Policy Associate

Research Foundation of The City University of New York•New York, NY

1d•$65,000 - $85,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance (ISLG) has a mission to improve the financing, delivery, and measurement of critical public services through research, technical assistance, and education. We lead projects aimed at reforming the criminal legal system, measuring urban inequality, expanding the reach of social service providers, and more. Each project has a dedicated team of research and policy experts who collaborate closely with internal and external organizations. Our staff have the opportunity to work with colleagues and supervisors across projects and with different types of expertise. We are seeking new team members with enthusiasm to shape the future of state and local policy. We are hiring a Policy Associate, Level 1-2 to work closely with members of the Institute’s policy team in support of a diverse portfolio of work, including—but not limited to—community-based violence prevention and capacity-building and technical assistance for nonprofit organizations. The Associate will contribute to several projects funded by the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) and other government partners focused on public safety and community well-being. The candidate may additionally work on additional projects based on the evolving needs of the Institute. This role will involve collaboration with community-based organizations serving New York City neighborhoods, fiscal staff at the Research Foundation of CUNY (RF-CUNY), and research staff at CUNY ISLG and partner research institution. The Policy Associate may be assigned to special projects as needed. This is an excellent opportunity for a civic-minded professional interested in a public policy environment, particularly those with an interest in the criminal legal system. CUNY ISLG’s projects span government policy-making in New York City and nationally, and cover a number of areas including criminal justice, racial equity, infrastructure and transportation, government operations, and finance.

Requirements

Level I Associate: Advanced degree in public administration, criminology, social work, education, health policy or related social science field; or equivalent training or professional/relevant personal experience and at least 2 years of experience
Level II Associate: Advanced degree in public administration, criminology, social work, education, health policy or related social science field; or equivalent training or professional/relevant personal experience and at least 4 years of experience.
Experience working in a foundation, private, government and/or non-profit organization, supporting large projects with many stakeholders is a plus but not required
Personal, professional, or academic knowledge of any of the following fields: restorative justice, gender-based violence, community engagement, community-based violence prevention and intervention, reentry services, criminal justice policy, and nonprofit capacity-building
Exceptional inter-personal skills and good judgment, with the ability to create and maintain excellent working relationships with Institute and project partners, including government agencies, community-based organizations, and others
Excellent time management skills and experience working in deadline-driven environments
Excellent administrative and analytical skills
The ability to prioritize and work on a number of tasks simultaneously
An exceptional commitment to accuracy and attention to detail
Excellent writing skills
Flexibility about projects and workflow
Passion about equitable state and local policy solutions to pressing social issues

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a foundation, private, government and/or non-profit organization, supporting large projects with many stakeholders is a plus but not required
Fluency in a language other than English is a plus but not required

Responsibilities

Serving as the point person for multiple project tasks, including the design and administration of key project components such as literature and best practice reviews, presentations, budget development, preparing solicitations, solicitation and contracting processes, project timelines and workplans
Liaising with external partners through site visits, meetings, and regular communication to support implementation and identify and address technical assistance needs, as appropriate
Supporting and facilitating training, technical assistance, policy consulting projects, and learning community sessions
Developing, facilitating, and supporting trainings on operational and strategic practices, clinical approaches, and community violence intervention and prevention programs
Conducting policy research activities, including desk research, focus groups, and interviews with community members, community partner organizations, and government stakeholders
Reviewing and developing project deliverables and providing constructive feedback
Providing administrative project support, including meeting scheduling, event coordination, invoice and budget review, agenda development, and note-taking
Drafting and preparing memos, reports, briefings, presentations, and other materials for internal and external stakeholders, and presenting externally as needed
Representing ISLG at internal and external meetings, including working groups, task forces, and community presentations
Serving as a strategic thought partner to the team, contributing to problem-solving issues, collaborating in the development of new ideas and initiatives
Participating in frequent formal and informal cross-organizational collaboration to generate new ideas and grow the Institute’s body of work
Other duties as assigned

Benefits

Comprehensive medical/dental/vision insurance
Paid vacation and personal days
Paid sick leave
CUNY tuition reimbursement program
Pre-tax benefits for transit and healthcare costs
Family/parental leave
Life insurance
A retirement plan with employer contribution
A positive work/life balance.
Opportunities for advancement within the organization.
Engagement with the broader CUNY network.
Working with organizational leadership who have years of significant public sector and policymaking expertise.