Program Manager, Youth and Justice Initiatives

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 for Justice Innovation seeks a Program Manager of Youth and Justice Initiatives for its Queens Community Justice Center- The Rockaways (QCJC- The Rockaways).  QCJC- The Rockaways will be a local hub for alternative-to-incarceration, youth development, and community safety services. The specific components of this initiative will be determined after a participatory needs assessment designed to allow Far Rockaway residents, particularly young people, to identify safety and justice issues facing the neighborhood and develop and prioritize potential solutions to be implemented.

The Queens Youth Community Center – The Rockaways seeks a Program Manager to oversee the Justice Center’s youth programming and justice initiatives. This includes community based transformative justice initiatives, interest-based youth programming, social work services, and alternative to detention programming. Reporting to the Deputy Director, the Program Manager of Youth and Justice Initiatives will be responsible for the development and oversight of new community initiatives and programming, alternative to detention work, and transformative justice projects.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Work closely with the Project Director and Deputy Director to support the center’s youth and justice initiatives, including developing the department vision, program planning, systems implementation, project oversight, and grant reporting;
• Supervising youth and justice staff, including conducting staff reviews and performance evaluations;
• Develop arts and project-based youth programming, including working with teaching artists and community partners;
• Develop and implement youth enrichment activities including field trips, retreats, academic enrichment and employment readiness programming;
• Coordinate and manage recruitment strategies for youth and justice programs;
• Manage youth alternative to detention programs, including referrals, court reporting, and maintaining relationships with criminal justice partners;
• Provide oversite and clinical support to all roles within the team, including best practices in various levels of interventions;
• Provide administrative support to the program department team, including assisting with data entry, stipend payments, and contracts;
• Assist with grant writing and fund raising;
• Oversee grant implementation, ensuring all reporting requirements and deliverables are met; 
• Routinely meet with community stakeholders and staff to provide updates and troubleshoot issues;
• Identifying potential referrals to educational/vocational services;
• Represent the Justice Center at community events, meetings and other partner meetings as requested;
• Develop systems and provide oversight for data tracking, reporting, and fiscal operations;
• Actively maintain a work culture conducive to innovation and team building;
• Develop training and support systems for supervisees and subcontractors;
• Model and facilitate creative problem solving and youth development strategies for supervisees and subcontractors; and
• Other relevant duties as assigned.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree in social work or related field and at least five years of experience or a master’s degree in social work or related field with at least three years of relevant program administration experience. At least 4 years of experience working with youth preferred. This demanding position requires a creative, highly organized, aggressive self-starter who can get things done in a high-paced environment. Candidates must be comfortable navigating interdisciplinary settings and must be willing to roll up their sleeves and be actively involved in day-to-day operations. Candidate must possess in-depth knowledge of best practices in youth work including leadership development, strengths-based practices, and trauma informed approaches. Additional requirements include:

• Candidate must have administrative experience;
• Experience facilitating group programming and must be committed to using holistic and strengths-based approaches;
• Experience working with criminal justice agencies;
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously;
• Excellent communication, organizational and administrative skills;
• Ability to facilitate and effectively manage team projects and initiatives;
• Ability to set and adhere to firm timelines;
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a variety of community stakeholders and partner agencies;
• Experience in community outreach and organizing and must have the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally competent manner;
• Commitment to place based and community-based work;
• Must be comfortable working with youth and young adults.

Position Type:  Full-time. 11am -7pm, some nights and weekends when needed.

Location: Far Rockaway, Queens

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $66,490 - $79,390 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. The Center does 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 seek 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.

As of September 9, 2021, all new hires are required to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, unless they have been granted a reasonable accommodation for medical, disability or religious reasons by the Center’s Human Resources Department.

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. Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. No phone calls or emails please.