ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW  

STRIVE is a national leader with a mission to provide pathways to life-changing careers and opportunities through comprehensive professional training, intensive personal support, and self-empowerment for those who face societal barriers to advancement. Predominately operating in low-income, Black and Brown communities, STRIVE celebrates 85,000 graduates since its founding in 1984. STRIVE's purpose is to ensure that everyone can achieve upward mobility and financial empowerment for themselves and their families and offers free programs to adults of various ages, genders, and with justice-impacted backgrounds. See why STRIVE Works in this 2-minute video or learn more at strive.org.  

STRIVE is active in 14 U.S. locations: in four directly-operated sites and through 10 licensed partners across the country. STRIVE is embarking on a growth plan in order to have the capacity to serve 10,000 individuals a year by 2033. To achieve this ambitious goal, we need to significantly expand our capacity in locations we are currently in and expand to new communities that are in need of our services.

POSITION SUMMARY

STRIVE is embarking on an ambitious growth plan to turbo charge our growth to grow 5x over the next decade to ultimately have the capacity to serve 10,000 individuals a year by 2033. To achieve this ambitious goal, we need to significantly expand our capacity in locations we are currently in and expand to new communities that are in need of our services. One of the primary ways we intend to grow is to scale our programming for individuals returning from incarceration. We have seen strong evidence in our New York City location that our specificized program for formerly incarcerated individuals allows them to successfully manage their early journey home and accelerate their journey into a career that provides a living wage and economic mobility.  

This new role, the Director of Reentry Services, reporting to Chief Program Officer, is an exciting opportunity for an entrepreneurial and experienced program professional. As National Director of Reentry Services, you will play a pivotal role in replicating our successful reentry program model, ensuring its effective implementation in new locations. Your responsibilities will include evaluating our current programming, conducting research to determine best practices, developing replication strategies, coordinating partnerships, and providing ongoing support to new site teams. The ideal candidate will possess strong project management skills, a deep understanding of reentry services, and a passion for making a positive impact on individuals transitioning from incarceration.  Must be fully vaccinated against COVID at the time of hire.  

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Salary Description

$90,000 - $125,000

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‍ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Design & Strategy

• Conduct comprehensive review and analysis of STRIVE’s existing reentry programming to identify areas of strength and areas of opportunity; This may include analyzing outcome data, assessing the program’s logic model and conducting staff & student focus groups.
• Collaborate with STRIVE colleagues, subject matter experts, consultants, and external stakeholders to redesign program components, curriculum, and service delivery based on best practices.
• Codify all learnings into a revised program model ready for replication, including creating a program manual to serve as STRIVE’s “playbook” for reentry programming.

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Program Replication & Implementation

• Collaborate with the leadership team to develop a strategic plan for expanding our reentry services, including timelines, resource requirements, and key performance indicators.
• Conduct comprehensive research and analysis of target cities and their specific reentry needs and work closely with the program team to ensure our services suit the unique needs of new cities.
• Develop and deliver training programs and resources to new site teams, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and skills required to implement the reentry services effectively.
• Provide ongoing support, technical assistance, and mentorship to new site teams to ensure fidelity to the program model.

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Reentry Stakeholder Engagement & Field Building

• Represent STRIVE in the reentry workforce and broader criminal justice coalitions to help further build STRIVE’s reputation in these arenas and further elevate STRIVE as a thought-leader within these spaces.
• Identify and establish strategic partnerships with local government agencies, community organizations, service providers, and other relevant stakeholders in the target cities.
• Cultivate relationships, negotiate partnerships, and collaborate on the implementation of the reentry services.

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Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and/or proven experience (5-7 years) in project management, program replication, or expansion in the nonprofit sector, particularly in the area of reentry services.
• In-depth knowledge of reentry programs, criminal justice system, and the challenges faced by individuals transitioning from incarceration.
• Experience in partnership development and the ability to navigate collaborations with government agencies, community organizations, and service providers.
• Entrepreneurial spirit - Resourceful and energized developing new initiatives from scratch and making outsized impact in a growing national organization.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Passion for social justice, equity, and a commitment to supporting individuals in their successful reentry journey.
• Individuals with lived experience with the criminal justice system are preferred but not required.