Director, Operations

Director, Operations
Any CEO Office Location
Hybrid

Anticipated deadline to submit application: August 8, 2025 before 9am EDT. Position may close early if application limit is met. Apply promptly for full consideration.

The Opportunity

The Director, Operations oversees operations strategy and implementation across CEO’s thirty-one offices nationally, working in close partnership with program and central operational teams. They lead a team to provide facilities, operations, and safety oversight and support to on-site staff and ensure CEO’s offices provide a safe, welcoming, and operationally smooth experience for CEO participants.

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 organizational operations and facilities management, including experience in a supervisory or management capacity.(3+ years)Strong understanding of facilities standards, policies, best practices, metrics, and processes
• You have knowledge of procurement/contracting process and best practices
• You have experience in emergency management and supporting in crisis situations
• You are knowledgeable with technology, including Google Suite, Microsoft Suite, and project management tools
• You have the ability to travel to other sites as needed
• You have a commitment to CEO’s mission
• You are adept at executing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, with the ability to meet project deadlines and budget parameters
• You are able to see issues before they happen and be proactive to prevent them
• You are an effective multitasker capable of staying organized and meeting deadlines with accuracy in a fast-paced environment
• You have the ability to maintain composure in uncertain and stressful times and have an ability to form strong and meaningful work connections with your colleagues
• You are customer service oriented: design and plan with the staff and participants in mind, and anticipate needs before they arise, all with an appropriate sense of urgency
• You are a strong communicator, advisor, and negotiator, with demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders of all levels, and to balance and execute on feedback from a variety of collaborators
• You proactively take initiative to identify, assess and address potential areas of risk
• You have the proficiency in addressing conflicts directly and escalating issues when necessary

What You’ll Be Responsible For

Key responsibilities of the Director, Operations include but are not limited to:

Operations, Facilities, and Safety Strategy and Administration

• Lead a team to create, refine, and implement a strategy and approach for improving the efficiency and reliability of CEO’s facilities, site management and operations in support of CEO’s mission and organizational strategies
• Oversee implementation of organizational operational processes and coordination across CEO’s sites/facilities across the country, ensuring sites are designed in a way that support program needs 
• Maintain facilities budget across sites with a multi-year view and perform regular analyses, reporting on key performance indicators
• Partner with colleagues across CEO to create forward thinking site processes that promote a best in class, safe, collaborative, accessible and inclusive workplace environment where employees and CEO participants can thrive. This involves but not limited to:
• develop data gathering, reporting, and analysis mechanisms to ensure that staff and participant feedback inform site operational processes & management
• coordinate the adoption of standardized safety protocols for a safe work environment and implement protocols in existing and new facilities
• develop and implement facilities processes to ensure sites are prepared for natural disasters and other emergencies
• ensure site design is in complianc