Maneva Group Leading CEO Search for DC Justice Lab 

February 5, 2025 – Houston, TX-based executive search firm Maneva Group was recently selected by DC Justice Lab (DCJL) to lead in its search for a new CEO. As an ambitious forward thinker, the CEO will passionately, boldly, and strategically identify opportunities to take big swings to expand and deepen the work locally. They will recognize that sustainable change cannot happen without the expertise of the community that is most impacted and will honor the expressed interests, concerns, agency, and capacity of Black native Washingtonians, according to the job specification.

The inaugural CEO of DCJL will be a daring leader with the vision, courage, and strategic acumen to challenge entrenched systems and drive groundbreaking reforms in the D.C. criminal justice system. As the primary advocate for reform and the steward of the organization’s vision, the CEO will fearlessly shape priorities, inspire action, and lead strategic initiatives while serving as the face of the organization.

The CEO will develop, articulate, and advocate for clear and specific policy reforms that are tailored to the needs and demands of District residents, amplify the voices of our community, and envision clever and strategic ways to leverage our work and influence to meet the moment now and into the future. They will communicate persuasively and embrace working with policymakers and people from both sides of the political aisle. The ideal candidate will be an intrepid and seasoned organizational leader who possesses strategic, tactical, and management expertise, as well as the fortitude to reimagine a criminal justice landscape that prioritizes equity, compassion, and systemic change.

The CEO will be a strategic and results-oriented leader who will – in partnership with the Board, leadership team, and staff – develop and execute the vision for DCJL’s next chapter and help the organization strike the right balance between stability and growth. The successful candidate will have the ability to set priorities decisively, delegate responsibilities, assure accountability, and allocate resources to produce results. A track record of masterminding strategic planning initiatives and executing on those initiatives, coupled with the capacity to collaborate with diverse stakeholders toward a shared vision, will be crucial.

Related: Leading and Scaling with Talent

The ideal candidate will possess the ability to empower a talented, diverse staff and to attract mission-driven candidates to execute on the organization’s vision. Their leadership style will prioritize people’s needs and empower people to perform their best. The CEO will engender trust in the staff through a transparent and collaborative management style, focused on developing capacity, accountability, and innovation throughout the organization.


Executive Search in 2024: Challenges, Trends, and Hopes for a Hiring Resurgence in 2025

For many search firms in almost all industry segments, 2024 has been a tough year. There are many reasons for the recent downturn, and some firms have experienced a dip in revenues for even longer, according to Tim Tolan, founder, chairman, and managing partner of The Tolan Group. “Lots of changes are on the horizon for 2025 on the hiring front, and search firms are waiting with bated breath while hiring decisions are on hold, and draft fee agreements are (still) sitting in DocuSign waiting to be signed,” he said. “Decisions are dragging, as are active search engagements, as hiring managers and leaders struggle to make hiring decisions in the environment, we are all trying to navigate.”

In the Hunt Scanlon 2024 Executive Recruiting State of the Industry Report, the numbers reflected a double-digit downturn in demand for executive recruiting, with the private equity sector being the most affected. “We’ve seen and experienced that firsthand, but we feel positive changes are on the horizon,” Mr. Tolan said.


DC Justice Lab is a team of law and policy experts devoted to fundamentally reimagining the District of Columbia’s system of punishment—one of the largest, most expensive, and racially-imbalanced systems in the United States. DC Justice Lab’s aim is to end the District of Columbia’s overreliance on police, prosecutors, and prisons; eliminate the root causes of crime and violence; and reverse the harm inflicted on Black people by decades of failed criminal policies.

Serving the Social Services and Non-Profit Sectors

Maneva Group is a national executive search firm for the social impact and non-profit sectors. They are a minority and woman-owned firm with expertise in curating candidate pools and advising C-suite executives and board members through hiring decisions. Maneva Group helps foundations, nonprofits, philanthropies, social enterprises, and other mission-driven organizations to build diverse leadership teams. Over 83 percent of the firm’s placements in the last 18 months being individuals who identify as female or persons of color.

Sneha Shah is the president of Maneva Group. After recruiting for 18 years and hiring over 1,000 people, she has become known for her insightful techniques to promote diversity and equity in hiring, innovative and proactive sourcing methods. Before co-founding Maneva Group, Ms. Shah spent over 14 years as chief people officer of Pearl Hospitality.

Related: Predicting Talent Acquisition Trends for 2025

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media

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