Who we are:
The Vera Institute of Justice, founded in 1961, is a nonprofit criminal justice organization that strives to build just government institutions and safe communities free from the scourge of racism, white supremacy, profit, and inequity that is pervasive in this country’s legal systems. We are an “inside” lane organization that drives change at scale with ambitious public sector leaders who share our commitment to building anti-racist, reparative systems that deliver justice. We leverage our access to government to transform these systems and work collaboratively with stakeholders across many movements—including advocacy, grassroots, and grasstop organizations. Our role is to pilot solutions that are transformative and achievable, harness the power of evidence to drive effective policy and practice, and use advocacy and communications to change narratives and norms.
Vera has a staff of 300 people and offices in New York City, Washington, DC, 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.
WHO YOU ARE:
The EGI Senior Program Associate will drive the development of EGI’s curriculum, which will support technical assistance, research, and advocacy work across EGI’s portfolios and provide crucial resources on girls’ incarceration to the national field. The Senior Program Associate will work collaboratively with EGI’s leadership—as well as Vera’s Advocacy and Partnerships department, Vera’s Communications department, and EGI’s external partners (including government champions and national experts and advocates) as needed—to develop EGI’s foundational curriculum and related products (including briefs, presentations, online resources and tools) that can be used internally and/or by leaders in the field to create change at the national, state, and local level. Materials will prioritize addressing disparities for girls and gender expansive youth of color within the youth legal system—ending their incarceration and advancing their freedom in the community.
RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
Lead Execution of EGI’s Curriculum Plans
- In collaboration with EGI’s leadership—as well as Vera’s Advocacy and Partnerships department, Vera’s Communications department, and EGI’s external partners (including government champions and national experts and advocates) as needed—plan and implement EGI’s curriculum development to support EGI's portfolio of work and to offer crucial resources on girls’ incarceration to the national field.
- In collaboration with EGI’s leadership, tailor EGI's foundational curriculum to support EGI's Peer Network--a new model in which EGI provide technical assistance to 4-5 counties as they learn from and with each other-- about promising practice changes, challenges, and lessons to end girls’ incarceration in their jurisdiction.
- Develop and manage workplans to ensure that quality products are executed in timely fasion, including by managing internal EGI team writing and editing processes, collaborative writing processes with partner organizations, and collaboration and review processes with Vera’s Advocacy & Partnerships and Communications departments.
- Cultivate, maintain and grow relationships with organizations in the youth justice reform and related fields that generate national resources and research on topics related to girls’ incarceration, including working collaboratively with EGI’s current partners.
- Work with EGI Leadership to plan and develop resources to further EGI staff knowledge and understanding of national and local issues and solutions related to girls’ incarceration.
- Represent EGI and present EGI’s work and knowledge on panels, at conferences, and other forums within the field or open to the public
Writing and Editing Curriculum Materials
- Draft internal resources and external publications on in-depth topics related to girls’ incarceration.
- Draft presentations, fact sheets, talking points, Q&As, and other resources and tools to support EGIs work and to educate and promote advances in the field.
- Co-author larger reports with EGI staff and/or partners.
- Review and edit documents created by associate-level EGI staff.
- Collaborate with EGI technical assistance and research staff to gather relevant data and sourcing.
- Collaborate with EGI advocacy staff and with Vera’s Advocacy & Partnerships and Communications departments to produce relevant communications materials to influence the field (blog posts, social media content, op-eds etc.)
Policy and Program Research
- Collaborate with EGI leadership and technical assistance and advocacy staff to generate model policy and blueprint potential solutions to end incarceration at national, state, and local levels.
- Monitor, compile, and analyze publications, webinars, and other outputs released by other organizations across the country in the youth justice reform and related fields.
- Work with EGI technical assistance and advocacy staff, as well as relevant EGI partners, to monitor and track best practice program models and solutions across the country.
- Work with EGI research and program staff to utilize findings from collaborative research and other engagements with directly impacted young people to ensure that the curriculum is reflective of their views and expertise.
- Manage outreach to jurisdictions and organizations across the country to learn about and document relevant, new policy and programmatic solutions.
- Provide relevant updates to the team based on research and escalate strategic opportunities or potential threats to EGI’s progress.
- Propose strategies to collaborate with other organizations on curriculum-related products.
Training delivery and coordination
- Support EGI leadership in the planning and facilitation of EGI’s Peer Network
- Prepare and deliver webinars, interactive workshops and trainings for governmental and advocacy stakeholders in collaboration with EGI’s technical assistance staff both at the local and state level.
Leadership within EGI team and Vera
- Promote team’s overall impact by building team leadership and knowledge (including hosting brown bags on relevant topis like campaign management, policy matters etc.)
- Contribute to the professional development of colleagues (such as through providing guidance to associate-level staff)
WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU NEED?
REQUIRED:
- Proven track record developing and executing effective written products and presentations on youth legal reform or similar issue.
- At least four years of legal, government, or policy work experience (including internships).
- Strong writing, policy research, and literature review skills;
- Strong communication and facilitation skills;
- Ability to multitask and manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously, as well as balance travel responsibilities with office-based responsibilities;
- Ability to work collaboratively with a national, remote team;
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
PREFERRED:
- Master's degree in communications, public policy, or related field. In lieu of a Master’s degree, applicable work or life experience may be considered.
- Experience advocating for young people in the youth legal system, as well as knowledge of child welfare, school, and other relevant systems.
- Experience engaging, presenting to, and training local government leaders and broad audiences
- We value diverse experience in people’s educational backgrounds and encourage people who have lived experience with the criminal legal and immigration systems to apply.
ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
- Driver’s license
LIST OF REQUIRED SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS:
- Microsoft Office Suite; Zoom; Cloud-based project management programs (can learn on job)
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The compensation range for this position is $90,000 - $95,000. 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's 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 and remote work schedules. To learn more about Vera's benefits offerings, click here
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APPLICATIONS MAY ALSO BE FAXED TO:
ATTN: People Resources / Senior Program Associate, EGI
California
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.
_As a federal contractor, and in order to ensure a healthy and safe work environment, Vera Institute of Justice is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccine before their start date. Employees who cannot receive the vaccine because of a disability/medical contraindication or sincerely-held religious belief may request an accommodation (e.g., an exemption) to this requirement.
_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_[http://www.vera.org/]
