Strategy Director of Crime & Crisis

Council of State Governments•New York, NY

5d•$140,000 - $220,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Council of State Governments Justice Center helps leaders in every state design and implement solutions for complex justice system challenges and make communities safer and healthier. We deliver trusted data, practical strategies, and cross-systems collaboration to create second chances, reduce harm, and transform lives. We're focused on four strategic priorities: Using data to drive action, Strengthening crisis response and addressing violent crime, Turning billions in new behavioral health resources into improved outcomes, and Growing the number of states committed to delivering reentry success by 2030. We have approximately 50 employees in states across the country who have decades of experience working in and with criminal, juvenile, and Tribal justice agencies. We have provided housing, mental health, and addiction services; served as educators and in workforce development agencies; and supported victims and survivors of crime. We have served governors, state legislators, and members of Congress on both sides of the political spectrum. What binds us together is a shared commitment to our mission; to one another; to a common set of values; and to the national, bipartisan advisory board that guides our work. The strategy director, crime & crisis is responsible for building and advancing one of the Justice Center's newest strategic priorities: helping state and local leaders solve more violent crime, strengthen public safety, improve crisis response, and prevent violence. Communities across the country face increasingly complex public safety challenges that demand coordinated, evidence-informed solutions. This position has the opportunity to shape how jurisdictions respond by developing practical approaches that improve violent crime solve rates, strengthen front-end justice system responses, connect people in crisis to effective care, and improve public safety outcomes. The Justice Center is uniquely positioned to lead this work. Drawing on expertise across law enforcement, behavioral health, courts, corrections, victim services, and data and research, we are building a national strategy that connects these systems in ways few organizations can. The Strategy Director will be building a new vision from two existing bodies of work: The Justice Center has played a central role in advancing innovative approaches to crisis response through its national Expanding First Response Commission work and toolkit, as well as work with federal and state stakeholders on behavioral health crisis response and 988. At the same time, the Justice Center has built a unique 50 state data repository focused on the challenge states face in solving most violent crime and is convening stakeholders to build consensus and momentum within states to improve accountability, fairness, and justice. The Strategy Director develops the organization's long-term Crime & Crisis strategy, identifies emerging opportunities, builds partnerships, and oversees a portfolio of projects and investments around the strategy. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Director brings both a strategy and organization-wide perspective to decision-making about priorities, resources, and growth, ensuring the strategic priority contributes to and benefits from the Justice Center's broader direction. This role represents the organization nationally and helps shape the future of public safety policy and practice through technical assistance, publications, presentations, and partnerships. The strategy director, crime and crisis will bring expertise in preventing, addressing, and solving violent crime, ensuring that each crisis receives the right response and advancing evidence-informed policy and practice to strengthen public safety for all communities. The ideal candidate is energized by the opportunity to build something new, comfortable working across complex, multi-branch systems and different levels of government, and skilled at bringing diverse partners together around shared goals. They bring deep subject-matter expertise, strong organizational judgment, and the ability to navigate complex or competing priorities while maintaining focus on measurable public safety outcomes. They are equally comfortable shaping long-term strategy, translating that strategy into near-term priorities, developing innovative approaches, and helping state and local leaders turn evidence into action that improves outcomes for communities.

Requirements

Strong interpersonal skills including self-awareness, sensitivity and valuing others.
At least 10 years of professional experience in violent crime, law enforcement, public safety, crisis response, criminal justice policy or practice, or related work, including significant experience shaping organizational, jurisdictional, or field-level strategy.
Minimum of 6 years of supervisory experience over mid-level managers or higher required.
Bachelors degree in a related field.
Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-project or multi-jurisdiction initiatives and translating long-term strategy into measurable goals and implementation priorities.
Demonstrated experience working across public safety and justice systems and with senior state and local government leaders, law enforcement leaders, practitioners, funders, researchers, and national partners to advance complex policy and systems-change initiatives.
Demonstrated national or significant field-level credibility in violent crime, public safety, crisis response, or a closely related area.
Reliable and secure internet/data connection and flexibility for using a personal device for internet connectivity during business travel. A cost offset is provided by CSG

Responsibilities

Define and continuously refine the strategy for achieving the organization's goals within the Crime & Crisis priority, including establishing measurable short- and long-term goals, translating long-range direction into near-term priorities and decisions, assessing progress, and adapting strategy as needs and opportunities evolve.
Ensure projects collectively advance the strategic priority rather than only fulfilling project-specific deliverables. Provide strategic guidance, subject-matter leadership, and quality assurance so products, analyses, recommendations, and technical assistance are accurate, high quality, and aligned with organizational direction. Apply sound judgment when balancing project commitments, emerging opportunities, organizational capacity, and long-term strategic goals.
Convene and lead cross-functional teams working across projects and functions, identify barriers to success, and work with organizational leadership to secure the staff, expertise, products, and resources needed to advance the priority. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contribute to organization-wide strategy, planning, priority setting, and decision making, bringing the perspective of the strategic priority while sharing accountability for the Justice Center's overall success.
Identify opportunities to increase organizational impact, cultivate partnerships and funding opportunities, and collaborate with other Strategy Directors so priorities reinforce one another and advance the organization's collective goals. Develop and maintain relationships with senior government leaders, law enforcement and public safety leaders, practitioners, funders, researchers, victim service leaders, community members, and national partners that advance both the strategic priority and the Justice Center's broader mission.