Associate Director, Redefining Public Safety

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 240 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 role:

The Associate Director for the Redefining Public Safety initiative will be a leader on a team helping build government infrastructure that centers health and compassion, while working to end harmful policies in our current law enforcement-centered systems. They will manage programmatic implementation and support for local and state policymakers and practitioners, and ensure our efforts are advancing us toward our North Star: those most impacted by existing systems of criminal enforcement live in safe and healthy communities due to civilian-led, community-centered public safety ecosystems and reduced overreliance on policing. The Associate Director will supervise a programmatic team, and collaborate and coordinate with initiative staff and researchers, and other colleagues at Vera to advance public safety system transformation.

What you'll do:

Support a paradigm shift in how public safety is defined and achieved in the U.S.  

• Work with practitioners, researchers, and community leaders on the creation and sustainability of safety hubs: government infrastructure for public safety that centers public health and compassion so communities can have accountability and justice.  
• Manage Vera’s support of system change progression in multiple localities and states 
• Support staff and practitioners in issue-spotting, problem-solving, mission adherence, tactical adjustments, , and other change management needs 
• Manage and facilitate meetings and convenings

Collaborate with Initiative Director and Associate Director of Research to manage team

• Ensure strong and supportive people and project management; manage multifaceted projects with coherence and collaboration 
• Supervise staff and strategy implementation 
• Foster and maintain team culture, communication, and clarity 
• Manage collaborative partnerships and liaise with other departments and organizations 

Draft and edit publications, proposals, and presentations

• Outline and co-author policy briefs and other public-facing content 
• Present and participate in convenings, webinars, etc. on Vera’s behalf 
• Contribute to narrative change strategy and action through writing or other mediums

Other duties as assigned 

Advise Initiative staff and partners on policy and advocacy matters

What qualifications are we looking for?

• Bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent work and life experience, 4+ years of management experience 
• 7+ years of experience in local government or community-based organizations, technical assistance or capacity building, or program implementation in the justice reform space, with a preference for experience working on issues of safety 
• Track record of building relationships with public sector practitioners and community partners 
• Experience working on system change and racial justice 
• Demonstrated ability to work with advocates, government officials, criminal legal system personnel, practitioners, and people who are directly impacted by the criminal legal system

Preferred:

Lived experience as a person directly impacted by the criminal legal system

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring: 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite 
• Excellent writing and communication skills 
• Ability to hold complexity and attend to detail.
• Ability to build partnerships among diverse stakeholders, working across lines of identity and power 
• Ability to work collaboratively with a national, remote team 
• Familiarity and comfort with data, a plus 

Technical knowledge helpful for this role:

Zoom, PowerPoint, Microsoft Office Suite, Google, etc.

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, CA, or New Orleans, LA 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 $132,000 - $137,000. 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, Redefining Public Safety
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.