Operations Associate, Advocacy & Partnerships

Vera Institute of Justice•Brooklyn, NY

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Advocacy & Partnerships (A&P) department at Vera serves as a central hub for initiatives and projects focused on achieving transformative criminal legal and immigration policy change through collaboration within the movement ecosystem. A&P staff possess expertise in criminal legal and immigration reform, campaign leadership, political navigation, movement strategy execution, and generating data for policy change. The department is responsible for coordinating the vision, strategy, and institutional development of Vera's advocacy efforts, fostering strong relationships and alignment with external partners to achieve policy change. Their core advocacy assets include producing data and evidence, leading and supporting advocacy and campaign strategy development (often in coalition), researching and drafting policy, and influencing elected officials. The A&P Department is structured into three main functions: State and Local Policy, Federal Policy, and Advocacy Messaging & Impact. Additionally, the department collaborates closely with Vera Action, Vera’s independent 501(c)(4) entity, to support strategic priorities through lobbying, political outreach, voter education, and political activities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and up to 3 years of relevant experience. In lieu of a bachelor's degree, applicable work or life experience may be considered.
Experience as an assistant with administrative, project, and logistical support proficiency.
Experience prioritizing multiple time-sensitive projects.
Established experience in executing operations with confidentiality and personal responsibility.
Exceptional communication and organizational skills.
Proven ability to adapt and respond; overcome challenges and lead with solutions.
Knowledge of administrative filing systems and project administration techniques.
Demonstrated accuracy and efficiency in document preparation including creating and editing charts, tables, graphs, and presentations.
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
Ability to work effectively with a diverse array of people and positions, including advocates, funders, government officials, criminal legal system personnel, practitioners, and people who are directly impacted by the criminal system.
Commitment to transformational change and belief that advocacy work must be rooted in anti-racism and aligned with the priorities of people and communities most impacted by the criminal and immigration legal systems.

Nice To Haves

Experience within the advocacy space.
Experience working on campaigns and/or electoral operations settings, understanding the rapid and vital needs of up-to-the-minute responses.

Responsibilities

Provide ongoing support to the Chief Advocacy Officer, including calendar management and scheduling.
Serve as an administrative contact and liaison with external contacts for scheduling virtual and in-person meetings, events, or interviews.
Support document preparation, note-taking, and other clerical tasks.
Process expenses, produce and edit PowerPoint presentations, and other documents as needed.
Provide daily updates on scheduling and administrative tasks.
Schedule and arrange all meetings and activities for the CAO, A&P, and Vera Action, including logistics for in-person and remote meetings.
Plan and manage all aspects of the Advocacy Department’s monthly team meetings in partnership with the Associate Director of Operations.
Review weekly meeting agendas and prepare necessary briefing materials.
Manage conflicting scheduling issues and unexpected changes with attention to detail.
Handle all communications around scheduling with excellent service and professionalism.
Coordinate scheduling, logistics, and detailed preparation for senior staff in A&P and Vera Action to attend external events.
Document notes and necessary action items from key team meetings.
Schedule and arrange meetings for senior team members as needed.
Support all team members in travel logistics.
Handle travel arrangements and reimbursement documentation for the CAO and senior team members.
Provide coverage and support for various Advocacy Team functions such as reception desk and special events support.
Facilitate procurement processes, including correspondence with Vera’s Legal Department and external vendors/partners.
Process invoices, track expenses, and reconcile monthly expense reports.
Track all non-staff expenses and invoices for all engagements and prepare summary reports to the CAO.
Support project management infrastructure for the Advocacy Team and Vera Action, including project development, documentation, execution, and closeout.
Work closely with project leads to ensure projects/activities meet objectives within agreed budgets and timelines.
Support the Advocacy Team in working with a portfolio of internal and external partners, including tracking deliverables and outcomes.
Conduct periodic evaluations to ensure program objectives are met.
Collaborate with Advocacy Team leadership to ensure the integration of program goals.
Contribute to Advocacy & Partnerships’ REI working group through thought partnership, coordination, research, and support for departmental learning strategies.