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 Front End Developer will join a growing Communications team to create compelling and interactive digital experiences that effectively communicate the Vera Institute of Justice's mission, provide data and information, drive engagement, and inspire action.

We are seeking a creative Front End Developer who is well-versed in web development, web architecture, and content management systems. The ideal candidate has a diverse portfolio, strong visual instincts, and excellent communication skills.

Reporting into the Associate Director of Web Strategy, the Front End Developer will work in close collaboration with members of the digital team—the Digital Engagement Director, Associate Director of Digital Fundraising, Digital Designer, and various Digital Content specialists—to create web products that inspire, inform, and engage Vera’s audience.

The optimal person for this position will have an exceptional knowledge and understanding of current and emerging digital communications best practices, along with a willingness to keep abreast of industry trends and technologies.

The ability to work on multiple projects and prioritize competing deadlines while maintaining meticulous attention to detail is a key responsibility in this role. 

What you'll do:

Develop Web Pages and Templates

  • Develop web pages, templates, and components for Vera's digital properties 
  • Write semantic, responsive HTML, CSS, and JavaScript 
  • Ensure that web pages follow best practices for user experience, accessibility, and SEO 
  • Work closely with the Associate Director, Web Strategy to create web products that elevate Vera’s key campaigns and initiatives 
  • Work with the Digital Designer to translate creative and on-brand designs into compelling web experiences 
  • Partner with the Vera digital fundraising and other development team stakeholders to create engaging and inspiring campaign, event, and donation landing pages

Oversee Web Maintenance

  • Work closely with IT and / or external contractors to ensure the ongoing maintenance of Vera's web properties 
  • Manage codebases with Git and GitHub, following standard version control workflows 
  • Identify and address bugs and other technical issues 
  • Update software and plugins as needed 
  • Create and update relevant documentation 
  • Work in close collaboration with Vera’s IT department to coordinate and support website security and to ensure website and other web properties’ security compliance

Project Management 

  • Create and track projects using project management tools, such as Asana 
  • Collaborate with internal teams, such as editorial, design, and initiative teams, to create and execute achievable project plans 
  • Coordinate with external contractors, such as web developers, fundraising partners, and freelancers.

Website & Landing Page Optimization

  • Maintain awareness of best practices and trends in web development, design, content, and marketing 
  • Contribute ideas for new projects and pages 
  • Assess and report on page and overall website performance against search and traffic benchmarks and industry standards 
  • Propose innovations that will solve problems, improve workflows, and increase efficiency

Technical Support

  • Provide technical support on smaller projects, as needed 
  • Set up integrations with APIs, CRMs, and other third-party tools

Other job duties as assigned

What qualifications are we looking for?

Required education and/or experience

  • 3-4 years of experience in web development 
  • Highly skilled in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript 
  • Experience with Craft CMS or similar PHP-based content management systems 
  • Strong knowledge of Git, GitHub, and version control 
  • Proficiency in command line usage 
  • Experience with developing and testing responsive web designs 
  • Understanding of project management principles and tools 
  • Understanding of modern web development practices, user experience, accessibility, and SEO 
  • Proficiency using Google products such as Google Analytics (GA4), Search Console, and Tag Manager 
  • Ability to code and troubleshoot independently 
  • Ability to operate under pressure and within short deadlines

Preferred education and/or experience

  • Bachelor's degree preferred 
  • Familiarity with CRM or email marketing tools, such as EveryAction, is a plus 
  • Strong working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, especially Photoshop 
  • Familiarity with AWS web hosting and Amazon S3 cloud storage 
  • Understanding of image file types and best practices for optimizing web graphics 
  • Familiarity with Figma or similar interface design tools 

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY, 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 $77,000 - $82,500. 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 / Front End Developer
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.

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