Senior Research Associate, Incarceration and Inequality Project (Fixed-Term)

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 230 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:

Involvement in the criminal legal system has a profound and persistent impact on the economic well-being of people and their loved ones. People of color, and particularly Black Americans, are incarcerated at much higher rates than their white counterparts and as a result bear the brunt of the economic impact of incarceration, further exacerbating longstanding racial disparities in income and economic opportunity.  However, despite these disparate population-level and intergenerational effects, there is a lack of evidence about the places and demographic groups that are most directly affected. 

The Vera Institute of Justice is leading an initiative to address this gap, by highlighting the nexus of incarceration and poverty as a national research and policy priority. Vera’s research, data science and communications teams are constructing datasets that describe the connections between incarceration and economic outcomes; developing an online visualization tool that can be used by wide-ranging audiences to elucidate these connections; conducting research to inform policy and practice; and implementing a strategic communications campaign, with the goal of increasing awareness of incarceration as a driver of poverty and income/wealth disparities. 

About the role:

Vera is seeking a Senior Research Associate to join a multidisciplinary project on the economic impacts of incarceration. The SRA will work as part of a team focused on compiling and deploying national datasets to describe the relationship between incarceration in the United States and the economic wellbeing of communities. This role is for a fixed, 15-month term. This position would suit an experienced researcher with an interest in using primarily quantitative methods to address applied, policy-related research questions.

The SRA will work as part of a team producing research on the economic impacts of mass incarceration in the United States. They will partner with Vera researchers, data scientists and communications staff to identify research questions, and conduct analysis that leverages IIPs national dataset with a focus on real-world impact. The SRA will be involved with all stages of the research, from developing research designs, conducting analysis, writing, and presenting findings; with a primary focus on research design, analysis, and reporting. This position would suit researchers with a background in economics, demography, sociology, or a related social science. Applicants with applied research experience/non-academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply, as are candidates with direct experience of criminal legal system involvement. 

The position reports to the IIP Project Director. 

What you'll do:

Research design and analysis 

• Work with other members of the team to develop and implement research designs and analysis plans
• Serve as lead researcher on discrete research plans and activities
• Conduct exploratory analysis to identify trends and inform in-depth research
• Co-lead descriptive and causal analysis of administrative datasets to identify spatial and temporal trends
• Conduct literature reviews
• Liaise with policy and academic researchers, data partners, and project consultants
• Perform code review, robustness checks, and other quality assurance activities 

Presentation of research and proposal development 

• Lead development, writing and/or editing of research publications and evidence-based messaging and products in support of project or initiative goals
• Report research findings for technical and policy audiences
• Present Vera’s research to external audiences, including academic and policy-focused conferences and professional meetings 

Research administration and institute-wide work 

• Participate and attend project and institute meetings, serve on committees as needed
• Provide research support for other projects and teams
• Support symposia hosted by Vera
• Develop and present IRB applications and ensure that research is conducted to the highest ethical standards 

What qualifications are we looking for?

Typically, an SRA will have 6+ years research experience. This may include academic training in a post-graduate setting, and/or experience conducting applied research outside of academia. Many Vera researchers have a Ph.D. or other post-graduate qualification, but applicants who have gained research experience in other settings are encouraged to apply. Senior associates have strong research / data science skills and emerging leadership and project management skills. 

Preferred: Experience and/or training in the disciplines of economics, sociology, public health, demography.  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities you'll bring:

• Demonstrated experience on research projects related to inequality, criminal legal system, or immigration system
• Experience conducting research and managing staff within an equity framework
• Track-record designing and conducting rigorous research
• Applied experience with descriptive analysis and statistical modeling, including familiarity with a range of multivariate methods
• Writing and editing experience related to justice and equity issues
• Excellent communication skills
• Demonstrated technical experience in programming and/or statistical analysis (Python or R preferred)
• Experience using shared, reproducible code with version control (github) 
• Microsoft Office Suite or similar software

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 $100,000 - $105,000 per year. 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, Place, and Culture / Senior Research Associate, Incarceration and Inequality Project (Fixed-Term)
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.

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.