THE OPPORTUNITY
Are you ready to take a successful criminal justice agency to the next level?
Can you build upon existing strengths while setting your own path for the future?
Will you lead with a sense of urgency to create pathways for the justice-involved to drive their transformation?
Do you rise to the management challenges of strengthening a complex multi-faceted organization, and building systems to ensure its effectiveness and growth?
Do you have the determination, finesse, and entrepreneurial spirit to grow an organization, scaling programs, and advancing reform efforts?
Are you driven to create a comprehensive fund development strategy of identifying, cultivating, and securing major assets for the organization?
ABOUT OSBORNE
Since 1931, Osborne Association has served individuals, families, and communities affected by the criminal justice system. Osborne is recognized as a national leader in offering opportunities for people to heal from and repair harm, restore their lives, and thrive. Through innovative, effective, and replicable programs, Osborne serves the community, reducing crime and its human and economic costs. Osborne serves more than 12,000 people annually in more than 30 prisons and jails across New York State.
Osborne’s work begins at arrest and continues in courtrooms, where its court advocacy services promote community-based alternatives to detention and incarceration. In jails and prisons, Osborne provides parenting and health education and life skills, and workforce training. Critically, Osborne supports family connections during incarceration, through its child-friendly family centers in prison visiting areas, its visiting hospitality centers, its groundbreaking family programs, and its innovative supportive video visiting program. Osborne’s work with children of incarcerated parents has won national recognition.
As clients approach release, Osborne helps them make detailed plans for re-entry, tackling the multiple barriers that face formerly incarcerated people. After release, Osborne provides comprehensive re-entry support, including assistance with health and addiction issues, job training, and both job and housing placement. Over the last two years, Osborne has been transforming a former jail into a 130-unit transitional housing facility, to support this critical re-entry need. It recently launched an innovative Kinship Reentry Initiative, providing financial and practical support to families so they can welcome loved ones into stable living environments. The organization is deeply committed to equity and justice, with a firm belief in everyone’s capacity to change.
Headquartered in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx, Osborne has four additional community offices throughout New York State in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Buffalo, and Newburgh. Osborne has a budget of $39 million, with more than 70 percent coming from public sources, principally New York City and New York State.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND PRIORITIES
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO will provide overall leadership and direction for Osborne, carrying out its mission and guiding its vision through long-term strategic planning. The Board is committed to Osborne’s continued strength and growth. They envision supporting the CEO in reviewing Osborne’s traditional structures, and considering how best to position Osborne for continued success and future growth. The CEO will be an effective, inclusive collaborator, engaging multiple constituencies in the organization’s work. They will also continue to increase Osborne’s reach by supporting and bolstering relationships with government funders and charitable partners. The CEO will serve as a respected thought leader and advocate for enhanced services and systemic reform. They will work with the staff and Board to oversee Osborne’s programming, and to continue Osborne’s history of developing innovative programs, tools, and services. They will be actively committed to driving the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work across all programmatic, staffing, and operational levels.
MANAGEMENT
STAFF MANAGEMENT
• Lead and support a dedicated staff with a shared vision and sense of purpose, creating opportunities for learning, growth, innovation, and creativity. Ensure superior management of the staff and of day-to-day operations. Ensure that management and organizational structures are well designed to achieve effective results.
• Delegate with accountability. Supervise staff, facilitating an effective and collaborative
environment, ensuring alignment with organizational values and strategy.
• Drive a culture of collaboration, integration, quality, innovation, data-driven decision making, and intelligent use of resources.
• Ensure that staff on all levels reflect the diversity of the populations served. Foster an inclusive culture where all staff and clients can thrive.
• Maintain an effective senior management team.
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
• In partnership with the program team, oversee Osborne’s existing programs and continue Osborne’s history of programmatic innovation.
• Develop close relationships with key government actors involved in program operations and funding.
• Foster a strong service orientation.
• Continue improving the measures used to monitor progress and success. Support capacity to track and disseminate impact internally and to funders and partners.
• Ensure that programs undergo regular evaluation, growth, and development.
• Assure that Osborne’s services are based on the emerging needs of its clients, and that they are effective, fiscally viable, and designed to achieve the highest impact.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
• Oversee the financial status of the organization, including the operating and capital budget process, financial reporting and analysis, expenses, levels of funding, and cash flow.
• In partnership with the CFO, ensure that financial systems, budgets, and planning strategies reflect best practices.
• Oversee program structure and funding, how money is being spent and what it costs to deliver and leverage high-quality services efficiently.
• Ensure robust internal controls.
• Oversee the Fulton project, including development of appropriate program and operating
guidelines and budgets.
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT/PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDRAISING/REVENUE GENERATION
• Manage local, state, and federal government relationships.
• Maintain and build governmental funding streams. These are critical to Osborne, representing the great bulk of its funding. Oversee government contacts, ensuring that performance and processes meet required standards.
• Build a strong culture of philanthropy within the organization in which Board, staff, and alumni serve as ambassadors and engage in relationship building.
• Increase private donor funding with individuals, foundations, and corporations.
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit new donors.
• Oversee revenue-generating galas, events, and giving campaigns.
• Explore avenues for revenue generation such as social enterprises and use of Osborne’s real estate assets.
BOARD MANAGEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT
• Establish a strong working partnership with the Board, built on transparency and respect.
• Partner with the Board on setting and reviewing strategy.
• Elicit best efforts from each director in support of Osborne’s programs and fundraising.
• Inform the Board regularly about the health of the organization, including its financial position, program, and administrative activities and outcomes.
• Continue to strengthen the Board through effective recruitment, orientation of new members, and training existing members.
• Serve as the primary voice for Osborne staff with the Board.
COMMUNITY AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS/ADVOCACY AND FIELD LEADERSHIP
• Serve as an effective spokesperson, advocate, and thought leader, strengthening Osborne’s position as a statewide and national voice, mobilizing communities to affect systemic reform.
• Continue to strengthen Osborne’s influence with key actors in government, foundations, other nonprofits, and the private sector.
• Ensure that Osborne serves as an effective partner and resource with others in the field to advance appropriate policies and legislation.
• Position Osborne as a program pacesetter relied on by media outlets for coverage on relevant issues facing Osborne’s population.
• Integrate the voice and activism of clients in the development of programs and their promotion.
IDEAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
• Unwavering commitment to Osborne’s mission and values, sharing a deep empathy with and compassion for the unique circumstances of the individuals being served. Personal experience with incarceration or the justice-involved a strong plus.
• Proven managerial experience and commensurate fiscal responsibilities in a complex organization. Multi-sector experience is a plus with a preference for government and nonprofit experience.
• Deep understanding of how government works, preferably in New York City and State.
• Demonstrated ability to balance long-term strategic vision with daily operational issues.
• Proven track record of success in fundraising.
• Deep social justice values and competencies, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as a way of being. Fluency in related concepts like racial equity and systemic discrimination.
• Demonstrated ability to capitalize on public relations opportunities as they arise to build the visibility of the organization and its mission.
• Experience working effectively with a board of directors.
• A collaborative manager with the ability to attract and nurture high-performing talent and sustain a positive team-oriented work culture among a diverse staff.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. An inspiring public speaker able to speak about the organization’s work with passion and conviction and enhance visibility. Adept at addressing a variety of diverse audiences.
• A self-reflective nature, with the ability to listen effectively.
• A grounded visionary and lifelong learner who can see the real-world needs of vulnerable families and communities affected by the criminal justice system.
• An individual able to maintain balance and perspective.
