Current openings at Vera Institute of Justice

About the team: Since 2006, Vera has been working in New Orleans to not only safely reduce the jail population footprint, but also to pilot alternatives addressing the needs of New Orleanians outside of the criminal legal system. We have become a nexus for advancing evidence-based reform and have demonstrated that change is not only possible but within reach. Today, Vera Louisiana’s work focuses on two strategic priorities: increasing investments in thriving communities to increase safety and addressing Louisiana’s carceral impact in cities, parishes, and statewide.   The Associate Director will manage and support policy development and advocacy aimed at ending mass incarceration and securing investments in safe, thriving communities locally and statewide. The Associate Director will collaborate with the program director to develop policy and advocacy strategy and implementation; manage advocacy and policy team members performing related work; explore opportunities for partnership with government and community leaders and organizations across Louisiana; write policy reports and memos; and draft strategic communications. Externally, the Associate Director helps the Director build and maintain relationships with elected officials, government bodies, and advocates across the state to enact criminal legal system reforms, defend against regressive policies, practices and narratives, and construct new narratives. The ideal candidate has an understanding of the criminal legal system and legislative system in Louisiana and wants to work towards a vision of community safety that builds and supports thriving communities. This is a full-time position based in Louisiana. Qualified applicants must be able to travel to Baton Rouge regularly for state legislative advocacy, during regular and special legislative sessions, and across the state to build and maintain Vera Louisiana’s presence and advocacy.  About the role: Program Strategy, Management and Development Collaborate with Director on overall policy and advocacy strategy of Vera Louisiana team Manage and develop partnerships, communications and work plans Assist in the development of annual plans and other internal facing strategic documents Drafting, editing, and supervising team members’ drafting of diverse written deliverables, including longer reports, briefing memos, strategic communications for external audiences Conducting research and synthesizing existing research, data, and talking points in order to develop and author effective publications and communications tools as well as speck in programs such as convenings, webinars, and community presentations Serve as a subject matter expert to team on topics that may include criminal legal system reform policy analysis, development and advocacy Liaise with other teams, projects, and departments across Vera to advance Vera Louisiana goals Staff Supervision Manage, assign, review, and provide feedback on the work of Program Managers, Senior Program Associates, Program Associates, and Interns Collaborate with Vera Louisiana’s research team leadership to efficiently integrate the team’s data and research into Vera Louisiana’s policy and advocacy strategy and deliverables Meet regularly with staff to support day-to-day project management and continual professional development Lead regular policy/advocacy team meetings, strategy sessions, and debriefs to help the team work together seamlessly and effectively Take a leadership role in the recruitment, interviewing, selection, and onboarding of new team members Community Outreach and Public Engagement Build and maintain strong relationships with community partners and government officials Provide collaboration, thought leadership and robust participation in partner coalitions Communicate regularly and collaborate with advocacy partners to build momentum for reforms In collaboration with Director, represent Vera Louisiana in public at meetings, public hearings, and conferences Other Job Duties as Assigned What qualifications are we looking for? Advanced degree in public policy, social work, political science, criminal justice, or related field + 9 – 12 years of relevant experience; or relevant work or educational background and lived experience as a person directly impacted by the criminal legal system. In lieu of a bachelor’s degree, applicable work or life experience may be considered Deep understanding of the Louisiana criminal legal system Ability to discuss race equity issues within the criminal legal system Demonstrated ability to manage a project, including assigned staff, from start to finish Experience designing and running advocacy projects Experience working with interdisciplinary teams and managing diverse social backgrounds and identities Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both externally and internally with team members Experience producing independently written communication to diverse media and audiences including community members, government officials, members of the public and other stakeholders Preferred:  Juris doctor or graduate degree in public policy, social work, political science, criminal justice, or related field; or equivalent work experience; or relevant work or educational background and lived experience as a person directly impacted by the criminal legal system Lived experience as a person directly impacted by the criminal legal system Experience managing, supervising, or leading a team Experience designing and implementing successful advocacy campaigns Demonstrated ability to work with advocates, government officials, criminal legal system personnel, practitioners, and people who are directly impacted by the criminal legal system Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring:  Experience and comfort speaking publicly, including giving public comment and testimony and speaking on panels at conferences and meetings Microsoft Office proficiency Comfort interpreting criminal justice data and social science or legal research Ability to travel periodically across the state  Location: Please note this role will report to our New Orleans, LA office.   Compensation and Benefits:   The compensation range for this position is $129,000 - $134,000. 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, Vera LouisianaVera Institute of Justice34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232Fax: (212) 941-9407Please 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.

