THE ORGANIZATION
The Center for Justice Innovation (formerly the Center for Court Innovation) is a non-profit organization that works with communities and justice systems to advance equity, increase safety, and help individuals and communities thrive. The Center’s goal is to identify and resolve as early as possible the challenges that bring people into the criminal and civil legal systems. It does this in a number of ways-by developing and running programs that reduce the need for incarceration and enhance economic opportunity, conducting original research to identify what works, and sharing what we learn from our programming and research with those seeking to transform the justice system around the world.
The Center is an 800-employee, $100 million nonprofit that accomplishes its vision through three pillars of work: creating and scaling operating programs to test new ideas and solve problems, performing original research to determine what works (and what doesn’t), and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to justice reformers around the world.
Operating Programs
The Center’s operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Court, test new ideas, solve difficult problems, and attempt to achieve systemic change within the justice system. Our projects include community-based violence prevention programs, alternatives to incarceration, reentry initiatives, and court-based initiatives that reduce the use of unnecessary incarceration and promote positive individual and family change. Through this programming, we have produced tangible results like safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice.
Research
The Center’s research teams are staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically-trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.
Policy & Expert Assistance
The Center provides hands-on, planning and implementation assistance to a wide range of jurisdictions in areas of reform such as problem-solving courts (e.g., community courts, treatment courts, domestic violence courts), tribal justice, reducing incarceration and the use of fines/fees and reducing crime and violence. Our current expert assistance takes many forms, including help with analyzing data, strategic planning and consultation, policy guidance, and hosting site visits to its operating programs in the New York City area.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Center’s Data Analytics and Applied Research team (DAAR) is seeking a department Coordinator to support the work of Senior Coordinator, who works with the Supervised Release pretrial initiative specifically, and the whole team more broadly. Supervised by the Senior Coordinator, and working closely with the DAAR Director and Deputy Director, the Coordinator will assist with data and administrative processes, develop protocols, and carry out tasks central to the team’s research and data work. This role will communicate with various other Center departments as needed (Operations, Fiscal, Human Resources, Development, Technology, etc.). Specifically, the Coordinator will take part in DAAR hiring and onboarding processes, assist the Senior Coordinator and DAAR management with budgeting administration, grant tracking and planning, and assist with research and data projects as needed.
This position offers an opportunity to learn about on-the-ground research on several innovative court projects. In particular, the role will participate in the Center’s recurring reporting processes for City Council-funded projects. The Coordinator will also collaborate with the Court Reform team in disseminating protocols for staff access to external data systems. Where appropriate, the role also offers the opportunity to gain experience by carrying out data and research-related tasks and projects such as data collection and data documentation/management, survey implementation, data analysis, and reviewing external research proposals. More generally, the Coordinator will help with team projects, maintain protocol/manual documents, and assist the DAAR team in their work measuring program outcomes and assessing policy implications through strategic oversight of data tracking and analysis.
The successful candidate must be comfortable working in various software applications to carry out data and administrative tasks related to managing different aspects of the team’s work (e.g., expense management applications). It is preferred that they also bring a genuine interest in criminal justice reform work (or in learning more about the work of the Center), and in research and data management more generally.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Data Coordination:
- Assist the Senior Coordinator with recurring and ad hoc data reporting deliverables in collaboration with the Development department;
- Review cross-initiative data reports for accuracy and trends;
- Disseminate protocols for staff access to external data systems, with an understanding of system use;
- Support in coordination of grant tracking and proposals, as well as grant writing processes;
- Participate in data management projects as appropriate (e.g., data collection, creation of factsheets or other data products);
- Participate in research projects as appropriate (e.g., survey implementation, data analysis, report review); and
- On occasion, present data and research findings to stakeholders and external audiences.
Administration coordination
- Collaborate with the Senior Coordinator in overseeing team administration;
- Disseminate up-to-date documentation of team protocols;
- Assist the Senior Coordinator with hiring process of new team members as needed;
- Assist with onboarding of new DAAR team members;
- Involvement in maintaining the DAAR team’s software inventory;
- Work with the Technology and Communications departments to organize and maintain DAAR intranet site;
- Assist Senior Coordinator with management of team expenses, including monthly reconciliation, and manage within the expense management software;
- Assist Senior Coordinator with monthly budget allocations for the team;
- Schedule recurring team meetings and disseminate agendas; document meeting minutes for dissemination as needed; and
- Additional relevant tasks, as needed.
Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s Degree and 3+ years of relevant professional experience, or a Master’s Degree and 2+ years of relevant experience. Prior experience in non-profit or government organizations preferred. Experience and comfort working with data is required. Demonstrated ability to use administrative/communication software applications is required (e.g., Slack, Paycom, Zoom, Jira, NetSuite, JazzHR, Calendly, Salesforce) – experience with these specific applications is not required, but must have a willingness to learn on the job. The ideal candidate should have intermediate Excel skills and be at ease working with various survey platforms such as Google Forms or SurveyMonkey. Candidate must have a strong ability to effectively juggle multiple priorities, strong written communication skills, and a strong attention to detail. Candidate must be a skilled communicator able to interact effectively across the Center’s various departments as needed. An interest in the justice system, social justice research, and data management is preferred.
Position Type: Full-Time
Position Location: New York, NY
Compensation: Salary range starts at $65,000 – $77,900 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.
The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, and as such, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, as well as individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our aim is to create a supportive and respectful environment where every individual, irrespective of their background or identity, feels valued and included.
As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the requirement of the COVID-19 vaccination for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. Accordingly, the Center does not require all new hires be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus; however, the Center recommends all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up-to-date on the vaccination.
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete an employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. Kindly refer to the job posting for the relevant contact information. If the contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from making inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.