Chief Strategy Officer

About For The People

All candidates should make sure to read the following job description and information carefully before applying.

For The People (FTP) works with prosecutors, system leaders, community members, and incarcerated people to reduce the number of people serving excessive sentences.

We are activating the incredible power of prosecutors to join the fight to end mass incarceration. Through direct partnerships, we work with prosecutors to reduce and redress the harms caused by our criminal justice system.

We secured the passage, and are leading the implementation of Prosecutor-Initiated Resentencing, the California law that allows prosecutors to reevaluate past sentences and facilitate prison release for those serving excessive sentences.

We work with elected Prosecutors to reevaluate past sentences and, where it can be shown that a current sentence is no longer in the interest of justice, we support the prosecuting agencies through the resentencing and prison release process.

We support prosecution offices in : launching Resentencing Units; providing training and technical assistance during onboarding and implementation;

and forging partnerships with community leaders and reentry providers. We also support incarcerated people, their loved ones, and community-based organizations in preparing requests for resentencing and guidance on best practices on how to humanize stories for law enforcement audiences.

We are now expanding our California model by training and supporting prosecuting agencies in other jurisdictions to implement resentencing policies and forging community partnerships to strengthen community trust.

For more information, please visit www.fortheppl.org.

About the Position

For The People is looking for a Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) to partner closely with the Executive Director (ED) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead the further development of our programs, as well as their successful execution as we grow over the next few years.

They will steer the development of our offerings, build the systems and processes that manage, deliver and assess our programs, and partner with key stakeholders, both internal and external to ensure the success of our state, local and national engagements that further our mission.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

Oversee Strategy for the Development, Growth, Optimization, and Scalability of Key Programs

• Collaborate with ED and COO on the vision for the organization and strategy to reach those objectives.
• Oversee the expansion, execution, and assessment of our Legal and National Policy Programs with an eye to areas ripe for automation and other optimization.
• Manage the Team Leads of our National Policy and Legal Teams, collaborating with them to direct the development of program strategies for growth, optimization, and scalability.
• Spearhead the generation of ideas and initiatives that increase the effectiveness, efficacy, and scalability of our programs and the development of those ideas into executable actions.
• Identify outside resources and partnerships in support of our growth, optimization and scalability efforts, and develop, maintain, and steward those relationships for continued and sustainable productivity.
• Lead the development and execution of projects focusing on the expanded gathering, tracking and use of metrics and data to improve our programs, effectively report out to key stakeholders including funders and our Board of Directors, and support communication efforts and the development of articles, white papers, and other mechanisms to share program results and further establish For The People as the expert in PIR.

Lead the Development and Improvement of our Programmatic Systems and Processes

• Collaborate with the COO on organizational needs and ways to optimize our internal systems and processes.
• Refine the systems and processes underlying our programs, including digital and print assets, playbook and training resources, technology, data, and other tools.
• Drive cross-functional organizational processes, and lead business model innovation and user research processes to refine our product strategy and vision.
• Build systems to assess performance, use, and satisfaction with our existing product (e.g., through net promoter score or similar metrics).
• Design and deliver strategic improvements to our existing programs and products, including building new technology, systems, and tools to ensure our internal and external users find our offerings easy, efficient, and useful.
• Help resolve organizational roadblocks to ensure the organization achieves its strategic goals.

Goal Setting and Strategic Planning

• Partner with ED to develop and refine our overall programmatic strategy including both short and long-term goals and processes to identify and achieve key milestones.
• Facilitate the execution of the strategy by working collaboratively with other members of leadership and ensure that the strategy is clearly communicated and understood by the program teams.

Work with programs and leadership to cultivate and sustain strategic and operational alignment to help ensure we achieve our organizational priorities.

• Engage key donors and partners on programmatic topics.
• Partner with ED and Team Leads on how to optimize our external partnerships including DA Offices, Community Based Organizations, and other government offices and NGOs for improved performance and results.

Engage these partners through design thinking and other strategies to solicit their input to help direct our optimization efforts.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• 8+ years of experience in building, improving, optimizing, and scaling programs in a high-expectations environment.
• Track record of successful team and organizational leadership in a period of rapid growth.
• Experience in any or all of the following : strategy development, strategy consulting, and strategy implementation.
• Prefer experience in the nonprofit sector and / or organizations focused on criminal justice, legislative reform, other mission-driven environments, and experience working with justice-impacted communities.
• Experience in successfully growing an organization, or a major department within an organization.
• Track record of building high-performance systems in rapidly growing organizations, which may include setting a vision, developing strategic frameworks, and planning with executive leadership to achieve impact.
• Ability to think analytically and operationally and to prioritize in an ever-changing landscape. Ability to execute with high standards, and make strategic adjustments to goals and objectives, as needed.
• A passion for building great user-centered products and / or systems.
• Experience with systems change work (locally or nationally) that improves the way that government operates for marginalized communities.

Experience in Design Thinking methodologies is a plus.

• Superb written and oral communication skills, including solid presentation and facilitation abilities.
• Ability to collaborate demonstrating the valuing of honesty and openness, seeking input, while not shying away from productive conflict, and facilitating effective decision-making.
• Experience managing people and teams, including cross-functional management experience across multiple programs.
• Track record of setting and meeting ambitious goals in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated curiosity, empathy, integrity, and sense of humor.

Location

We believe there is great value in working and collaborating face-to-face; therefore, our preference is for the Chief Strategy Officer to be located in California and able to work in our Oakland office a minimum of two days per week.

However, we are open to considering a primarily remote arrangement for the right candidate.

Travel

Depending on the location of the candidate, travel is primarily local during the business day. Some out-of-the-area and overnight travel may be expected.

If the candidate is not located in the California Bay Area, quarterly travel to the Oakland office, at a minimum, will be required.

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience; salary range $143K - $155K.
• 100%-paid benefits package for the employee, including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, holidays and paid time off
• 25 paid hours for professional development / coaching
• Option to enroll in our 403(b) retirement plan

How To Apply

The Chief Strategy Officer position will be open until filled. Interested applicants should submit the information below to our portal at : https : / / fortheppl.bamboohr.com / jobs /

• Resume;
• Cover letter, explaining your interest, key qualifications, and your compensation requirements; and
• Three (3) references for people familiar with your qualifications.

Diversity, Inclusion, Justice and Equity Statement

FTP works every day to serve justice and that begins with our team. We are inclusive. We celebrate multiple approaches and points of view.

We believe diversity drives creativity, understanding, and effectiveness, so we are continuing to build a culture where difference is not only valued but sought after.

We strive to create a team that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full authentic selves to work.

Request for Accommodations

If you require accommodations to review and / or apply for this position, please contact For The People at info@fortheppl.

org and appropriate accommodations will be provided.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States to be considered for this role.

For The People is an Equal Opportunity Employer and wants our staff to reflect the communities we serve. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including formerly incarcerated and / or system-involved individuals.

We look at each applicant’s full experience and consider each applicant. We encourage people from all backgrounds and experiences to apply.

Individuals with lived experience of the criminal justice system and its impacts are strongly encouraged to apply.

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