Location: Remote telecommute

Division: Marketing and Communications, working across advocacy divisions as well

Reports to: Senior Researcher

Position type: Full-time, exempt

Who We Are

Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ) is a national advocacy organization that aims to replace ineffective criminal justice system policies with what works to keep people safe. We represent diverse crime survivors as well as people living with old records as key public safety stakeholders. ASJ brings our members together with state leaders and coalition partners to win reforms that stop cycles of crime, reduce costly incarceration, and make communities safer. We support a range of “shared safety” reforms, including crime prevention, community health, rehabilitation, economic mobility, and trauma recovery. For more information, visit: https://allianceforsafetyandjustice.org.

Who You Are

The Senior Research Associate is an innovative researcher with a passion for blending data and narrative to advance public policy reform, improve popular understandings of safety and justice issues, and cultivate racial equity. You are oriented to both the details of a project and the larger goals at stake. You write accurately and persuasively about safety, violent victimization, and criminal legal reform. You communicate complicated concepts so that they can be understood by a variety of broad audiences. You have experience working in one of our core areas: survivor policy, public safety reform, and/or racial justice. You are familiar with multiple types of research – e.g., interviews, focus groups, quantitative analysis, research using publicly available sources – and are expert in at least one type. You leverage data and information within a multi-prong advocacy strategy to empower people and win change.

ASJ is currently seeking a Senior Research Associate with a background in victimization research and policy. We are especially interested in a mixed-methods researcher. The role involves supporting quantitative analyses of complex surveys such as the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent to Adult Health, as well as conducting interviews and leading focus groups of people impacted by violence. Experience working with people impacted by violence is strongly preferred, as is experience using trauma-informed approaches.

What You’ll Do

Rapid response research and writing in coordination with a range of communications, policy advocacy, and public education efforts (25%)

• Conduct rapid response research to advance the organization’s communications and policy advocacy efforts. May include literature searches, fact-checking, and quick analysis of available data.
• Write fact sheets, briefs, memos, messaging and other materials based on rapid response research, as needed.

Develop and support research projects (40%)

• Support the senior researcher and communications team by conducting research and writing reports that change the narrative around public safety.
• Craft fact sheets, issue briefs, policy reports, and other products that help the organization accomplish legislative, policy, and communications goals.
• With input from the Senior Researcher, conduct interviews and focus groups with survivors of violence.
• Track and monitor changes in local public safety strategies. This work includes organizing and maintaining databases and preparing analyses, charts, tables and graphs.
• Assist in the analysis of publicly available and restricted criminal justice system data (e.g., data from state courts or departments of correction) to inform legislative agendas and communications tactics.
• Other duties as needed to achieve the mission of the organization.

Estimates of policy impact (35%)

• Work with the Senior Researcher to develop best estimates of the impacts of ASJ various legislative and budgetary policy proposals.
• Support legislative efforts in ASJ states through analyses of prospective legislation, with an eye to helping those proposals achieve maximum impact.
• Regularly update estimates of policy impact, share and manage with key internal stakeholders.

Required Experience

• Masters Degree preferred with at least 3 years of professional experience in survivor policy, criminal justice research, public health or related research area.
• Experience reviewing and translating research and data in victimization, public health, crime prevention and/or justice policy contexts.
• Preferred experience working in one or more of ASJ’s key states (AZ, CA, OH, MI, FL, IL, TX, GA, PA, and NY).

Required Qualifications

• Ability to work as a team to produce high-quality content and research under tight deadlines.
• Self-starter, with the capacity to work effectively in a rapidly changing environment and be able to work quickly and cooperatively on several efforts at one time.
• Ability to thrive in a busy, multi-tasking, and time-pressured campaign environment.
• A methodical, detail-oriented and coordinated approach to asking and answering questions.
• An ability to communicate complex data, research and information collected to non-expert audiences, verbally and in written form, using ASJ’s frame.
• A demonstrated history and commitment to social and racial justice.

Desired Qualifications

• A dedication to trauma-informed practices and experience conducting research with vulnerable groups.
• Experience with complex surveys, such as the National Crime Victimization Survey and the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent to Adult Health.
• The ability to clean and analyze large data sets and convey findings to different audiences, both internal and external, including non-expert audiences.
• Proficiency in analyzing large data sets using statistical languages or programs such as R, python, SAS, or STATA.
• Working Conditions & Physical Demands
• Occasional travel may be required
• Requires routine physical movements with limited physical exertion
• Ability to communicate, receive and understand information through oral and written communication and proofread and check documents for accuracy
• Requires communicating information with co-workers, stakeholders and/or the public; reading correspondence, instructions and/or technical documents; writing correspondence and/or reports and filling in forms

Compensation and Benefits

We care deeply about our staff wellness. ASJ offers a competitive benefits package including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts including medical, dependent, HSA, and commuter, a robust 403(b) retirement match, generous paid time off, sponsored Paid Family Leave and Parental Leave, access to family forming and personal wellness journey resources and providers, a professional development allowance, and more. The salary range for this role is $85,000 - $95,000, and will be offered commensurate with experience.

To Apply

Applications should be submitted via the posting link on ASJ’s jobs page. Please submit your resume, a writing sample, and 3-4 professional references. No cover letter is required.

The Alliance for Safety and Justice is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage and seek applications from people who are systems impacted, women, people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.