Current openings at Vera Institute of Justice

About the team: The Reshaping Prosecution Program is dedicated to transforming what it means to be a prosecutor by focusing on the dignity of all people impacted by the criminal justice system. Prosecutors play a critical, but often hidden, role in mass incarceration as one of the most powerful actors in the criminal justice system. They decide who to charge with a crime, what crime to charge, and what sentence to recommend if there is a conviction. Despite this immense power, prosecution has only recently become a focus of criminal justice reform efforts. Our team helps prosecutors across the country work to end mass incarceration, pursue racial equity, and be more transparent with the communities they serve. Specifically, we work with prosecutor’s offices and community-based organizations to improve safety by creating diversion programs that address the underlying drivers of crime and center racial equity. The Associate Director of Research reports directly to the initiative director with a “dotted line” to the research director. In this role, the Associate Director of Research oversees staff working across a range of methodologies and multiple projects or studies, engages in sophisticated hands-on research as needed, and manages the team’s research portfolio. This position has fluency in advocacy and communications strategies and draws on their substantial expertise in the field to oversee evidence-based messaging and policy in support of big goals. They are responsible for all research products and publications coming out of their teams. Associate Directors of Research bring substantial management experience, advanced methodological skills, strong research communication skills, and experience building and leading a research team. This is a senior-level position for researchers with extensive technical expertise and substantive knowledge and experience. About the role: Research Leadership  Represent research on the initiative leadership team Work with the initiative director to develop strategies that incorporate research; participate in initiative’s theory of change planning; monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL); and other activities related to the impact pipeline Work with the initiative director in support of annual planning and budget development, staffing plans, and fundraising Serve as a member of the Vera Research Leadership Team Ensure that researchers across the organization receive appropriate training, mentoring, and technical assistance Supervise, support and mentor the initiative research team Partner with initiative director and the research leadership team to develop staffing plans and lead recruitment and hiring Cultivate relationships with partner organizations Supervise all research work on an initiative project or team Partner with Advocacy and Communications staff to develop coordinated strategies that leverage research Build and maintain expertise in prosecution-related research and keep abreast of emerging trends and gaps Presentation and dissemination of research  Sign off on evidence-based messaging and research within the initiative, and oversee development, writing, and editing of research publications and evidence-based messaging and products in support of initiative goals, including rapid response work Act as an internal and external spokesperson/representative of the work to a range of audiences including government actors, system-impacted communities, and the general public Partner with advocacy and communications staff to develop coordinated strategies that leverage research Research design and implementation   Review, develop, and present IRB applications and ensure that research is conducted to the highest ethical standards, serving as Principal Investigator on research projects Mentor early career researchers in human subjects/IRB protocols Lead the initiative’s data collection and analysis Data collection and analysis  Lead/train/supervise others on data collection and analysis, overseeing all aspects of data management and analysis within the initiative What qualifications are we looking for? ADRs typically have advanced graduate training, such as a Ph.D. or equivalent, as well as 9+ years of work experience or equivalent applied experience. Additionally, ADRs will have several years of experience supervising interdisciplinary research teams. Advanced project management, technical, methodological, and analytic skills. Experience supervising and working with mixed methods research and/or researchers; ability to supervise and advise on sophisticated quantitative analyses. Experience conducting applied policy research; subject matter expertise including understanding how the criminal legal system operates. Ability to support and build advocacy efforts and external stakeholder relationships. Commitment to race equity. Preferred:  Experience supervising or conducting community-based research, research with people who have experienced trauma, and/ or research with people who have been detained or incarcerated. Experience partnering with advocacy and communications professionals. Experience with administrative data, ideally in the criminal legal system.  Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring:  Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite Fluency in Stata, SPSS, or R statistical software; ability to lead and support code review in these programs or GitHub Familiarity with Atlas. TI or similar qualitative analysis software Experience with program evaluation design and implementation Driver’s license needed for travel Location: Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY, Washington, D.C., New Orleans, LA, or Los Angeles, CA, 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 $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. Application Process: To receive further consideration for this career opportunity, applicants are asked preliminary questions about logistics, their interest and qualifications. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional details about their experience via a phone screen/form in advance of an invitation for a virtual or in-person interview with the team. Some searches may explore scenarios during the interview process and/or an assessment prior to reference checks and a hiring decision. Applications may also be faxed to: ATTN: People, Place, and Culture / Associate Director of Research, Reshaping ProsecutionVera Institute of Justice34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232Fax: (212) 941-9407Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. 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.

