Director, Race, Equity, & Inclusion

Who you are:

Vera’s organization-wide equity journey began as the Racial Equity and Inclusion Initiative in 2017, which grew and thrived through employee-led workgroups that fostered inclusive and engaging conversations on the intersections of race, gender, sexual orientation, and the criminal legal system and organizational leadership commitment. From 2017 to 2019, Vera engaged with Race Forward to conduct an organizational assessment that analyzed and evaluated our capacity to incorporate equity, both internally and externally; provided trainings for the entire staff and various cohorts; and developed pilot projects to apply a critical racial equity lens to Vera’s work. In late 2019, the Vera Board of Trustees approved a management recommendation to establish a racial equity staff committee, add race equity and antiracism as organizational values, and invest in permanent staff capacity to drive this work forward.

The REI team established in 2020 committed to creating and shaping shared spaces, resources, and work—internally and externally—to ensure that each person can thrive in their own identity, circumstances, and history and to eliminate disparities so that we all can prosper. Some key milestones include having developed and implemented an organization-wide REI Strategy & Action Plan, conducted two additional bi-annual REI organizational assessments, and published Vera’s first-ever Diversity Report.

Now, Vera is looking for its next Director of REI to maintain and build upon this progress.

The Director of Race, Equity, & Inclusion (REI) is a highly impactful position at Vera Institute of Justice.  As a member of the Vera Leadership team, the Director will oversee the planning, implementation, and performance measurement of short- and long- term projects that identify and address disparities (starting with, but not limited to racial disparities) and advance equity and inclusion. With a strong focus on inequities, the Director will work to embed intersectional equity, diversity, and inclusion principles in Vera’s policies, programs, and practices—utilizing specialized knowledge and skill sets, and regularly exercising good judgement and discretion.

The Director also works to create opportunities for staff training and development by making tools and resources available that support the organization in institutionalizing REI principles and values. The Director serves as a key advisor in the executive office and will partner closely with leaders across the organization to ensure progress towards our vision of being a race forward, fully inclusive organization that reflects and elevates the voices of the communities we serve, and embraces mutual accountability, analytical thinking, and commitment to shared outcomes. The Director reports to the Vice President and Chief of Staff (a member of the Executive team) and supervises the Senior Associate, Race, Equity, & Inclusion.

What you'll do:

Overall direction and management of REI

• Provide overall direction and management of REI to identify goals, outcomes, and strategies that use equity frameworks to advance and support equity, diversity, and inclusion within Vera and with Vera partners.
• Continually build upon Vera’s living REI plan and produce ongoing reporting to the executive leadership team.
• Manage and develop the organization’s REI performance measures and reporting mechanisms externally and internally.
• Lead independent research and analysis of issues and topics pertinent to REI and make recommendations for action when appropriate; track and summarize current industry practices, trends, and issues on REI.
• As a member of Vera’s executive leadership team, counsel the President and peers and inform implementation of Vera’s strategic plan.

Support Vera staff

• Collect ongoing input from the organization to identify relevant tools and resources to support Vera staff as they advance REI work in their departments, programs, or initiatives.
• Enable and encourage staff to routinely apply an equity lens in their work using a racial and social equity framework and common language, and to develop strategies that will address intersectional areas of disparity (starting with, but not limited to racial disparities).
• Support staff in using an REI lens in strategy design, development, implementation, and assessment.

Oversight and supervision

• Provide day-to-day management of the Race, Equity, & Inclusion Senior Associate, consultants, and budget.

Race, Equity, & Inclusion Committees

• Staff the Race, Equity, & Inclusion Committee of the Board of Trustees, in collaboration with the Vice President, Chief People Officer.
• Staff the Race, Equity, & Inclusion Staff Committee, in partnership with the Senior Associate, Race, Equity, & Inclusion.

Communication with stakeholders

• Strategically communicate updates to stakeholders, including appropriate staff, regarding progress against the REI goals.
• Prepare and present key REI decisions, status updates, and strategic advice to senior leaders and other internal audiences.

Other Job Duties as Assigned

What qualifications are we looking for?

• Advanced degree and years of significant professional experience in equity and / or related areas. In lieu of degree requirement, applicable work or life experience may be considered.

Preferred education and / or experience

• Demonstrated leadership, practical understanding and application of race, equity, diversity, and inclusion principles.
• Criminal legal system history and policy experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring: 

• Knowledge and passion for racial justice, social equity, community development principles, racial and cultural differences; an understanding of systemic and institutional racial bias; sensitivity to issues and concerns of communities of color and other marginalized groups; an understanding of critical issues driving opportunity gaps, poverty, and inequality in communities across the country and the corresponding approaches adopted at the local, regional, and national level to address these issues.
• Reliably exercises consistently good judgment in matters of significant importance to the Institute. This includes, but is not limited to people, budget, and organizational strategy.
• Equal parts strategist, counselor, and executor. Ability to seamlessly flow between brainstorming, executing, advising, and delegating.
• Proven experience researching, developing, and rolling out an REI strategy, including measuring efficacy of programs and policies.
• Skilled at facilitation and engaging in difficult conversations and problem-solving.
• Ability to think and act strategically in working collaboratively within and across organizations, while focusing and executing tactically to ensure successful and timely outcomes; ability to incorporate diverse perspectives in program design and implementation.
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple complex projects in a fast-paced team environment paired with the ability to meet critical deadlines. This includes managing timelines and coordinating with a diverse group that will include but not be limited to staff, consultants, and advisors from within and outside the Vera network.
• Excellent oral and written communicator in variety of settings amongst diverse audiences.
• Strong organizational development analysis and excellent program management skills.

Technical knowledge helpful for this role:

• Microsoft Office
• Adobe Acrobat
• Zoom

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 $200,000 - $205,000. 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. 

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People Resources / Director, Race, Equity & Inclusion
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.

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.