Chief of Staff

Overview

THE ORGANIZATION
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 areas of work: creating and scaling operating programs to test innovative, 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.

This work is organized, internally, around four central pillars: One Center, fostering a sense of unity; better coordination, collaboration, and learning across programs. People First, providing support and professional development for staff in order to best serve our communities. Operational Excellence, ensuring that our infrastructure and operations are strong and follow best practices. Systems Change, supporting our organizational mission to fundamentally transform justice in NYC and 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

The Chief of Staff will report directly to the Executive Director and will work closely with her to optimize her effectiveness, serving as a thought partner and trusted advisor. This person will support and manage the implementation of the Executive Director’s strategic priorities; manage and prioritize the workflow of the Executive Director’s office; advance transparency, diversity, equity, accessibility, inclusion, and a mission-centric focus through internal communications and collaboration; and act in the Executive Director’s stead as appropriate including in meetings and discussions both internally and externally. Working across the Center’s areas of work and the four pillars as outlined above, the Chief of Staff will advance the organization’s mission, vision, and impact by catalyzing high quality, efficient collaboration across the administrative, programmatic, policy, and research agendas. The Chief of Staff will also manage engagement with the Center’s Board of Directors and handle highly sensitive and confidential information with the utmost discretion.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Leadership and Management

• Serve as a thought partner and strategic advisor to the Executive Director, especially as it relates to implementing her executive priorities;
• Develop systems and processes to maximize the Executive Director’s time and effectiveness;
• Coordinate efficient, effective cross-organizational collaboration and decision-making to ensure that involvement of the Executive Director is strategic and occurs at the right time;
• Develop systems and processes to ensure that the Executive Director is well-informed of internal activities and external affairs, supporting her critical role in “connecting-the-dots” both internally and externally to support the mission and impact of the Center;
• Attend meetings with the Executive Director, ensuring in advance that meeting objectives and agendas are clear and following up on action items and, as appropriate, stand in for Executive Director;
• Serve as member of the Center’s the Executive Team playing a key role in advancing the impact of the organization;
• Manage the Center’s Executive Team and Leadership Team agendas, focusing leaders on the   Executive Director’s priorities and objectives for the Center, as well as those issues that cut across functions and programs to serve the Center’s mission and increase impact;
• Lead and manage projects, including special projects, that require interdepartmental collaboration across the Center’s functional areas;
• Lead internal communications and develop processes that reliably relay information and solicit feedback in a way that models inclusivity, transparency, efficiency, and accountability; develop and manage a comprehensive calendar of internal communications;
• Manage engagement with the Center’s Board of Directors including planning regular Board meetings and committee meetings; oversee communication with Board members to support the Board’s effectiveness;

External Relations and Partnership Development

• Establish meaningful working relationships with key stakeholders, including justice reform actors, funders, and partner nonprofits to play a key role in elevating the mission and work of the Center;
• In collaboration with the Chief External Affairs Officer and other leaders, where appropriate, develop strategies that leverage the Executive Director and other center leaders for external stakeholder engagement including donors, funders, external partners, and relevant colleagues;;
• Manage, in collaboration with the Director of External Affairs, executive communications including drafting and coordinating internal and external messages including statements, speeches, presentations, reports, quotes, and emails;
• Represent the Executive Director at meetings when the Executive Director’s attendance is not required; attend select meetings with the Executive Director and ensure those action items arising from these meetings are executed in a timely fashion.

Qualifications:  The ideal candidate will have 5 to 10 years of demonstrated success in leadership, managerial, problem-solving, strategic planning, and implementation in the nonprofit and/or public sectors. A pro-active quick study with exceptional judgment as well as interpersonal and project management skills suited for a complex, decentralized, fast-paced organization. Must have a demonstrated commitment to the Center’s mission and values as well as a working knowledge of and credibility in criminal and/or civil justice and broader social justice matters. This person must be an astute observer of organizational dynamics, a sophisticated purveyor of positive organizational culture, a proactive, skilled communicator able to establish and maintain strong relationships and have a zest for collaboration.

Position Type:  Full-time

Location:  520 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018

Compensation: Salary range $140,000 – $180,000, 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 Court 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.

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