About the team: Vera’s Advocacy & Partnerships department is responsible for coordinating the vision, strategy, and staff development across Vera’s initiatives to pass legislation, change policy, and create change at scale. We work to ensure that the goals of our advocacy campaigns align with the people and communities most impacted by criminal justice and immigration policies, and we collaborate with movement and advocacy partners to produce the right knowledge and ideas needed to change policies and legislation at the right time.  Vera’s advocacy department serves the following core functions:  Providing State and local government and movement strategy guidance to Vera’s national and place-based initiatives, with a focus on lobbying, campaigns, and coalition work, Vera Insights, a rapid response data and evidence team responsible for developing and producing data and knowledge to key partners and audiences;  Federal Policy expertise to lead Vera’s advocacy strategies in DC; and  Vera Action, and independent (c)(4) entity.  About the role: The Senior Strategist of State and Local Advocacy is Vera’s internal strategist, and consultant on advocacy. In this role, they will support Vera’s initiative teams in building, strategic advocacy plans with clear goals, roles, and benchmarks. Additionally, they will provide support to teams by assisting in troubleshooting challenges, moving the campaign forward, adjusting strategy, and stepping into roles to assist when necessary.    What you'll do: Develop and implement strategies & campaigns  Work with Director of State and Local Advocacy and other members of the Advocacy & Partnerships department to develop campaign and advocacy strategy for the organization’s core issues and priorities, including legislation and policy change related to universal representation for immigrants, bail reform, reentry, sentencing, parole, budget justice, and other areas.  Provide Training, for initiative teams and staff members  Manage a database that keeps track of all active campaigns, goals, and status of current projects.   Lead campaign and issue strategy development on 1-2 core priorities at any given time; and provide guidance and support to the 4-6 Vera initiatives that have advocacy goals and priorities underway that are primarily led by, or entirely led by, the initiative team staff.  Work as point on assigned campaigns and initiative plans as needed.   In collaboration with the Director of State and Local Advocacy, and Vice President of Advocacy & Partnerships, help Vera staff build campaign and advocacy skills; navigate political government and how the legislative session, budget, and other core segments of a jurisdiction’s political process work; and how to effectively partner with grass tops and grassroots allies.  Lead or support, as needed, with the development, drafting, and passage of legislation, new regulations, or administrative policies.  Coalition work and internal knowledge & skill building  Collaborate internally with programmatic and Advocacy & Partnerships staff, and externally with partner organizations to strengthen coalition work  Participate in strategically relevant coalition spaces  Effectively partner with grass tops and grassroots allies  Provide trainings for Initiative team members on campaign fundamentals  Other projects and duties as assigned   What qualifications are we looking for? Required:  Bachelor’s degree plus 4-7 years' relevant experience. In lieu of degree requirement, applicable work or life experience may be considered.  Demonstrated experience with the criminal legal system, public safety policies and practices and public health policies and practices  A strong knowledge set in advocacy strategy, and power building.  At least 3 years of experience with planning and leading advocacy campaigns in at least one level of government.  Preferred:  3 - 4 years of issue advocacy and community organizing experience  Experience building and / or leading coalitions in partnership with other grasstops and grassroots organizations  2 - 3 years of electoral political experience  2 - 3 year of organizing experience Driver's License Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring:  Excellent writing and communication skills  Experience in public advocacy campaigns involving fiscal policy  Legislative and budget drafting, research, or tracking   Ability to work collaboratively with a national, remote team Ability to issue spot and problem-solve across policy and advocacy strategy development and implementation, including to proactively and creatively develop resources and tools, as appropriate  Experience with project management; flexibility and ability to prioritize and manage multiple activities in a fast-paced environment.  Technical knowledge helpful for this role: Microsoft Office Suite Zoom Slack Asana or other cloud-based project management program Location: Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY or Washington DC office. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month. This role requires up to 15% travel, which may include site visits, conferences, or partner meetings, depending on program needs. Compensation and Benefits: The compensation range for this position is $107,000 - 110,000. In addition, this position is part of a bargaining unit represented by the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (ALAA) UAW 2325. 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.    Application Process: To receive further consideration for this career opportunity, applicants are asked preliminary questions about logistics, their interest and qualifications. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional details about their experience via a phone screen/form in advance of an invitation for a virtual or in-person interview with the team. Some searches may explore scenarios during the interview process and/or an assessment prior to reference checks and a hiring decision. Applications may also be faxed to: ATTN: People, Place, and Culture / Senior Strategist, State and Local Policy, Advocacy & PartnershipsVera Institute of Justice34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232Fax: (212) 941-9407Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. 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.