About the team: Vera California aims to spark momentum for decarceration and investments in the long–underfunded community-based systems of care that promote safety and wellness in California. We use data and policy analysis to drive concrete change and center racial equity. We bring expertise on best practices from around the country to local conversations in California. We collaborate with government leaders and community partners on policy development and implementation, working together toward a new vision of safety, wellness and racial justice for all Californians. About the role: The Associate Director of Research reports directly to the Initiative Director with a “dotted line” to the Initiatives’ Director of Research. In this role, the Associate Director of Research oversees staff working across a range of methodologies and multiple projects or studies, engages in sophisticated hands-on research as needed, and manages the team’s research portfolio. This position has fluency in advocacy and communications strategies and draws on their substantial expertise in the field to oversee evidence –based messaging and policy in support of big goals. They are responsible for all research products and publications coming out of their teams. Associate Directors of Research bring substantial management experience, advanced methodological skills, strong research communication skills, and experience building and leading a research team. This is a senior –level position for researchers with extensive technical expertise and substantive knowledge and experience. Research leadership  Develop and lead Vera California’s research strategies and budgets:  Develop, manage, and oversee all aspects of Vera California research, coordinating with the initiative director and institute’s director of research Work with Vera California director and associate director on annual planning and program development, staffing plans, and fundraising Serve as a member of the Vera Research Leadership Team, along with other associate directors of research, collaborating on cross-cutting research priorities and policy and ensuring that researchers across the organization receive appropriate support Supervise, support, and mentor Vera California research team staff Cultivate relationships with organizations in the field, including acting as a primary point of contact for peer research organizations Support internal collaboration by partnering with Advocacy, Communications and Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning staff to develop coordinated strategies that leverage research and working with Vera’s Insights team, Data Science team and other departments to produce research products Research Design and Implementation  Serve as Principal Investigator on research projects, developing and presenting IRB applications and ensuring that research is conducted to the highest ethical standards Lead/train/supervise on data collection and analysis, overseeing all aspects of mixed methods research and data management and analysis for Vera California Participate in hands-on data collection and analysis Conduct team and cross-team peer review in areas of methodological and subject matter expertise; Coordinate with central data science support team to ensure appropriate data analytics workflow Presentation / Publication of research  Sign off on evidence-based messaging and research for Vera California; oversee development, writing, and editing of research publications and evidence-based messaging and products in support of Vera California’s goals, including rapid response work Act as an internal and external spokesperson/representative of Vera California’s work to a range of audiences Hiring/ Supervision  Partner with the Vera California director and Vera research leadership to develop staffing plans and lead recruitment and hiring for research staff Manage research and/or data science teams, including hiring and recruiting through the principal associate level, coordinating with the research director to ensure internal consistency and collaboration Provide training, mentoring, and technical assistance to researchers within and across teams as needed, supporting earlier career researchers in their professional development goals Other projects and duties as assigned What qualifications are we looking for? Advanced degree + 9-12 years of relevant experience. In lieu of degree requirement, relevant work or life experience may be considered. Additionally, ADRs will have several years of experience supervising interdisciplinary research teams.Ability to design and supervise sophisticated quantitative analyses Experience supervising and working with mixed methods research and/or researchers; Experience conducting applied policy research; subject matter expertise including understanding of current criminal legal and immigration systems and policy in the state of California Ability to support and build advocacy efforts and external stakeholder relationships Advanced technical, methodological, analytic, and project leadership skills Commitment to race equity is required  Preferred:  Direct experience with and/or impact by the criminal legal or immigration system  Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring:  ADRs are subject matter experts, experienced researchers, managers, mentors, and project leaders with advanced research design and analytic skills Advanced data analytical and project management skills, and an extensive track record using research or data science approaches as a tool for applied justice reform Ability to travel up to 10% of the time  Technical knowledge helpful for this role: Advanced knowledge of R or other statistical software, ability to work in/ learn GitHub and Python; familiarity with qualitative research methods and tools Microsoft Office suite Location: Please note this role will report to our Los Angeles, CA, office. 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 $129,000 - $134,000. 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 Research, Vera CaliforniaVera Institute of Justice34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232Fax: (212) 941-9407Please 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.

