MICHEP Executive Director

Key Responsibilities

Below are the primary duties expected of the Executive Director/President/CEO. This is not exhaustive and may evolve as the Consortium grows.

Area

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Lead the development, implementation, and periodic updating of MiCHEP’s strategic plan in collaboration with the Board/Steering Committee. 

• Identify gaps and opportunities in the prison higher education landscape; propose new initiatives or partnerships to expand access, quality, & outcomes. 

• Ensure that MiCHEP’s efforts align with state and federal policy developments (e.g., Pell Grant eligibility, prison education program standards).

• Stay current on research, trends, best practices in college-in-prison, reentry, data collection, equity, and correctional education.

Program Oversight & Member Relations

• Support member institutions with technical assistance, peer sharing, capacity building, and best practices.

 • Coordinate with MDOC and other state agencies to review applications for college-in-prison programs, ensuring quality and compliance. 

• Oversee data collection, analysis, reporting on outcomes (e.g., enrollment, retention, graduation, recidivism) for incarcerated students.

 • Foster relationships among member colleges, correctional facilities, incarcerated/formerly incarcerated students, and other stakeholders.

Advocacy & External Relations

• Serve as primary spokesperson for MiCHEP to legislators, state agencies, funders, media, and the public. 

• Advocate for policies, funding, regulations that expand and improve higher education in prisons. 

• Build partnerships with other nonprofits, foundations, educational networks, community organizations. 

• Represent MiCHEP at conferences, meetings, and convenings.

Fundraising & Resource Development^[1]

• Develop and carry out fundraising strategies to secure financial resources (grants, donations, contracts) to sustain and grow MiCHEP’s work. 

• Manage relationships with current and potential funders.

 • Ensure compliance with grant requirements, reporting, budget tracking. 

• Identify in-kind support, partner contributions, and other nonfinancial resources.

Operations & Financial Management

• Oversee MiCHEP’s operational systems, including staffing or contractors, project management, administrative processes, budgeting, and financial reporting. 

• Prepare an annual budget; monitor financial performance; ensure fiscal responsibility. 

• Ensure organizational policies, procedures, and legal requirements are adhered to. 

• Ensure effective internal communication and collaboration within the organization.

Board/Steering Committee Engagement

• Serve as liaison between staff and Board/Steering Committee; prepare and provide information, reports, and analyses to enable effective governance.

 • Support board in governance functions: strategic decisions, policy setting, oversight, recruitment, evaluation. 

• Facilitate, with the Board, regular evaluation of MiCHEP’s performance and adaptation of strategies as needed.

Equity, Inclusion & Student Centeredness

• Promote principles of equity, inclusion, justice in all MiCHEP’s work.

 • Ensure that policies, practices, communications are responsive to the needs and voices of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students.

 • Ensure diverse representation in committees, leadership, and decision-making. 

• Encourage the development of peer leadership among incarcerated students (e.g., tutors, mentors), and successful reentry supports.

Qualifications

Below are the desired qualifications for the Executive Director/President. The ideal candidate may not have every trait listed, but should bring a strong mix and be committed to growing into areas of needed expertise.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in higher education, public policy, nonprofit management, social justice, or related field. (Master’s preferred)
• At least 5-8 years of professional experience with a minimum of 3 years in a leadership role in a nonprofit, membership organization, professional association, higher education, criminal justice / corrections, prison education, reentry, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and managing programs affecting incarcerated or justice-involved populations, or working with correctional institutions.
• Proven success securing grants/funding, managing budgets, and providing financial oversight.
• Experience with policy/advocacy work, engaging government agencies and legislators.
• Experience connecting multiple stakeholders (e.g., institutions, corrections, students, community orgs).
   

Working Conditions & Expectations

• Full-time position.^[2]
• Some travel across Michigan required—for visits to correctional facilities, member institutions, partners. 
• Must be able to be LEIN-cleared by the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC).
• Successfully complete any required MDOC training requirements.
• Flexibility in work hours; occasional evening or weekend work as needed for events, meetings, or legislative sessions.
• Remote-capable work, but with expectation of periodic in-person meetings and presence at key events.
• Commitment to confidentiality, especially in working with incarcerated students and institutional partners.
   
  Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Some sample metrics by which performance might be evaluated include:

• Progress toward goals in the strategic plan (program expansion, quality improvements, partnerships).
• Growth in membership, or in the number of institutions offering programs through MiCHEP.
• Volume and quality of funding secured; financial sustainability.
• Data on student outcomes: enrollment, retention, graduation, post-release success or reentry results.
• Policy or legislative wins or influence.
• Initiation and sustaining of new projects.
• Engagement of incarcerated/formerly incarcerated students in leadership roles.
• Stakeholder satisfaction (members, partner institutions, MDOC, students).
• Participation in state and national organizations linked to MiCHEP’s mission
   

MiCHEP Executive Director Prospectus

MiCHEP is committed to inclusive excellence and strongly encourages participation by individuals with lived experience of incarceration. Accordingly, persons with lived experience of incarceration are especially encouraged to apply.

^{[1] This position is funded for three years by a grant from the Mellon Foundation. Ongoing employment is dependent on satisfactory performance and successful fundraising sufficient to fund the position beyond the grant period.}

^{[2]. Michigan College Access Network serves as fiscal agent for MiCHEP. As such, the MiCHEP Executive Director will be an MCAN employee until such time as the fiscal agent relationship between MCAN and MiCHEP changes.}

^{MCAN is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.}