Chief Program Officer, Exoneration Strategy & Support

Innocence Project•New York, NY

7d•$229,500 - $298,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Chief Program Officer, Exoneration Strategy & Support is responsible for the oversight, management, and supervision of Post-conviction Litigation, Special Litigation, Social Work, and Intake & Case Evaluation programs. This role provides pro-bono legal representation to innocent individuals, handles complex and high-profile cases, offers trauma-informed support to formerly incarcerated clients, and evaluates thousands of requests for representation annually. The Chief Program Officer serves as a thought partner to their team, ensuring alignment, focus, motivation, and high performance. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, this role contributes to the organization's overall direction, strategy, and health, including strategic planning, decision-making, and resource allocation. They are responsible for achieving departmental objectives, reporting progress to the Board and staff, and modeling inclusive and respectful workplace values. The position reports to the Executive Director and collaborates closely with other senior leadership to advance the Innocence Project's vision and goals. The role requires modeling the organization's values of accountability, collaboration, empathy, compassion, equity, person-centeredness, quality focus, and self-awareness, while embracing diversity. The position requires approximately 40 hours per week and operates on a hybrid in-office model with three days per week in the office, including an organization-wide anchor day on Wednesdays.

Requirements

15+ years of professional experience, including at least 5 years managing teams involving complex coordination.
Juris Doctor (JD) degree required.
Current member, in good standing, of the New York bar or eligibility for admission to the New York bar via motion within 6 months of start date.
Broad background in criminal justice, including familiarity with the Innocence Project’s program areas.
Experience with and/or demonstrated understanding of social work, record collection, and other litigation support processes.
A demonstrated commitment to criminal, racial and social justice and to the Innocence Project’s goals, mission, and values.
Demonstrated success working effectively with external partners including donors, pro-bono law firms, and government officials.
Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

Individuals with personal connections to the criminal legal system are strongly encouraged to apply.
If you have at least 22 years of experience in this or a related field, we encourage you to apply regardless of your educational background.

Responsibilities

Oversight, management, and supervision of Post-conviction Litigation, Special Litigation, Social Work, and Intake & Case Evaluation programs.
Provide pro-bono legal representation to approximately 200 innocent people who were wrongfully convicted.
Provide pro-bono legal representation in high-profile and complex post-conviction cases.
Provide trauma-informed support to formerly incarcerated clients transitioning from prison to community.
Review and analyze requests for representation to identify legally viable cases.
Serve as a primary thought partner to the team of experienced professionals.
Keep teams aligned, focused, motivated, and high-performing.
Contribute to the overall direction, strategy, and health of the organization as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Effectively manage department staff to encourage alignment, motivation, and high performance.
Contribute to organization-wide strategic planning, decision making, and resource allocation.
Achieve departmental objectives and report on progress and outcomes to the Board, senior leadership, and staff.
Model the Innocence Project’s values of an inclusive and respectful workplace.
Report to the Executive Director and work in partnership with the Senior Leadership Team to implement the Innocence Project’s strategic vision.
Serve as a spokesperson for the Innocence Project.
Collaborate closely with the Chief Program Officer, Policy, Research, and Prevention.
Cultivate, build, and maintain strategic relationships.
Maintain deep expertise in Exoneration Programs.
Collaborate with Directors to identify legal issues, opportunities for amicus briefs, and trends in wrongful conviction litigation.
Monitor the efficiency of intake processes and track relevant developments.
Partner with the Director of Social Work on social science research and emerging trends.
Ensure regular collaboration between Directors to ensure consistency and integration of litigation goals.
Plan and manage budgets with Directors and ensure effective use of organizational resources.
Cultivate, coordinate, and maintain pro bono legal relationships and resources.
Foster formal and informal cross-Program collaboration.
Set goals, monitor progress, evaluate outcomes, solve problems, and evaluate resource allocation in partnership with Directors.
Effectively manage and coach Directors.
Develop and manage processes to enhance clarity, efficiency, efficacy, and morale.