Director, Policy and Business Development
Centerforemploymentopportunities · New York, New York, United States · Posted Jul 7, 2026
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Director I, Policy and Business Development
New York CEO Office Locations
Albany, Buffalo, New York, Rochester
Hybrid
Regular Travel Required
Anticipated deadline to submit application: July 17, 2026 before 12pm EST. Position may close early if application limit is met. Apply promptly for full consideration.
The Opportunity
The Director, Policy and Business Development works closely with the Investment, Program Leadership, and Fund Development teams to cultivate and grow key relationships with funders, government partners, crew partners and other key stakeholders. They will develop and implement a program investment and policy strategy to support reentry employment services across a region at CEO.
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 7+ years of experience in policy or programming related to workforce, public benefits and criminal justice
You have experience with federal and state policy making and working directly with policymakers to drive impactful change, experience with SNAP E T and WIOA is a plus.
You have successfully developed and implemented strategy to achieve policy objectives
You have experience in research and data analysis as well as using your findings to inform your perspective and decision-making
You have superior client engagement and relationship management skills
You have excellent time management, organizational, and follow-up skills
You are eager to apply your experience and skill set within a fast-paced, mission-driven, and social justice-minded nonprofit organization
You are an outstanding communicator, able to communicate clearly and concisely verbally and in writing and to tailor your communication style to various stakeholders
You have the strong ability to build relationships with public agencies, community-based organizations, and high-level public officials to develop, implement, and promote new programs and projects
You have the ability to drive results both independently and as part of a team, all while working remotely with a geographically dispersed team
What You’ll Be Responsible For
Key responsibilities of the Director, Policy and Business Development include but are not limited to:
Regional Investment and Advocacy Strategy
Develop and execute a regional strategy to increase reentry employment funding, particularly SNAP Employment Training (SNAP E T), public workforce, social enterprise, and philanthropic investments, that support reentry employment services across a state region
Monitor emerging and promising practices within the field for utilizing state and federal investment to support reentry employment programs, including those that provide direct income support for justice impacted individuals
Lead program investment and policy advocacy with local, state, and federal agencies and legislators to promote the utilization of these and other state/federal funding streams for CEO and the reentry employment field more broadly in a specific region
Work with other workforce, justice, and anti-poverty advocacy organizations to promote policies that support greater investment in reentry employment services for formerly incarcerated people
Monitor changes in key federal and state legislation and understand any potential impacts on CEO and partners
Provide recommendations for and support drafting and review of public grant proposals, contracts and reports
Track investment advocacy in salesforce and develop reports to analyze progress
External Engagement and Expansion
Serve as a lead representative for CEO to external partners and stakeholders, including crew partners, government representatives, and philanthropies, across the region in collaboration with Program Leadership and Fund Development
In partnership with Program Leadership, Fund Development, and Investment Team leaders, develop a strategy on external engagement and partnerships
Lead regional funder engagement efforts, working closely with leadership and the Fund Development Team
Cultivate and engage new and existing funders and donors towards meeting annual program investment and policy advocacy goals across the region
Support local leadership with partnership and development efforts spe…