Executive Director - Mayor's Office on Returning Citizen Affairs (MORCA)

Washington, DC

Full Time

Mayor's Office on Returning Citizens Affairs (MORCA)

Senior Manager/Supervisor

POSITION:   Executive Director
OFFICE:        Mayor's Office on Returning Citizen Affairs (MORCA)
OPEN:   October 27, 2025
CLOSE: November 28, 2025
GRADE:        Executive Service, Grade E1 (DX-1)
SALARY:      $110,225 - $165,338

This is an Executive Service position. Selected candidate must be a District resident or establish residency within 180 days of hire.

Current District of Columbia residents will receive priority and advanced preference for screening and interviews.

BACKGROUND

The Mayor's Office on Returning Citizen Affairs (MORCA) provides useful information for the empowerment of previously incarcerated persons in order to create a productive and supportive environment where persons may thrive, prosper, and contribute to the social, political, and economic development of self, family, and community. MORCA's mission is to provide zealous advocacy, high-quality services and products, and up-to-date information for the empowerment of previously incarcerated persons.
This position functions as Director, responsible for participating in and supervising planning, directing, and coordinating the general program activities supported by MORCA through the various returning citizen constituency groups and community-based organizations. The work supports MORCA in advancing the Mayor’s strategic plan and contributes to the improvement of the quality of life of returning citizen residents in Washington, DC. The successful candidate will have personal and professional experience organizing, training, and leading returning citizens in the District of Columbia.

MAJOR DUTIES

Serve as an advocate for the returning citizen community in the District.
Assist the Mayor in the development and function of the Commission on ReEntry and Returning Citizen's Affairs to identify core challenges and areas of need for services or improvement of services and brings them to the attention of the office of the Mayor and to the Commission on ReEntry and Returning Affairs.
Advise the Mayor and Director of Community Affairs on important policy and program decisions which will help train, empower and engage the District's returning citizen community.
Successfully and innovatively implement empowerment and engagement activities to address needs of returning citizens throughout the District of Columbia.
Through day-to-day relationships with program and agency heads, increase the overall effectiveness and efficiency of operations and services to ensure that all programs and activities are helping to efficiently and effectively achieve the Mayor's and MORCA's objectives.
Identify areas for service improvement and bring these areas to the attention of the Mayor and the Commission with recommendations for meeting these needs, including conducting or funding research and demonstration projects to test the recommendations.
Responsible for the instruction and activities of the MORCA community outreach program, which was created to inform returning citizens about District Services in the areas of employment, housing, health, economic development, and education.
Serve as the primary liaison between the MORCA and community-based organizations, faith based organizations and the private sector.
Conduct the office's public relations program, which includes public appearances and public speaking.
Develop and maintain a built-in system of data collection and analysis to provide monthly official evaluations of MORCA programs.
Oversee the agency’s service linkage and case management program to effectively develop and implement workshops, programs, and engagements relevant to the returning citizen community.
Support the day-to-day operations of the agency, including supervision of staff and staff activities, assessment of needs and actions, planning of events, community outreach activities, and community meetings, designating work assignments, identifying developmental and training needs, and evaluating work performance.
Perform other duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Must have clearly established personal and professional knowledge and experience working with returning citizens and their families. Candidates should outline this experience in their submission.
Demonstrated knowledge of issues impacting the District's returning citizen community. Candidates must document this experience in their submission.
Excellent communication skills in writing, oral presentation, public speaking, and meetings. Ability to exercise tact, discretion, and skill in dealing with persons at various levels and groups, especially in public settings.
Knowledge of the District’s reentry case management program and ability to share demonstrated implications to the constituent groups.
Profound understanding of the complexities of the diverse returning citizen communities, including cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic barriers and factors.
Strong knowledge of the grant development and operations management including: knowledge of grants planning, grant-making and all facets of grant management
Thorough knowledge of administrative, financial and management aspects, concepts, procedures and processes.
Comprehensive knowledge of analytical and evaluative methods to asses and evaluate policies, program, and issues for decision- making, and to identify existing and potential problem areas.
Ability to comprehend multi-faceted problems and to design appropriate and effective techniques for resolution.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work is performed primarily in-person in an office setting. Time in the field is frequently required for related events.

Special note - security sensitive

This position is deemed security sensitive. The incumbent of this position will be subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC Personnel Regulations, Suitability – Security Sensitive.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

There is a legal requirement that each new appointee to the Executive Service either:

be a District of Columbia resident at the time of appointment; or
become a District resident within one hundred eighty (180) days of appointment.

The law also requires that Executive Service employees remain District residents during the duration of the individual’s appointment. Failure to remain a District resident for the duration of the appointment will result in forfeiture of employment.

If you are interested in this role, please upload your resume and answer the questionnaire. Only the candidates deemed most suited for the position based on resume will receive a call to schedule further discussion.