Project Director, Red Hook Community Justice Center

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a community justice organization that centers safety and racial justice. Since our founding in 1996, the Center has partnered with community members, courts, and the people most impacted to create stronger, healthier, more just communities. Our decades of experience in courts and communities, coupled with our field-leading research and practitioner expertise, help us drive justice nationwide in innovative, powerful, and durable ways. For more information on how and where we work, please visit www.innovatingjustice.org.

The Center is a 900-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 Justice Center, 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.

Center Support

A dedicated support team within the Center ensures the smooth functioning of operations across various domains, including finance, legal, technology, human resources, fundraising, real estate, and communications. Comprising 15% of the organization's staff, these teams provide essential infrastructure support and innovative solutions aligned with the Center's mission and values.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Red Hook Community Justice Center is the nation's first multi-jurisdictional community court, hearing criminal, housing, and family court matters under one roof with a single judge. The court takes a holistic and problem-solving approach to resolving cases, connecting individuals with resources and opportunities instead of relying on punitive responses such as incarceration or eviction. A wide array of onsite programs and initiatives are available to all litigants, as well as to the community at large. These include: an onsite housing resource center, trauma-informed clinical services, a high-school equivalency (GED) program, restorative justice programs, an AmeriCorps national service program, and a wide range of youth development programs. The winner of multiple national awards for innovation, the Justice Center retains a neighborhood focus while also becoming a model for community-driven justice reform around the world, demonstrating it is possible to reduce both crime and incarceration and improve public safety and quality of life for residents.

The Red Hook Community Justice Center is seeking a Project Director. The Justice Center's Project Director will lead a cross-disciplinary team of staff who develop and implement programs in response to evolving community needs, collaborate with a broad range of government and community stakeholders, and engage with residents to build trust, empower community, and enhance access to justice. The Project Director is responsible for overseeing the Justice Center's daily operations while simultaneously advancing long-term strategic planning efforts through fundraising, innovating, and collaborating with partners in the system and in community.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Operations and Personnel Management:
Oversee the Justice Center's daily operations, including criminal, housing, and family court operations, and a range of onsite and off-site programs and initiatives; Design, develop, and manage new initiatives and community events and projects; Develop program policies and procedures to improve service delivery and reinforce the mission and values of the Justice Center and the Center for Justice Innovation; Supervise and manage interdisciplinary staff of 25+ staff, directly supervising a number of department heads; Facilitate staff meetings, retreats, and team-building exercises to promote a positive and collaborative work environment, strong team morale, and an inclusive work environment; and Devise and implement strategies for improving staff cohesiveness and interdepartmental communications. Stakeholder Coordination & Community Engagement: Work collaboratively with the presiding judge, prosecutors, defense advocates, police, and court administrators to troubleshoot operational issues and develop new systems required for any new initiatives, laws, or systemic reforms; Establish and maintain strong relationships with community leaders, community-based organizations, elected officials, faith leaders, community stakeholders, and justice system agencies; Represent the Justice Center in community and stakeholder meetings, events, and other forums; and Host regular site visits for practitioners, researchers, and reformers from around the country and the world. Budget, Grant, and Data Management: Manage the project's approximately $3.2 million budget; Lead fundraising and grant management activities, including identifying new funding opportunities (in collaboration with the Center's development department), drafting/organizing of proposals and progress reports, and developing and maintaining mechanisms to ensure that contractual goals and deadlines are met; Manage program data reporting, performance deliverables, and program expenditures as required by funder and grant reporting requirements; Oversee quality assurance and program performance initiatives; and Manage the day-to-day budget by establishing quarterly and yearly budget goals. Vision and Long-Term Strategic Planning: Lead the strategic planning and implementation of all court-based and community-based programming and services, as well as a long-term vision for the Justice Center's work; Develop and maintain relationships with funders, government officials, and court and community stakeholders; Foster a work culture conducive to innovation, operational excellence, team building and respect; Develop mechanisms to solicit feedback from the community regarding relevant issues such as public safety, public housing conditions, community priorities, and Justice Center services, and develop appropriate responses to such feedback; Facilitate conversations with senior staff to identify, sustain, and explore new funding sources, and to develop and coordinate new initiatives; and Maintain an ongoing, in-depth understanding of the changing justice systems and community landscapes to adapt the Justice Center's approaches and priorities as needed, while remaining grounded in the guiding principles and values of the Center and the community justice movement more broadly. Policy and Protocol Implementation: Ensure court and clinical staff are providing the highest quality case management, education, training, internship, and employment services for program participants; Ensure program models and evidence-based practices are implemented with fidelity; Participate in meetings with staff and partnering agencies to review program protocols and policies, as well as identify practices that impact program operations and outcomes; Work with other Brooklyn-based Center projects to ensure seamless cross-site collaborations; and Other relevant duties, as assigned. Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have: Bachelor's degree required, advanced degree preferred. Direct experience (lived or professional) may be substituted for an advanced degree; Minimum of five (5) years of experience in any combination of fields such as the criminal justice, civil justice (particularly housing), and/or community engagement and development; Minimum of five (5) years in progressive management including supervising/directing programs, services and staff, preferably supervising multiple people of different disciplines simultaneously. Must show a demonstrated interest and ability to integrate equitable practices in court and community spaces; Must be able to articulate a commitment to racial equity and how they integrate practices into their work and supervision of a diverse staff that build equity and inclusion; Experience establishing and maintaining effective and collaborative working relationships, particularly with stakeholders or entities who come from different perspectives or approaches; Knowledge of the criminal and civil justice landscape, key stakeholders, best practices, and current issues and trends; Familiarity with Red Hook community and issues related to NYC public housing is preferred; Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to present to large groups; Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills required; Excellent written skills required; and Must be available to attend community meetings and events during evening and weekend hours. Position Type: Full-time.

Position Location: Brooklyn, NY

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $108,000 - $146,000 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.