Who we are:

The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. For more information, visit vera.org.

Vera has a staff of 224 people, is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York and has offices in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and New Orleans. We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace. We expect our staff to embody respect, independence, collaboration, commitment, anti-racism, and equity—both in our outward-facing work and the internal culture of our workplace. We value a range of experiences in people’s educational backgrounds and encourage people who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system to apply.

About the role:

To reduce the nation’s dependence on jails, Vera’s Beyond Jails Initiative is working in cities and counties across the country to shift resources to community-driven solutions to help people thrive. The Associate Director of Programs will work closely with the Initiative Director on the overall direction of Beyond Jails. This will include developing initiative plans and determining how best to engage and support the team to complete the work. 

The Beyond Jails Initiative has three core strategies: statewide advocacy campaigns and coalition building to create lasting policy change; pilot and build evidence around decarceration strategies; and building will for change in jurisdictions. The Associate Director of Programs will also partner with the Initiative Director to seek out and respond to opportunities to partner with local government stakeholders to develop plans for jail decarceration, prevent the construction of new jails, and design reinvestment strategies. 

What you'll do:

Program Strategy & Stakeholder Engagement 

  • Work with Initiative Director to set the overall advocacy and policy strategy 
  • Manage and develop partnerships, communications, and work plans 
  • Assist in the development of the annual plan and theory of change 
  • Develop, draft, and review strategic planning documents 
  • Speak at conferences regarding institute and Beyond Jails Initiative work and related areas 

Program Management & Development 

  • Liaise with other programs and departments to advance initiative goals 
  • Develop and author publications; develop, as well as speak in programs such as convenings, webinars, presentations to advance the initiative’s goals 
  • Serve as a subject matter expert to team on topics that may include technical assistance, policy development and analysis, legislation, and advocacy

Staff Supervision   

  • Act as a thought partner in organizational design of the team and participate in recruitment, interviewing and selection of new team members
  • Manage staff and assist in their onboarding to the initiative 
  • Invest in the professional development of team members 

Fundraising 

  • Assist the Initiative Director with fundraising, including drafting proposals and reports, and responding to RFPs 
  • Attend funder meetings with Initiative Director to share expertise as a subject matter expert 

Other job duties as assigned 

What qualifications are we looking for?

  • Degree + 9 years of advocacy, policy, and coalition building experience
    • In lieu of degree requirement, applicable work or life experience may be considered. 
  • Commitment to Vera’s mission to end the overcriminalization and mass incarceration of people of color, immigrants, and people experiencing poverty 
  • Subject matter expertise in bail reform, pretrial services, and other issues related to reducing reliance on jails 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring: 

  • Direct experience in justice reform and applied research 
  • Ability to build partnerships with grassroots and grass-tops collaborators, working across lines of identity and power 
  • Administrative experience in budget development and management 
  • Experience working with funders and important partners 
  • Ability to work in diverse jurisdictions, including rural areas and small cities
  • Familiarity and comfort with data, a plus 
  • Ability to travel up to 10% of the time 

Location:

Please note this role can be based out of either of our office locations, including Brooklyn, NY, Washington, D.C., New Orleans, LA, or Los Angeles, CA. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation range for this position is $124,000 - $129,000. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute’s total compensation package for employees. As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff - both personally and professionally - is a priority. To do this, we invest in the well-being of our staff through other rewards including merit pay, generous paid time off, a comprehensive health insurance plan, student loan repayment benefits, professional development training opportunities and up to $2,000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work, employer-funded retirement plan, and flexible time. To learn more about Vera’s benefits offerings, click here. 

Application Process:

To receive further consideration for this career opportunity, applicants are asked preliminary questions about logistics, their interest and qualifications. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional details about their experience via a phone screen/form in advance of an invitation for a virtual or in-person interview with the team. Some searches may explore scenarios during the interview process and/or an assessment prior to reference checks and a hiring decision.

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People, Place, and Culture / Associate Director of Programs, Beyond Jails
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Vera is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. 

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. 

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org

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