants to achieve a long-term goal of remaining attached to the legitimate workforce and maintaining their freedom.

CEO has an annual operating budget over $65M for FY20. The current revenue model is based on establishing and maintaining national and local foundation partnerships, procuring government contracts, and gaining earned revenue for its social enterprise transitional work crews. CEO is also expanding its individual and corporate donor pool. Currently, CEO’s revenue breakdown includes approximately 30% in contributions and 70% in public support, half comprised of revenue from CEO’s social enterprise and the other half from other government contracts.

Candidate Profile and Key Qualifications

The ideal candidate will exemplify the following competencies and characteristics:

• Established senior development professional with 10+ years of strategic development experience with demonstrated success in increasing organizational revenue, including substantial experience with institutional giving as well as fundraising from individual major donors
• Ability to support the collaborative construction, accessible articulation, and enthusiastic implementation of annual strategic goals and tactical implementation plans
• Significant management experience and dynamic team management skills; experience with and commitment to supporting the professional development of diverse development team members
• Success cultivating relationships with both individual and institutional stakeholders
• Nimble, resourceful, and responsive to the needs of team members up, down, and across CEO
• Experience with data and deadline-driven, detail-oriented project management as well as managing and prioritizing individual and team workflows
• Ability to collaborate with the Executive Team to set short- and long-term development goals
• Commitment to CEO’s mission and ability to speak persuasively to stakeholders about CEO’s model and program achievements
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; must be an experienced writer and editor capable of generating and finalizing error-free written content in a timely manner
• Dedication to a diverse, inclusive, and collegial workplace 

Core Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the Senior Director of Development include but are not limited to:

• Construct, articulate, and implement a comprehensive development strategy and implementation plan to include institutional, government, corporate, and individual donors
• Work in partnership with the Executive Team and program leadership across each of the CEO sites to ensure adherence to a national development strategy
• Serve as a leader alongside the Chief Development & External Affairs Officer, other senior management, and the Board on all major fundraising initiatives to help CEO sustain current capacity and continue to grow and scale the organization
• Recruit, retain, and effectively manage a diverse team of development professionals; provide coaching, guidance, and professional development opportunities for development team members
• Write, edit, and finalize grants and other development-related communications ensuring they are error-free and delivered in a professional and timely manner
• Ensure the efficient and effective coordination of fund development workflows
• Collaborate with senior management, program leadership, development team members, and communications staff to cultivate and mobilize the CEO network – volunteers, donors, champions, employers, and others – as contributors
• Work closely with the Executive Team to support Board members and serve as a subject matter expert in institutional and individual fundraising
• Attend and represent CEO at key fundraising events, meetings, and conferences
• Collaborate with communications staff to implement CEO’s communications strategy and ensure the development and use of print and digital collateral consistent with CEO’s brand
• Develop and manage a fund development dashboard and other tracking systems to support donor development and overall goal setting
• This role requires some out-of-NYC travel to nationwide sites between six to ten times per year 

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is between $130,000 and $170,000 and is commensurate with demonstrated experience, abilities, and geographic location. CEO also offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical and dental coverage, paid parental leave, participation in a retirement plan, sick and vacation leave, paid holidays and more. CEO encourages a workplace that promotes continual learning and teamwork, offering lunch and learns, team outings, holiday gatherings and more for our staff.

To Apply

This search is being conducted by Challenges and Solutions, LLC. Interested candidates should email (including “CEO Development” in the subject) a cover letter and resume, in confidence, to:  Mo Coffey at mo@challengesandsolutions.com