Overview
Who we are:
The Vera Institute of Justice, founded in 1961, is a nonprofit criminal justice organization that strives to build just government institutions and safe communities free from the scourge of racism, white supremacy, profit, and inequity that is pervasive in this country’s legal systems. We are an “inside” lane organization that drives change at scale with ambitious public sector leaders who share our commitment to building anti-racist, reparative systems that deliver justice. We leverage our access to government to transform these systems and work collaboratively with stakeholders across many movements—including advocacy, grassroots, and grasstop organizations. Our role is to pilot solutions that are transformative and achievable, harness the power of evidence to drive effective policy and practice, and use advocacy and communications to change narratives and norms.
Vera has a staff of 300 people and offices in New York City, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and New Orleans. We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace. We expect our staff to embody respect, independence, collaboration, commitment, anti-racism, and equity—both in our outward-facing work and the internal culture of our workplace. We value a range of experiences in people’s educational backgrounds and encourage people who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system to apply.
Who you are:
The Senior Advocacy Associate will be part of the Vera Institute’s Advancing Universal Representation Initiative, which works to keep families together, disrupt the criminalization and deportation of immigrants, and protect people from the deplorable conditions of immigration detention by advancing the movement for publicly funded universal representation for people at risk of deportation. The Senior Advocacy Associate will work closely with the Associate Director, Advocacy and Partnerships and the State Advocacy Manager to take on a leadership role in the campaign to pass the Access to Representation Act in NY. The Senior Advocacy Associate will also support the Initiative’s state and local advocacy strategy nationwide. This person will engage in coalition building, outreach and education, public mobilization, support for impacted people engaged in universal representation advocacy, and will work to build grassroots and grasstops support and momentum for strategic policy priorities. With a primary focus on New York policy priorities, the Senior Advocacy Associate will take on a leadership role in the Vera Institute’s coalition and lobbying work in support of its campaign to pass the Access to Representation Act. The Senior Advocacy Associate will lead the establishment of new partnerships and supporters, foster successful ongoing partnerships, and represent Vera in lobbying, coalition, and advocacy spaces.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Coalition Building:
- Serve as the Vera Institute’s lead for coalition work in support of the campaign to pass the Access to Representation Act in NY, managing grassroots and grasstops organizing efforts in partnership with coalition leaders to cultivate a broad, engaged, and strategically effective coalition calling for passage of the Access to Representation Act
- With site leads and other colleagues, represent the Advancing Universal Representation team in existing and new coalition spaces in NY and nationwide as needed in support of advancing policy priorities of the Advancing Universal Representation team
- Develop a strategic plan along with coalition partners to identify and foster new partnerships and areas of intersecting interest to advance support for the Access to Representation Act and Universal Representation team priorities with groups focusing on immigration issues as well as groups engaged in other areas of advocacy or interests
- Share messaging that ensures that Advancing Universal Representation priorities account for concerns and areas of focus of broader movement partners
- Identify opportunities for engagement on issues that support Advancing Universal Representation advocacy priorities, like sign-on letters, coalition spaces, public demonstrations, convenings, etc.
- Facilitate and participate in coalition meetings.
Advocacy:
- Foster excitement and momentum around Advancing Universal Representation team’s policy priorities through community organizing and mobilization.
- Cultivate and maintain engagement with impacted people who are spokespeople and advocates in support of universal representation, identifying opportunities for them to engage and fostering opportunities for their engagement with leading advocacy efforts.
- Organize and support virtual and in-person public actions to pressure policy makers and raise public awareness and education on Advancing Universal Representation team’s policy priorities.
- Lobby elected and appointed officials, support colleagues and partners in advocating persuasively on Advancing Universal Representation team’s priorities
- Plan and present on webinars and at conferences/convenings
Resource production and issue tracking:
- Draft letters, briefing statements, lobby materials, and other print and digital materials to educate and build momentum around Advancing Universal Representation team priorities
- Monitor opportunities for engagement on Advancing Universal Representation team priorities in jurisdictions nationwide, including relevant legislation, budget measures, campaigns, and coalition activities to identify opportunities and challenges
Education and Experience:
Required:
- B.A. degree, or the equivalent work experience
- 4-7 years of organizing and campaign experience relating to immigration, criminal legal system, racial justice, poverty, or other relevant space
- Dedication to immigrants’ rights and familiarity with issue of access to legal representation
- Experience building effective coalitions, allies, and strategic planning.
- Experience with lobbying.
Preferred:
- Experience with advocacy supporting access to legal representation in the areas of immigration, housing, family court, or other areas
- Fluency in Spanish or other language in addition to English
Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Excellent communication skills, including public speaking and writing
- Experience in grassroots organizing and coalition building
- Experience lobbying public officials
- Ability to work collaboratively with a national, remote team and coalition partners;
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
Additional eligibility requirements:
- Driver’s License and willingness to travel
List of Required Software applications:
- Microsoft Office Suite; Zoom; Slack
Location:
Please note that this position is based in our Brooklyn, New York office and follows a hybrid schedule.
Compensation and Benefits
The compensation range for this position is $90,000 – $95,000. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute’s total compensation package for employees. As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff—both personally and professionally—is a priority. To do this, we invest in the well-being of our staff through other rewards including merit pay, generous paid time off, a comprehensive health insurance plan, student loan repayment benefits, professional development training opportunities and up to $2,000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work, employer-funded retirement plan, and flexible time. To learn more about Vera’s benefits offerings, click here.
Applications may also be faxed to:
ATTN: People Resources / Senior Advocacy Associate, Advancing Universal Representation
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.
As a federal contractor, and in order to ensure a healthy and safe work environment, Vera Institute of Justice is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccine before their start date. Employees who cannot receive the vaccine because of a disability/medical contraindication or sincerely-held religious belief may request an accommodation (e.g., an exemption) to this requirement.
Vera is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status.
Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.
For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org