Overview
Who we are:
The Vera Institute of Justice, founded in 1961, is a nonprofit criminal justice organization that strives to build just government institutions and safe communities free from the scourge of racism, white supremacy, profit, and inequity that is pervasive in this country’s legal systems. We are an “inside” lane organization that drives change at scale with ambitious public sector leaders who share our commitment to building anti-racist, reparative systems that deliver justice. We leverage our access to government to transform these systems and work collaboratively with stakeholders across many movements—including advocacy, grassroots, and grasstop organizations. Our role is to pilot solutions that are transformative and achievable, harness the power of evidence to drive effective policy and practice, and use advocacy and communications to change narratives and norms.
Vera has a staff of 300 people and offices in New York City, Washington, DC, 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.
WHO YOU ARE:
The Senior Program Associate delivers technical assistance to Vera’s partners on the Unlocking Potential initiative and supports Vera’s policy and research projects in this area. This portfolio includes technical assistance to some of the 200 colleges and 48 corrections agencies as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Second Chance Pell Experimental Sites Initiative, and various other initiatives designed to enhance the quality and quantity of postsecondary programs in prison across the country and the equitable rate of completions among incarcerated students. This Senior Program Associate will take the lead on projects focused on employment and reentry, building on programs in prison run by colleges as well as other partners.
RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
- Lead technical assistance to corrections departments and their partners for career-technical programs and related partnerships with employers
- Lead technical assistance to colleges and corrections agencies focused on increasing the quantity and quality of postsecondary education in prison and the equitable completion rates of incarcerated students
- Provide support to related research projects
SHARE KNOWLEDGE THROUGH CONFERENCES AND REPORTS
- Lead the planning, drafting, and editing of program reports, presentations, and blog posts
- Present on Vera’s work at conferences, on webinars, and other external events
INFORMING STRATEGY
- Assist the Associate Initiative Director with designing the technical assistance to colleges, nonprofits, and corrections agencies throughout the country
- Assist the Associate Initiative Director with planning for the implementation of projects focused on employment and reentry
SUPPORT FUNDRAISING
- Assist the Initiative Director with fundraising, including drafting proposals and reports, and responding to RFPs
OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED
- Supervise interns and fellows as required
WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU NEED?
REQUIRED:
- College education and 5-7 years of work experience in reentry and employment.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
- Knowledge of national organizations and local programs that excel at connecting people leaving prison with meaningful employment opportunities from the first job through to a dream job
- Knowledge of policy barriers at the state and federal level that can limit employment opportunities for people with conviction histories and related efforts to remove those barriers
PREFERRED
- Graduate degree
ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Driver’s license helpful for travel but not required
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The compensation range for this position is $90,600 – $94,800. 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’s 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 and remote work schedules. To learn more about Vera’s benefits offerings, click here.
APPLICATIONS MAY ALSO BE FAXED TO:
ATTN: People Resources / Senior Program Associate, Unlocking Potential
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.
As a federal contractor, and 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