Position Overview

The Executive Director will oversee programs in New York City, the Hudson Valley, Mohawk Valley, New Jersey, and Connecticut. You care deeply for advancing social change and leveling the playing field for individuals impacted by the criminal justice system. You like a challenge and know how to develop and execute strategies that achieve aggressive fundraising goals and facilitate growth. You are an experienced, resourceful, and strategic leader and manager, with proven skills to cultivate local individual, foundation, and corporate support as an effective pipeline to sustained growth and to get the best from your team. Because the majority of our operations takes place in the New York City area, candidates should be within commuting distance of New York City and able to be there regularly for meetings and events.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Fundraising & Development:Lead the financial sustainability and growth of the TriState chapter (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) by raising sufficient funds to support a $450,000 annual budget. You will source and steward relationships with high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and corporations. Youll manage and write grants in collaboration with support from the national team.
• People Leadership & Advisory Board Management:Directly manage and develop a team of three full-time staff members. Youll also manage the Defy Tri-State Advisory Board and collaborate with the National Leadership team to ensure local operations align with Defys broader strategic vision.
• Community Engagement & Brand Advocacy:Serve as the “face of Defy” in the Tri-State area. Youll engage business leaders as volunteers, build partnerships within the criminal justice reform sector, and cultivate a network of employers ready to hire Entrepreneurs in Training (EITs). Youll raise Defys profile through marketing, local speaking engagements, and one-on-one networking with key stakeholders, media outlets and the general public to engage prospective volunteers, EITs, employers, and donors
• Program Operations & Excellence:Oversee the execution of program activities both in-prison and in the community. Youll ensure model fidelity and the cultivation of data points to demonstrate efficacy of programming
• Inspirational Event Leadership:Lead high-stakes events (like pitch competitions and coaching days) with an inspiring energy that motivates EITs, volunteers, and donors.

Qualifications

Required

• Proven fundraising track record and business acumen
  • A track record of at least $500,000 annually through diverse funding sources (corporations, foundations, individuals) and the ability to steward relationships with key constituencies (corporations, foundations, community-based organizations)
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
  • The ability to build, cultivate and leverage personal and professional networks and relationships, lead events, develop and deliver successful presentations, and collaborate and negotiate effectively.
• Experience and comfort working with underserved communities
• Experience in managing and developing a strong team
• Must be able to receive required clearances from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut Departments of Corrections
• Must have a valid drivers license and a reliable car
• Proficiency with Google Suite or Microsoft Office

Preferred

• BA/BS preferred
• Experience working with justice-impacted people and/or lived experience a plus
• Entrepreneurship experience a plus
• Knowledge of the New York social service and/or reentry sector a plus; significant local non-profit or multi-sector experience (including non-profit) preferred

Work Environment & Travel Requirements

• As additional funding becomes available to open an office in the future, the position will become a hybrid position with at least two days per week in a New York City area office.
• Travel to New Jersey, Hudson Valley region, Connecticut and Mid-State New York required for prison events, prison leadership meetings and donor meetings

About Defy Ventures

Defy Ventures is an entrepreneurship, employment, and personal development training program that recognizes the potential in many formerly and currently incarcerated people to become successful, legal entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs in Training (EITs) defy the odds through our program, which includes intensive leadership development, Shark Tank-style business pitch competitions, and executive mentoring. We work to address injustice through our commitment to changing perceptions, breaking cycles of recidivism, and helping people to create equity in historically marginalized communities.

Defy Ventures is an equal opportunity employer. Defy Ventures uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires in the United States. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.