Senior Program Associate (Legislative), Vera California

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 California aims to spark momentum for decarceration and investments in the long-underfunded community-based systems of care that promote safety and wellness in California and Los Angeles. We use data and policy analysis to drive concrete change and center racial equity. We bring expertise on best practices from around the country to local conversations in California. We collaborate with government leaders and community partners on policy development and implementation, working together toward a new vision of safety, wellness, and racial justice for all Californians.

About the role:

The Senior Program Associate (SPA) will work to advance our legislative agenda around decarceration and pretrial reform. Ideally, you have done legislative work in California, or you have significant knowledge of the legislative system in California, and you want to work towards a vision of community safety that shifts away from incarceration as the default response and instead is rooted in care. You have experience with and a basic understanding of the criminal legal system, centering a care-first approach in discussions around decarceration, alternatives to incarceration, and the way the money bail system impacts pretrial incarceration. You have some familiarity with decarcerative efforts in California, whether that be litigation, legislation, advocacy, and/or community organizing. You are passionate about social and racial justice, motivated to drive change, and unafraid to challenge the status quo. The idea of working on a team of people who come from diverse backgrounds and perspectives inspires you. This is a full-time position based in Sacramento. Candidates based elsewhere in California will be considered, but they must be able to be in Sacramento frequently and on short notice.

What qualifications are we looking for?

Legislative Advocacy 

• Help develop Vera CA’s legislative agenda for the year, including by helping select priorities for affirmative bills to run or support, partners to work with, and identifying categories of bills to defend/oppose.
• Be a primary point of contact for legislative staffers, consultants/lobbyists, and CA-based advocacy groups/coalitions to advance Vera CA’s legislative goals.
• Work with the Vera California Associate Director and other team members to research, develop, and draft model bills, fact sheets, and educational materials on decarceration and bail reform.
• Draft, review, and submit letters of support and opposition to bills in the legislature.
• Coordinate testimony in support of or in opposition to bills in the legislature.
• Alongside supportive team members, analyze and track pending legislation related to Vera’s priorities in the criminal-legal system; follow and frequently attend relevant committee hearings and track amendments.
• Analyze bills and existing statutes related to Vera CA’s priority issues.
• Track and relay legislative progress and relevant information on Vera CA’s policy priorities to colleagues and partners in a timely, clear and action-oriented format.
• Develop and maintain relationships with government actors, elected officials, community groups, and advocates.

Communications 

• Help to drive the creation and presentation of communications materials—like blog posts, PowerPoints, or talking points—for a variety of settings and diverse audiences, related to legislative policy priorities.
• Craft talking points for Program Director and Associate Directors for interviews with media related to legislative agenda. Help to draft op-eds related to legislative policy priorities.
• Support communications team in their efforts to craft communications strategy and planning, including by identifying opportunities for earned media, tracking media hits, and attending media conferences, events, or press conferences in Sacramento.
• Liaise with Vera’s communications department to implement communications strategy and deliverables, including social media posts, reporter outreach, and earned media hits.

Leadership and Support for Team 

• Facilitate strategic planning sessions with the Vera CA team to develop a state legislative agenda and priorities.
• Serve as an expert and thought partner on strategies and tactics to advance Vera CA’s policy priorities.
• Support, develop ideas, and organize briefings, meetings, and events involving high-level state and non-governmental participants and stakeholders to highlight Vera CA’s work.
• Represent Vera at conferences, meetings, and coalition calls related to Vera CA’s legislative priorities.

Research & Publications  

• Develop and expand Vera’s California-specific expertise on decarceration, budget justice, etc. by researching and contributing to publications by Vera California’s research team, connecting with other experts in the field, helping push outreach regarding Vera California’s research publications as they relate to legislative priorities (such as sending completed fact sheets to legislative staffers), and engaging in local panel discussions as needed.
• Develop and author publications and policy briefs; appear in convenings, webinars, etc. on Vera California’s behalf. 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring: 

• Bachelor's degree in public policy, social work, political science, criminal justice, or related field + 4 – 7 years of relevant experience.; In lieu of a bachelor’s degree, applicable life experience may be considered.
• 3-5 years of professional experience involving state policy and legislative practice, with strong preference for advocacy or policy work in the California legislature.
• Ability to engage broad networks and build partnerships to advance Vera CA’s legislative agenda and work effectively with a diverse array of people and positions, including lobbyists, advocates, government officials, criminal legal system personnel, practitioners, and people who are directly impacted by the criminal system – including people who both support and oppose your point of view.
• A demonstrated commitment to racial justice.
• Strong social and emotional awareness of your team and external partners, coupled with an awareness and openness to opportunities to grow.
• Detail-oriented but cognizant of big picture goals, with an ability to maintain multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities. 

Preferred: 

• Lived experience as a person directly impacted by the criminal-legal system.
• Juris doctor or graduate degree in public policy, social work, political science, criminal justice, or related field; or equivalent work experience; or relevant work or educational background and lived experience as a person directly impacted by the criminal legal system.

Technical knowledge helpful for this role:

• Knowledge and experience researching and analyzing state policy and legislation, particularly related to criminal legal reform, immigration justice, or economic justice.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in a variety of settings, from longer reports, briefing memos, to media opinions and editorials.  Experience developing and managing issue area campaigns and building/driving legislative agendas;
• Experience drafting or analyzing legislation and with legislative advocacy or lobbying;
• Communications acumen, including experience developing media strategy to support campaign efforts;
• Ability to work collaboratively, including virtually;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite;
• Familiarity and comfort with data a plus.
• Zoom, PowerPoint, Microsoft Office Suite, Google, etc.

Location:

Please note this role will be remotely located. Ability to be in Sacramento frequently, ideally by being based in Sacramento. If not based in Sacramento, must be based in California and have the ability to frequently travel to Sacramento, including on short notice. 

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 (Legislative)
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.