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 People Resources team at Vera oversees all employee-related operations, including employee engagement, talent acquisition, learning & development, and benefits. The People Resources team is focused on delivering a memorable, positive, and seamless employee experience at Vera Institute of Justice. Reporting to our Talent Acquisition Associate, the People Resources Intern will have the opportunity to support, learn, and partner with all disciplines of the People Resources team to execute daily administrative functions and project work, while providing improvements and efficiencies in day-to-day operations to ensure that the People team is supported in delivering on operational excellence.
What you'll do:
Employee Engagement
- Support Employee Engagement events, both in-person and virtual
- Contribute to the planning of annual events, such as Vera Day Away and Vera’s Summer Staff Picnic
- Assist with the formation of the Vera Alumni Network
Talent Acquisition & Onboarding
- Support in preparation for Vera’s Summer Internship Program
- Provide administrative support, such as scheduling, ATS management, sourcing, etc.
- Assist in the optimization of our Applicant Tracking System by providing support in setting up tags, labels, and prospecting stages
Learning & Development
- Support Learning & Development Programs (learning café, career progression series, leadership trainings, etc.) in data collection, zoom moderating, updating attendance reports, etc.
- Contribute to the Learning Management System administration
Total Rewards
- Support planning and execution of Vera’s on-site Wellness events
- Process ADP System Administration related tasks
Ad hoc duties as needed
What qualifications are we looking for?
- While this internship is open to current students, we are also interested in candidates looking to pursue a career in any facet of Human Resources, particularly in a nonprofit setting.
- Previous experience or exposure to business or people operations, through education or profession
- Demonstrated ability to work with sensitive and confidential information
Preferred:
- Lived experience as a person directly impacted by the criminal legal/immigration system
- Experience administering data modification and manipulation, such as running reports and analyzing their outcome
- Experience with HRIS systems, such as ADP
- Experience with ATS systems, such as Greenhouse
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring:
- Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to show initiative, ask questions, and adapt to changing priorities
- Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills
- Interest in criminal justice reform, racial equity, and justice
Technical knowledge we need you to be prepared to use:
- Zoom, Slack, Outlook, Microsoft Office Suite
- Previous exposure to HR-related software
Location:
Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY office. Vera interns and employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule. Full-time positions generally amount to 10 days per month. Part-time positions generally amount to 5 days per month.
Schedule:
The intern should be available to work up to 20 hours per week during the summer. The dates will be between April 1st and August 11th, with some flexibility to accommodate personal and academic schedules.
Compensation:
The compensation range for internships is $16.00 - $25.00 per hour. Actual compensation will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. Applicants may choose to receive academic credit. For those who need to earn academic credit, Vera will gladly assist in working with the school or program to make arrangements and meet requirements.
How to apply:
Please submit cover letter and resume. In your cover letter, please explain why you are passionate about criminal justice reform and what you hope to gain from this internship.
Applications may also be faxed to:
ATTN: People Resources / Intern, People Resources
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
