Executive Director, EMERGE Connecticut

OPPORTUNITY

EMERGE Connecticut (EMERGE) invites a justice-focused impact-oriented leader to serve as its next Executive Director (ED) and guide the organization into its next era of growth and impact.

A financially strong mission-centered social enterprise EMERGE supports formerly incarcerated people in rebuilding their lives reconnecting with their families and contributing to their communities. Through its proven programs trauma-informed culture and measurable success EMERGE has become a respected leader in reentry and workforce developmentchanging lives and challenging stigma every day.

The next ED will inherit a powerful foundation: a trusted reputation deeply committed and effective staff and strong community partnerships. This is a rare opportunity to sustain a proven model at a pivotal moment of growth taking the helm as the organization expands from its successful New Haven base to a new Bridgeport site and shaping a lasting legacy of hope equity and opportunity.

ORGANIZATION

Founded in 2011 amid the Great Recession and record incarceration rates EMERGE was built on a simple but radical belief: that every person deserves a chance to work heal and belong. The organizations dual-service modelpaid transitional employment paired with trauma-informed supporthelps participants break cycles of recidivism reclaim their lives and strengthen their families and communities.

Through its Transitional Employment Program participants work 24 hours each week earning competitive wages in fields such as construction demolition landscaping green infrastructure urban forestry stormwater management and property maintenance. These real-world experiences teach marketable skills and foster a sense of pride and accomplishment.

During the remaining 16 hours participants engage in transformative programming that centers healing and personal growthaddressing trauma building financial empowerment strengthening parenting skills and supporting education and career readiness.

The outcomes speak volumes: only 12% of EMERGE participants return to prison within two years (compared to over one-third nationally and almost one-half state-wide) and up to 70% transition to full-time employmentwith 82% still working a year later.

With an annual operating budget of $2 million EMERGE maintains strong fiscal health earning one-third of its revenue through its own commercial activity. Its 18 long-tenured staff members describe the culture as safe restorative and supportivea place where both staff and participants thrive. A growing Board of dedicated members brings deep commitment and governance strength.

Headquartered in New Haven EMERGE is poised to open its second location in Bridgeport before November extending its reach and deepening its impact across Connecticut.

THE ROLE

The next Executive Director will facilitate a smooth transition from the current ED of six years and work closely with the Board of Directors to lead and oversee EMERGEs fiscal administrative operational and program functions in partnership with a devoted motivated and highly effective team. The ED also serves as EMERGEs public facebuilding relationships with funders partners and community stakeholders elevating the organizations visibility and advancing its mission and impact. Priorities for the next ED include both immediate and long-range objectives that strengthen EMERGEs growth and sustainability.

PRIORITIES

Organizational Management

Strong organizational management is essential. The ED will support and develop staff address workload pressures and balance empathy with structureleading a people-centered organization with clarity accountability empathy and care.

Culture and Relationship Building

The ED must begin by listening learning and earning trust. EMERGEs trauma-informed peer-led culture is central to its success. The new leader will strengthen staff morale attend to emotional well-being and develop second-line leadership to ensure stability and shared ownership.

Fundraising and Sustainability

Financial stability is an urgent focus. The next ED will diversify and grow revenue lead relationship-based fundraising and build staff and board capacity for financial management. Sustaining EMERGEs social enterprise and mission programs will require balancing innovation with fiscal resilience.

Operational Systems and Structures

A top priority is to fully utilize and strengthen internal systemsHR IT finance and communicationsto match EMERGEs growth. The ED will improve consistency planning and coordination between sites ensuring efficient operations and clear accountability.

Strategic Planning

An early priority will be to launch a strategic planning process to clarify direction integrate operations and communications and ensure Bridgeport sustainability. The ED will promote coordination and foresight maintaining mission integrity while managing growth and making disciplined choices about new opportunities.

Public Relations Communications and Visibility

The next Executive Director will raise EMERGEs public profile by serving as the organizations visible leader and storyteller. They will amplify EMERGEs reputation with funders policymakers and community partners and ensure consistent intentional messaging. Strengthening branding storytelling and community presencethrough media events and partnershipswill help expand visibility from local to statewide to national recognition.

Advocacy and Systems Change

The new leader will deepen EMERGEs advocacy voice linking its direct service results to policy change. This includes empowering alumni and credible messengers engaging with policymakers and connecting data and storytelling to advance reentry and justice reform statewide.

Communications

The next ED will improve transparency and internal communication ensuring staff feel informed and connected while sharpening EMERGEs external storytelling and advocacy voice to strengthen trust and visibility with key partners.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the Board of Directors the Executive Director provides overall leadership strategic direction administration and organizational management to ensure that EMERGE fulfills its mission: supporting formerly incarcerated individuals in rebuilding their lives reconnecting with their families and communities and breaking cycles of incarceration.

