Who we are:

The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. For more information, visit vera.org.

Vera has a staff of 224 people, is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York and has offices in Washington, D.C., 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.

About the team:

Vera’s Initiative to End Girls’ Incarceration (EGI) aims to zero out the incarceration of girls and gender-expansive youth in the country’s juvenile legal system by 2030. To get to zero girls incarcerated, we partner with government and community leaders to develop solutions based on community needs while advocating for broader policy changes at the state and local levels that advance the freedom and well-being of girls and gender-expansive youth. As we boost local prevention and diversion services, we’re also working to decriminalize status offenses (like running away) and explicitly prohibit incarceration for misdemeanors and technical violations of probation, to protect a young person’s safety or address their needs, and when there is no threat to public safety.

About the role:

The Associate Director will work closely with the Initiative Director on the overall direction of EGI. This will include developing initiative plans and determining how best to engage and support the team to complete the work. The Associate Director will support program leadership by contributing to the overall direction and delivery of the initiative’s technical assistance, including by developing workplans and determining objective-oriented assignments. Will also help establish operating policies, procedural plans, programmatic priorities, methodologies, and standards. In collaboration with the director, will supervise teams delivering technical assistance to the initiatives’ partner sites and be involved in active efforts to develop contacts and proposals that lead to new or expanded initiative projects.    

What you'll do:

Program Strategy & Stakeholder Engagement 

  • Work with Initiative Director to set the overall advocacy and policy strategy of the team.  
  • Manage and develop partnerships, communications, and work plans 
  • Assist in the development of the annual plan and theory of change 
  • Develop and draft strategic planning documents 
  • Speak at conferences regarding institute and initiative work and related areas 

Program Management & Development 

  • Liaise with other programs and departments to advance initiative goals 
  • Develop and author publications; develop, as well as speak in programs such as convenings, webinars, presentations to advance the initiative’s goals 
  • Serve as a subject matter expert to team on topics that may include technical assistance, policy development and analysis, legislation, and advocacy. 

Staff Supervision   

  • Act as a thought partner in organizational design of the team and participate in recruitment, interviewing and selection of new team members. 
  • Manage staff and assist in their onboarding to the initiative 
  • Invest in the professional development of team members 

Fundraising 

  • Assist the Initiative Director with fundraising, including drafting proposals and reports, and responding to RFPs 
  • Attend funder meetings with Initiative Director to share expertise as a subject matter expert 

Other job duties as assigned 

What qualifications are we looking for?

  • Bachelor's degree + 9-12 years of relevant experience.  In lieu of degree requirement, applicable work or life experience may be considered 

Preferred

  • Subject matter expertise in juvenile legal systems processes and pathways to incarceration for girls and gender non-conforming youth. Experience with the legal system and/or working directly with young people in the legal system in a direct service or advocacy capacity is encouraged. In-depth knowledge of diversion and other programming resources (such as housing solutions) is also preferred.  
  • Master's degree or greater in applicable field (such as JD, PhD, or MSW)  
  • Experience in designing, delivering, and supervising delivery of technical assistance to government stakeholders  
  • Experience working with quantitative and qualitative researchers  
  • Experience working in the criminal legal system  
  • Experience working with community-based organizations  
  • Experience managing culture change with government stakeholders

Location:

Please note this role will report to either our Brooklyn, NY, Washington, D.C., or Los Angeles, CA office(s). 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. 

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People Resources / Associate Director, Ending Girls’ Incarceration 
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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