Who you are:

Under the supervision of the Associate Director, the Senior Program Associate will contribute to the development of municipal-level civilian public safety ecosystems by leading capacity building for implementing equitable and antiracist violence prevention and intervention programs and community safety systems change with site partners. They will facilitate peer learning among practitioners and community leaders, serve as a subject matter expert in the areas of community safety and violence intervention and prevention, and develop tools and products that meet the needs of Redefining Public Safety (RPS) site partners and others in the learning communities of which RPS is a part. Throughout their work, the Senior Program Associate will work to center equity and antiracism and take an intersectional approach in doing so.

What you'll do:

Build skills and knowledge of practitioners, advocates, elected officials, and other stakeholders interested in equitable violence prevention and intervention programs and strategies specifically and restructuring public safety systems generally

• Support project leads at sites
• Develop and deliver informational presentations with practical guidance
• Facilitate peer learning opportunities and meetings with stakeholders
• Participate in learning communities to distill and disseminate knowledge

Contribute to the development of comprehensive civilian public safety ecosystem models

• Engage with colleagues inside and outside of Vera on idea generation, learning from site work, and gathering information from the criminal legal system sector and other sectors on systems change management and results-driven practices in local government
• Build on initial violence intervention and prevention strategies to develop a civilian ecosystem of public safety in specific jurisdictions, including through coordinating with other civilian led agencies and community-based organizations

Coordinate and engage in outreach and project management activities that support relationship building, information sharing, and change management aligned with these goals

• Assist in the development of work plans that will include strategies to scale components of the site work nationally through federal policy, legislation, and other avenues

Develop tools and products to advance RPS goals

• Author fact sheets, guidance documents, presentations
• Collaborate with research staff to translate and tailor research learnings for various audiences
• Collaborate with federal policy, government, and movement strategy teams on opportunities to advance goals of mutual interest

Dedicate time and effort to advancing the integration of intersectional approaches to antiracism and equity in public safety systems change

Other duties as assigned

What qualifications are we looking for?

• Bachelor's degree
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage and complete multiple workstreams simultaneously
• Ability to actively listen and collaborate
• 5+ years of relevant professional experience, including 2+ years in violence intervention and/or community-based approaches to public safety

Preferred:

• People who have lived experience with the criminal legal system

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring:

• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, effectively, and efficiently, both independently and collaboratively with colleagues
• Understand the impact of structural racism and oppression and be able to speak about commitment to community building, equal justice, and racial equity
• Demonstrated ability for excellent judgment
• Demonstrably excellent communication skills
• Ability to travel up to 30% FTE

Technical knowledge we need you prepared to use:

• Proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook

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 $91,500 - 96,500. 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
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.