Organizational Leadership

• Serve as the public face and chief ambassador of EMERGE representing the organization with authenticity and vision to staff participants (Crew Members) partners funders and the broader community.
• Lead transparent values-driven communication across all levels of the organization. Support staff through change and challenge while maintaining focus on mission and results.
• Encourage full and effective use of EMERGEs existing systems and infrastructure; assess operational needs to ensure the organization can scale sustainably without overburdening staff.
• Lead growth and development of EMERGEs second location thoughtfully managing expansion from startup to long-term stability.
• Monitor state and national trends in reentry workforce development and justice reform; adapt EMERGEs strategy and programs to remain responsive and relevant.
• Ensure the continued excellence and impact of current programs while fostering innovation to meet evolving community needs.
• Strengthen financial sustainability by diversifying funding streams and cultivating a culture of philanthropy across staff and board. Build strong relationships with funders and explore new opportunities for earned income grants and private giving.

Staff Leadership

• Provide leadership and direct supervision of five senior level staff members: Director of Organizational Development Director of Training and Business Development Bridgeport Site Director Program Coordinator and Controller.
• Inspire support and develop EMERGEs director-level staff team through coaching mentoring and professional growth opportunities.
• Foster a workplace culture where staff feel trusted valued and empowered to lead.
• Promote trauma-informed equity-based management practices that prioritize healing collaboration and accountability.

Board Governance & Engagement

• Partner with the Board to strengthen its structure composition and alignment with EMERGEs mission and growth.
• Expand the Boards size diversity and regional representation including recruitment of members from Fairfield County and those with a range of professional skills.
• Guide the Boards evolution from a working Board to one focused on strategy governance and fundraising.
• Facilitate opportunities for interactions between the Board and staff members for the purpose of increasing transparency shared learning and mutual respect.
• Engage the Board in strategic planning fiscal oversight and resource development to ensure long-term organizational health.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

Candidates who meet many though not all of the qualifications are strongly encouraged to apply.

Skills & Experience

• Proven experience leading or managing a nonprofit organization including partnership with a Board of Directors. Experience in the fields of mental health workforce development reentry or social justice is ideal.
• Strong strategic and operational leadership skills including experience guiding organizational change setting priorities and managing crises with calm and integrity.
• Demonstrated ability to inspire trust motivate teams and balance ambition with sustainability.
• Experience leading or contributing to a strategic planning process and translating vision into action in collaboration with Board and staff.
• Exceptional communication skills both written and verbal with the ability to engage diverse audiences through storytelling public speaking and authentic listening.
• Solid financial and fundraising acumen including experience managing budgets interpreting financial statements and cultivating donor and institutional funder relationships.
• Operational experience in areas such as HR IT systems facilities and program management; ability to embed equity and trauma-informed practices into organizational systems.
• Strong understanding of building partnerships and securing funding from government agencies foundations and individual donors.

Personal Attributes

• Passionate commitment to second chances human potential and the healing power of community and meaningful work.
• Growth mindset with the ability to identify and pursue new opportunities.
• Resilient nimble and adaptable; able to lead with steadiness in dynamic environments.
• Compassionate yet accountable; leads with empathy while maintaining high standards and results.
• Authentic grounded and humble; committed to listening and learning from staff participants and community members.
• A grounded visionaryable to hold big-picture strategy while staying rooted in mission and day-to-day realities.
• Collaborative and decisive; builds consensus while taking thoughtful action.
• Deeply committed to diversity equity inclusion and belonging and to trauma-informed culturally competent practices.
• Strong administrative and organizational skills with attention to detail and follow-through.
• Knowledge of or lived experience within urban communities and issues affecting justice-impacted individuals.
• Lived experience as a justice-involved individual is welcomed and valued.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates can submit materials via the link at the top right of this page.

This search is being conducted in partnership with TSNE and consultant Mimi Brunelle. All submissions are confidential within the Search Committee and TSNE.

Applicants should include:

• A resume or profile summary outlining relevant experience and accomplishments.
• A cover letter expressing their interest and describing how their skills and experience align with EMERGEs mission and priorities.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Early submission is encouraged. The position will remain open until the right candidate is identified. All applicants will receive acknowledgment and those advancing in the process will be contacted directly.

Compensation and Work Environment

The Executive Director position is in-person full-time and exempt based in New Haven with regular travel to Bridgeport Connecticut. Some evening and weekend hours as well as limited travel for community engagement and conferences are required.

• Salary range: approximately $commensurate with experience and within the organizations annual budget.
• Benefits: A generous package including a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) funded at 8% of salary competitive paid time off (PTO) retirement benefits available through MyCTSavings and professional development and executive coaching opportunities.

EMERGE is committed to fair-chance hiring practices and welcomes applications from individuals with lived experience of incarceration. Consistent with the mission to suppoet the successful reentry of formerly incarcerated people into the workforce and community a criminal record is not an automatic barrier to employment.

As part of the hiring process EMERGE conducts a comprehensive background review for finalists which may include criminal history driving record and credit check where relevant to job responsibilities. Findings are reviewed on a case-by-case basis considering the nature of the role the relevance of any record to job duties and evidence of rehabilitation and keeping with state law and organizational policy EMERGE does not consider convictions related to arson or sexual offenses for employment. All other backgrounds will be considered with fairness and transparency in alignment with our values of equity inclusion and second chances.

EMERGE prohibits discrimination based on race color religion sex gender identity sexual orientation national origin age disability marital status citizenship status genetic information or any other protected characteristic.