Senior Program Associate, Redefining Public Safety

About the team:

Vera’s Redefining Public Safety initiative aims to transform how safety is delivered to communities across the country by strengthening civilian-led and community-centered approaches to public safety that prioritize compassion, accountability to system-impacted communities, and a focus on public health. We partner with cities and states to blueprint and sustain institutions that can assume the responsibility for core public safety functions and reduce overreliance on traditional law enforcement approaches.  

Under the supervision of the Associate Director, the Senior Program Associate will contribute to the development of municipal-level public safety anchor institutions (PSAIs) by synthesizing practical lessons and evidence from a range of jurisdictions and methodologies (e.g. research, technical assistance, policy change). They will also contribute to the creation and implementation of tools and processes for enhancing data use, coordination, accountability to impacted communities, and sustainability with site partners.  They will facilitate peer learning and strategy refinement, working with staff, practitioners, and others in the public safety reform field to identify and deliver Vera’s unique contributions to national change efforts.  They will also support public safety policy efforts in collaboration with the Policy Manager. Throughout their work, the Senior Program Associate will center equity and antiracism and take an intersectional approach in doing so. 

About the role:

Project Design and Management 

• Engage in outreach and project management activities that support relationship building, information sharing, and change management aligned with initiative goals
• Serve as subject matter expert when needed and propose new projects
• Manage project targets and milestones, and work to ensure that key targets and milestones are met
• Assist in the development of initiative strategic plans and frameworks
• Dedicate time and effort to advancing the integration of intersectional approaches to antiracism and equity in public safety systems change 

Technical Assistance and Policy  

• Build and maintain relationships with community and government partners to implement and develop strategies
• Engage with internal and external partners 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
• Translate lessons from the team’s research and practical experience into PSAI framework development
• Build skills and knowledge of practitioners, advocates, elected officials, and other stakeholders interested in equitable public safety interventions and restructuring public safety systems
• Support practitioners and policymakers with whom RPS works
• Participate in learning communities to distill and disseminate knowledge 

Write up/presentation of projects  

• Develop and deliver informational presentations with practical guidance
• Facilitate meetings and peer learning with stakeholders
• Contribute to PSAI-related event planning
• Collaborate with research staff to translate and tailor research learnings for various audiences
• Develop tools and products to advance RPS goals
• Manage the preparation of information and/or lead background research and literature reviews for reports. Write up results and integrate into public-facing products including reports, fact sheets, advocacy documents, or other publications
• Manage the planning, drafting, and editing of reports and presentations, as needed
• Present at internal Vera events (department meetings, “brown bag” discussions, etc.) 

Team Support and Internal Collaboration  

• Collaborate with colleagues to strengthen initiative strategy and implementation
• Collaborate with Policy Manager and other colleagues to advance scaling of the PSAI framework at local and state levels
• Collaborate closely with other Vera colleagues on the RPS initiative and other teams, ensuring role clarity whether Senior Program Associate is owning, helping, or consulting
• Support hiring and recruitment of associates, analysts, assistants, and/or interns, as needed, and assist in their onboarding to the initiative

Fundraising/Proposal Development 

• Develop proposals in support of fundraising led by senior leadership in the initiative
• Participate in funder meetings, as needed 

Other duties as assigned

What qualifications are we looking for?

• Bachelor's degree and 4+ years of relevant experience. In lieu of degree requirement, applicable work or life experience may be considered
• 2+ years in violence intervention and/or community-based approaches to public safety 

Preferred:  

• Knowledge and experience navigating government administrative procedures 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring: 

• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, effectively, and efficiently, both independently and collaboratively with colleagues
• Understanding of the impact of structural racism and oppression and ability to translate this to external audiences
• Knowledge of community building, equal justice, and racial equity
• Ability to travel up to 30%

Technical knowledge helpful for this role:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite 

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 $92,000 - 95,000 per year. In addition, this position is part of a bargaining unit represented by the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (ALAA) UAW 2325]. 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, Place, and Culture / Senior Program Associate, 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.

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.