Deputy Director, Policy and Special Initiatives

Center for Justice Innovation•New York, NY

10d•$95,000 - $120,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Center for Justice Innovation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community safety and racial justice. Since 1996, we’ve worked alongside communities, courts, and those most directly affected by the justice system to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable neighborhoods. With a team of over 900 staff and an annual budget of $130 million, the Center carries out its mission through three core strategies: Operating Programs that pilot new ideas and address local challenges; Conducting original research to evaluate what works—and what doesn’t; and Providing expert assistance and policy guidance to reformers across the country and beyond. Backed by decades of on-the-ground experience and nationally recognized expertise, we bring innovative, practical, and lasting solutions to justice systems nationwide. The Supervised Release Program (SRP) offers an alternative to jail by providing pre-trial supervision, case management, and voluntary social services to people at risk of pretrial detention. Program participants are monitored to ensure their appearance at court dates, compliance with mandated programming, as well as referrals to community-based programming such as job training, drug treatment, and mental health counseling. Following legislative changes in New York State that curtail the use of cash bail and pre-trial detention, the Center has seen dramatic growth in the population served through Supervised Release. The Center runs SRP operating sites in Brooklyn and Staten Island, with several locations throughout. Reporting to the Director of Policy and Training, the Deputy Director of Pretrial Policy supports the development, implementation, and oversight of policies, procedures, and training initiatives for the Supervised Release Program. This role plays a critical part in operationalizing policy, ensuring consistency across sites, and strengthening staff capacity through training and technical assistance. The Deputy Director works closely with program leadership, site staff, and system stakeholders to promote evidence-based practices, enhance program performance, and ensure alignment with court expectations and organizational priorities.

Requirements

Advanced degree in criminal justice, public policy, law, or related field, and 4 years of relevant experience
Experience establishing and maintaining effective and collaborative working relationships required
Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills required
Strong writing and verbal communication skills
Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally-competent manner required
Commitment to the Center's mission and values

Nice To Haves

Supervisory experience preferred
Strong knowledge of pretrial services, key stakeholders, and current issues and trends preferred

Responsibilities

Support the development, review, and updating of program policies and procedures
Assist in monitoring policy implementation across sites to ensure consistency and fidelity
Provide guidance to staff on policy interpretation and application in day-to-day operations
Identify implementation challenges and recommend solutions and improvements
Support the integration of evidence-based and best practices into program operations
Assist in the design and delivery of training curricula for new and existing staff
Facilitate onboarding sessions and ongoing professional development trainings
Identify training needs through audits, staff feedback, and performance trends
Support partnerships with external experts and stakeholders to enhance training content
Conduct file reviews, audits, and other quality assurance activities to assess compliance with policies and standards
Track and analyze findings to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvement
Provide targeted technical assistance to sites to address performance issues
Support coordination between Supervised Release Program sites, departments and centralized Center support teams
Assist in managing communication and consistency across Supervised Release Program sites
Co-facilitate workgroups and cross-functional initiatives
Represent the Supervised Release Program at internal and external meetings, as needed
Assist in preparing materials for local, state, and national convenings and conferences
Support relationship-building with courts, service providers, and community partners
Contribute to data collection, tracking, and program evaluation efforts
Assist in preparing reports for leadership, funders, and stakeholders
Support grant writing and reporting activities
Support the Director in advancing special initiatives to improve program operations and service delivery
Perform other duties as assigned