Chief Program Officer

Chief Program Officer

Chief Program Officer (CPO)

Location : National with travel Position : Executive Team | Impact : 31 sites nationwide, thousands of lives transformed annually

Transform reentry. Redefine opportunity. Lead with impact.

At CEO, we believe everyone deserves the chance to build a strong future after incarceration. For three decades, we've been at the forefront of national reentry work opening doors to careers, community, and stability for thousands of people each year. Now, we're seeking a Chief Program Officer (CPO) to help write the next chapter of this story.

This is more than a leadership role. It's an opportunity to shape the future of reentry nationwide designing, scaling, and innovating programs that change lives and set a new standard for what's possible.

As CPO, you'll join our executive team as a visionary strategist and catalyst for impact. You'll oversee a 31-site portfolio spanning vocational training, supportive services, and social enterprise ensuring our programs not only meet the moment, but push the field forward.

Your leadership will be grounded in evidence, driven by equity, and centered on the voices of participants. You'll champion innovation, inspire a high-performing team, and cultivate partnerships that amplify our reach and influence.

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.

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.

Set the vision : Shape and implement a bold strategy for reentry programming nationwide.

Drive innovation : Build and refine vocational pathways and supportive services aligned with labor market needs.

Lead at scale : Oversee a complex, multi-site portfolio, ensuring excellence and accountability at every level.

Amplify impact : Partner with employers, funders, government leaders, and advocates to expand opportunity.

Inspire people : Lead, mentor, and grow a diverse, mission-driven team of program leaders across the country.

You are an experienced executive leader with a passion for equity and proven success scaling programs that deliver measurable outcomes. You know how to navigate complexity from multi-million-dollar budgets to cross-sector partnerships while keeping people at the center.

This is a chance to make an enduring impact not only on the lives of the people we serve, but on the field of reentry itself. You'll join a collaborative executive team, lead a talented national staff, and partner with communities, policymakers, and funders who share our belief in second chances.

At CEO, your leadership will help transform the narrative of reentry proving that with the right support, people coming home can thrive, contribute, and lead.

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package that reflects how much we value our people. Our benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage with competitive contributions, health reimbursement and flexible spending accounts, and paid parental leave to support families. We invest in your future with a retirement plan that includes employer contributions, along with free financial wellness coaching and resources for mental health and wellbeing through our Employee Assistance Program.

We also recognize the importance of balance and rest. That's why we provide a robust paid time off package including 20 vacation days, 12 sick days, 12 paid holidays, 2 personal days, and 1 floating holiday.

Beyond benefits, CEO fosters a culture of learning, connection, and teamwork. From our affinity group program and lunch-and-learns and team outings, we create opportunities to grow, share, and build community together.

This is an exempt position with a tiered compensation system designed to ensure fairness, market alignment, and equity across our geographical territories. CEO's salary structure consists of multiple tiers, with ranges determined based on the cost of labor in specific markets. For this role, the salary range falls within the overall range $213,600 - $312,500. CEO's current salary tiers are structured as follows :

• Tier 1+ : $277,700 - $312,500
• Tier 1 : $240,000 - $285,000
• Tier 2 : $230,000 - $260,000
• Tier 3+ : $218,900 - $246,000
• Tier 3 : $213,600 - $240,000

CEO's pay philosophy is centered on experience and internal equity, meaning that individuals with less experience typically start at the lower end of the entry salary ranges above. Higher salary placement is usually reflective of the additional comparable experience, expertise, skills, and contributions employees bring from similar roles. This approach ensures compensation aligns with an employee's background while providing room for growth within the salary range.

Strategic Leadership

Program Oversight

Operational Excellence & Impact

Team Management & Support