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About the Role

The RPS Initiative Director will lead and manage the Redefining Public Safety (RPS) Initiative, including goal development, team supervision, budget management, and fostering key relationships with policymakers and leaders in criminal justice, policing, community violence intervention, and crisis response. This role involves representing Vera as a public safety expert, navigating complex politics, shaping public opinion, and exploring new strategies for public safety. As a senior leader, you will significantly shape and execute Vera’s public safety vision, collaborating with staff and other senior leaders to drive change at scale. Candidates should have professional training in government, evidence-based policymaking, applied research, policy advocacy, or organizing at federal, state, or local levels, with a commitment to race equity and inclusion and a passion for social change. Professional or lived experience with the criminal justice system is valued.

Responsibilities

Serve as the RPS initiative lead, refining, defining, and executing strategy and a holistic vision at a national level, aligning efforts with the initiative’s theory of change
Manage and operationalize various components of the team’s strategy, including legislative advocacy, site-based technical assistance, cohort peer learning, leading coalitions and networks, and research, ensuring workstream cohesion
Develop and measure metrics to discern the impact of the established strategy
Work closely with Vera’s Research, Communications, and Advocacy teams to support RPS strategy development and execution
Partner with the development department to achieve fundraising goals, cultivate funder relationships, and support funder relationship management, proposal creation, and reporting deadlines
Develop and manage external relationships relevant to advancing RPS’s work, including local/state/federal public safety leaders, mayors, city managers, legislators, police chiefs, community organizations, advocates, and relevant academics
Navigate complex political dynamics to advance RPS’s work
Lead and/or partner with other organizations, coalitions, or relevant groups to advance RPS’s goals
Represent Vera as an organizational expert in media outlets (op-eds, interviews), conferences, webinars, and other external events
Demonstrate fluency and tangible experience in rapid response strategies, anticipating opportunities and partnering with Vera Action where necessary to tackle challenging crime politics
In partnership with Communications, Advocacy, and Research, develop messaging and narrative strategies around public safety
Scope, draft, and edit program reports, proposals, presentations, and internal/external blog posts to communicate updates on RPS’s work
Oversee and own staff development, including professional development, goal setting, and accountability, aligned with Vera’s core values
Supervise unit leaders as they implement initiative strategy, ensuring efficient execution with a propensity for learning
Manage all elements of the team’s operations, including budget, deadlines, staff deployment, and team performance
Maintain regular contact with the finance department to develop, track, and manage budgets

Requirements

Advanced degree and 12+ years of relevant experience, or applicable work/life experience in lieu of degree requirements
Minimum 10 years of demonstrated leadership and professional work experience on public safety
Strong political acumen and fluency in current policy conversations
Experience working with governments to advance community safety through policy, advocacy, technical assistance, and/or community organizing
Practical experience leading or building coalitions with community-based and advocacy organizations
Track record of media appearances and public speaking
Experience and competency leading strategic planning, developing program design, budgets, and bringing programs to scale
Experience developing and managing a multi-disciplinary portfolio of work with multiple strategies and funding streams
Strong project management, problem-solving, and delegation skills
Track record communicating and translating quantitative and qualitative data and research findings to drive policy and practice change (Preferred)
Research training and experience (Preferred)
An advanced degree in a relevant field (Preferred)

Skills

Existing relationships with senior leaders in the public safety ecosystem, including elected officials, advocates, practitioners, and people directly impacted by the criminal justice system
Strong fundraising skills, demonstrated through funds raised, relationships with funders, and experience developing proposals
Strong leadership skills, with demonstrated experience leading a team with varying levels of experience
Excellent oral and written communication skills and experience developing communications for diverse settings and audiences

Location

Brooklyn, NY office
Washington, DC office (limited circumstances for exceptional candidates)

Work Type

Hybrid schedule
In-office on an alternating schedule (generally 10 days per month)

Experience Level

12+ years of relevant experience
Minimum 10 years of demonstrated leadership and professional work experience on public safety
Senior leader

Education Level

Advanced degree
Applicable work or life experience may be considered in lieu of degree requirements
Advanced degree in a relevant field (Preferred)

Salary/Compensations

$155,000-$160,000

Benefits

Merit pay
Generous paid time off
Comprehensive health insurance plan
Student loan repayment benefits
Professional development training opportunities
Up to $2,000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work
Employer-funded retirement plan
Flexible time

About the Company

The Vera Institute of Justice helps jurisdictions adopt comprehensive approaches to public safety by championing solutions that prevent crime and break its cycle.
The Redefining Public Safety (RPS) Initiative team has substantive expertise in alternatives to crisis response, violence prevention and intervention, policing, and how government agencies can implement and sustain a comprehensive safety approach.
The team provides technical assistance to jurisdictions, produces data and evidence for policy change, engages in advocacy, communications, and narrative change, and navigates the politics of policing, crime, and public safety.
Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world.
Vera values diverse experiences, including educational background and justice system contact, and depends on a diverse staff to carry out its mission.

Equal Opportunity

Vera is an equal opportunity employer.
All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status.