Policy Strategy Associate

Policy Strategy Associate 

Any CEO Office Location

Hybrid

Anticipated deadline to submit application: November 8, 2024 before 9 am EST. Position may close early if application limit is met. Apply promptly for full consideration.

The Opportunity

The nation’s largest employment-centered reentry organization is growing its team by seeking a policy strategy associate to represent CEO in advocating for access to quality jobs for individuals returning home from incarceration. The policy strategy associate will contribute to CEO’s efforts to engage government officials, as well as justice-impacted individuals and other leaders in the field, with the goal of increasing government investment in reentry employment services; removing employment barriers for justice-impacted individuals; and generating revenue for CEO. 

The associate will report to the policy director and work closely with the broader CEO policy team, as well as our regional and site program teams, to develop and execute policy strategies. This individual will influence systems within our organization to represent and engage justice-impacted individuals in advocacy, and operationalize the vision that everyone coming home from incarceration has a job and a pathway to social and economic mobility. 

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.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

Key responsibilities of the Policy Strategy Associate include but are not limited to:

Policy Analysis and Advocacy

• Implement a funding or advocacy strategy to increase the access that justice-impacted people have to federal and state workforce systems, in collaboration with CEO Policy leadership and Program leadership teams;
• Understand policy design and best practices for key federal workforce programs, including SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T), and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), and how changes in policy impact CEO’s program; 
• Conduct timely analysis and maintain ongoing monitoring of relevant legislation in CEO states; 
• Conduct direct lawmaker education and represent CEO in meetings to advance our policy advocacy strategy in key states with support from the team directors; 
• Develop written content, including talking points, policy briefs, factsheets, and media collateral to support CEO’s lawmaker champions and policy agenda; 
• Manage government relations representatives and external consultants to execute policy strategies; 
• Present on behalf of CEO to national, state and local policy stakeholders to advance policy advocacy and contribute to field-building efforts for employment, decarceration and racial justice; and 
• Work with the Policy team to develop project management processes, support state and federal advocacy coordination, and integrate the Policy team’s work with CEO’s program. 

Collaboration and Technical Assistance

• Collaborate with other divisions within CEO to implement program innovation strategies (such as economic opportunity initiatives or participant engagement strategies) 
• Provide technical assistance and internal capacity building to Program team through the development of trainings and/or learning tables related to federal policy 
• Engage national resources in message development and strategy refinement in collaboration with CEO’s Communications team

Administration

• Collect, summarize and analyze public workforce and legal system data, and CEO program data to inform CEO’s policy strategy
• Attend trainings, conferences and other meetings that help further inform CEO’s policy strategy
• Offer suggestions around improvements to processes and systems related to CEO’s policy work

Relevant Experiences or Abilities

• Commitment to racial justice and advancing meaningful change for people impacted by the legal system 
• Strong research and analytical skills
• Excellent written and oral communication
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and a passion for team-based work
• Ability to engage and motivate a diverse group of stakeholders
• Extensive knowledge of criminal justice and workforce policy 
• Experience with legislative, appropriations/budget and administrative processes that can drive policy change 
• Knowledge surrounding the barriers individuals face upon returning home from incarceration 
• Demonstrated interest in the mission and values of CEO, and comfort with collaborating and maintaining connections with colleagues located across 12 states

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $50,200-57,250/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.