ABOUT THE CENTER FOR COURT INNOVATION
The Center for Court Innovation is committed to reducing crime and incarceration, addressing violence, supporting survivors, and building communities while strengthening public trust in justice. The Center seeks justice for marginalized groups, bringing an equity lens – particularly a racial and gender equity lens – to its work. For 25 years, the Center has worked to foster justice and equity to create safe, healthy, and thriving communities and, ultimately, to transform the justice system.
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
Researchers at the Center conduct independent evaluations, documenting how government systems work, how neighborhoods function, and how reform efforts change things. We believe in the “action research” model; accordingly, our researchers provide regular feedback on the results of the Center’s own operating programs. The Center has published studies on topics including youth in the sex trade, reentry, gun violence, and drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration. Our researchers have been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals.
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
Underway since 2015 and led by the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ), the Mayor’s Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety (MAP) is a comprehensive strategy to enhance public safety and strengthen community well-being in 30 public housing developments across New York City. Neighborhood Safety Initiatives (NSI), a project of the Center for Court Innovation, supports the implementation of NeighborhoodStat (NSTAT), a resident-driven community organizing initiative within the MAP program. Funding from the Fund for Public Housing has allowed NSI to increase investments in the Bronx at Patterson and Castle Hill Houses. Funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance has allowed us to increase investments at Wagner Houses and extend the Center’s community engagement model to Jefferson and Johnson Houses in East Harlem.
Neighborhood Safety Initiatives works to improve quality of life in New York City by investing in residents, transforming public spaces, and influencing policy to address structural racism, local concerns and enhance public safety, reduce victimization, and promote healing. The key pillars that form the foundation for our work are racial equity, shifting power, access to resources, inclusive design, and deep participation. Resident stakeholder teams collaboratively identify community conditions, access and analyze data, propose tangible solutions to challenges, and learn how to access the resources needed to carry them out. Staff co-design and execute participatory decision-making processes to center residents in government decision-making and resource allocation.
Reporting to the Associate Director of Operations and Planning, Neighborhood Safety Initiatives is seeking a Planner to provide a broad range of support, including but not limited to, project coordination, budget tracking, procurement, and on site support for built environment projects and social programming.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Operations Support and Project Coordination
- Work closely with NSI staff to advance various tasks and timelines, including but not limited to providing on-site support for community projects, policy summits with policymakers and residents, participatory design workshops with resident NStat teams, and participatory budgeting events with the wider community
- Utilize project management tools such as Asana and AirTable with Map Engagement Coordinators (MECs), key management staff, and stakeholders to ensure timely execution of project deliverables
- Monitor budgets and expenses using expense trackers, make approved purchases, communicate closely with CCI’s Fiscal department to ensure timely payments utilizing internal CCI systems, and coordinate delivery of supplies across all NSI team events and programming
- Manage procurement process for selecting vendors for supplies, event production, staff and participant retreats, and social programming. This may entail coordinating with prospective vendors to obtain bids for projects, repairs, and installations, and sourcing materials for built environment projects
- Attend regular meetings with MECs as needed to report updates and progress reports regarding vendors, contracts, invoicing, supply purchases, project spending pace and habits, and more
- Attend MEC/Project Manager’s (PM’s) resident meetings as needed in support of project development
- Provide onsite support during community events and meetings (i.e; setting up events spaces, maintaining materials, vendor communications, etc.)
Administration
- Support in the management of program finances which include payment protocols, bill processing, expense reports, and credit card reconciliation in accordance with Center policies
- Draft vendor contracts and coordinate with CCI Legal and Fiscal departments to approve contracts
- Communicate with vendors as needed regarding paperwork required for contracting and invoicing, payment timelines, project deliverables and supply needs
- Submit stipends for designated stakeholder teams on a monthly basis utilizing internal CCI systems
- Attend weekly Staff and Operations meetings and provide reports to NSI staff regarding contracts, invoices, supply purchases, catering requests, stipends, spending trackers, community event support, and more
- Provide office wide administrative support including but not limited to troubleshooting with the Center’s technology department when issues arise
- Perform additional relevant tasks as needed
Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. At least 3 years of community-centered work experience in project coordination and procurement is highly preferred. Additional qualifications include:
- Solid knowledge and understanding of project coordination, procurement processes, financial and analytical skills such as financial planning and forecasting, and tracking and reporting skills
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining precise attention to detail and meeting deadlines
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; must be able to convey complex concepts in a clear and concise manner
- Ability to interface effectively with all levels of management and must work and communicate effectively with both internal and external stakeholders
- Strong proficiency with Google Suite, Microsoft Suite, and web conferencing programs required. Willingness to learn Asana and AirTable preferred
- Demonstrated experience with or willingness to learn AgiLoft, NetSuite (Oracle), and CSS preferred
- Willingness to travel across the 5 boroughs and work with residents of NYCHA
- Ability to lift at least 20 pounds
- Available to work nights and weekends as needed
The ideal candidate carries all the necessary qualifications, is goal-oriented, highly organized, takes initiative, can work independently, follows through, and is a strong team player.
Position Type: Full-time (occasional weekends, evenings, and holidays)
Location: Manhattan, NY with frequent travel to sites across all 5 boroughs.
Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $55,410 - $72,090 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Court 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 please.