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:
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.
The Senior Program Associate will be a key member of the EGI team. This position requires some who works independently, with guidance in only the most complex situations. The Senior Program Associate will lead projects across sites with a variety of resource requirements, risk, and / or complexity. This team member solves complex problems using sophisticated analytical thought to exercise judgement and identify innovative solutions.
What you’ll do:
Program Development & Technical Assistance
- Provide training and technical assistance to partners and key stakeholders on best practices and policy analysis
- Provide support to related research projects
- Work with leadership and team to research, develop & draft model policies, fact sheets, and educational materials
- Lead the planning, drafting, and editing of program reports and presentations as needed
- Lead the project management of sites and / or sub-projects that exist within the initiative
Informing Strategy
- Build and maintain relationships with community and government partners to implement and develop strategies
- Develop expertise in distinct areas and run projects in that space; act at SME for that area of expertise when needed and propose new projects
- Assist in the development of strategic plans
Staff Supervision
- Manage intern(s) and assist in their onboarding to the initiative
- Invest in the professional development of team members
Community Outreach & Partnerships
- Foster relationships with external partners/sites
- Serve as primary contact for external partners/sites
What qualifications are we looking for?
- Bachelor’s degree + 4-7 years of relevant experience. In lieu of degree requirement, applicable work or life experience may be considered.
- A commitment to Vera’s mission to end the overcriminalization and mass incarceration of people of color, immigrants, and people experiencing poverty.
Preferred education and/or experience
- 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.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you’ll bring:
- Ability to travel up to 10% of the time
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 $93,000 - $98,000. 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 / Senior Program Associate, 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