Who is Vera Action? Vera Action, launched in 2021, is an independent but aligned 501(c)(4) organization to the Vera Institute of Justice 501(c)(3). At Vera Action, we harness the power of advocacy, lobbying, and political strategy to end mass incarceration, protect immigrants’ rights, restore dignity to people behind bars, and build safe and thriving communities. Alongside organizers and advocates, government leaders, and elected officials across the political aisle, we work to enact transformative policy change for safety and justice at the local, state, and federal levels. Vera Action has five full-time staff. The strategist will report to the organization's deputy director. About you: You are passionate about social and racial justice, motivated to drive change, and unafraid to challenge the status quo. You are enthusiastic, collaborative, curious, and kind in your approach, and you value working with and bringing out the best in others. You have an understanding of the criminal and immigration legal systems, the role of data-driven advocacy in winning political and policy change, and you have strong muscle of partnership and collaboration. You believe in the value of doing “inside” lane work to build champions for our issues within government, and in an “outside” lane approach of working in partnership with advocates, organizers, and grassroots and grasstops allies. About the role: This position is meant to help coordinate day-to-day activities of the Vera Action team, manage Vera Action databases, organize rapid response work, and hold partnerships with a variety of stakeholders within the organization as well as the wider criminal justice reform coalition. This is a junior role that will also help build the individual’s experience in writing, conducting research, leading presentations, and building and maintaining movement relationships. What you'll do: Political outreach and strategy  Draft memos, decks, one-pagers, website content, and other materials that highlight Vera Actions’ messaging research and/or political analysis for a variety of political audiences; Research and track elections that are relevant to Vera Action’s work; Conduct outreach to campaigns and movement partners; Lead briefings on Vera Action’s messaging and analysis; Produce public-facing reports for the Vera Action website; Coordinate with internal and external partners on rapid response work. Messaging and policy research  Assist in drafting and reviewing quantitative and qualitative surveys commissioned by Vera Action; Synthesize polling reports into concise memos and decks for various audiences; Coordinate the scope of research and deadlines with pollsters; Assist in drafting policy reports.  Project management  Manage the Vera Action team’s meeting tracker and internal drive with research reports, memos, and other materials; Help manage coalition tables organized by Vera Action; Take notes and track action items; Assist in managing the Vera Action website; Assist in drafting and reviewing materials for funders and the Vera Action board; Write monthly project updates to distribute to Vera Institute staff.   Other duties as assigned.  May lead reports or projects that they design on their own and work on with supervisor and other team members.  What qualifications are we looking for? Required:  3-5 years of relevant experience in the advocacy field; Experience writing for a wide range of audiences.  Preferred:  Close attention to detail; Familiarity with public opinion research; Excellent presentation and writing skills; Ability to travel when necessary; Able to prioritize and multitask in a fast-paced environment.  Location: Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY, or Washington, D.C. office. 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 $83,000 - $86,000 per year. 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.  In addition, this position is part of a bargaining unit represented by the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (ALAA) UAW 2325. 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 / Political Strategist, Advocacy and PartnershipsVera Institute of Justice34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232Fax: (212) 941-9407Please 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.