Program Associate, Opening Doors & Unlocking Potential

About the team:

Access to employment and housing is essential to success in reentry and post-release well-being but both good jobs and stable housing can be elusive for people with conviction histories. The Opening Doors and Unlocking Potential teamisworking to create pipelines into meaningful work and break down barriers to housing opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals through legislative advocacy and technicalassistanceengagements. As part of the Opening Doors and Unlocking Potential team the Program Associate will help drive policy change build coalitions and provide technicalassistanceinselectjurisdictionsto advance the Initiatives priorities.

About the role:

1. Technical Assistance and Advocacy

• Work with the Opening Doors and Unlocking Potential leadership team to develop state-based strategies to advance policy changes and provide technicalassistance
• Cultivate relationships with partners and stakeholders in Opening Doors and Unlocking Potentials states to implement strategies
• Provide advocacy support to the lead of specific states including meeting with policymakersprovidingsupport in building and leading coalitions and drafting advocacy documents
• Lead meetings conference calls webinars and site visits and serve asamain point of contact for external partners
• Work in tandem with the state leads and Opening Doors and Unlocking Potential leadership to collaborate with Veras Advocacy and Partnerships Communications and Research teams on the components of active and forthcoming state campaigns troubleshooting as issues arise
• Track andmonitorrelevant state and federal policies
• Completeinitialdrafting of andfinalizeprogram and technicalassistancematerials including work plans agendas presentations recommendations and guidance documents
• Field questions from and devise solutions for stakeholders including housing providers employers government partners and direct service providers on employment and housing challenges faced by justice-impacted people
• Developtrainingsor conduct policy analyses as components of broader projects

2.Write up/presentation of projects

• Prepare information and/or lead background research and literature reviews for reports. Write up results and integrate into public-facing products including reports advocacy documents or other publications under the supervision of senior associates
• As part of a team provide technicalassistanceto partners and stakeholders including preparation of public presentations facilitation of meetings and sharedexpertise
• Co-author and co-develop content such as program reports fundraising proposals presentations and blog posts.
• Present onVeras work at conferences onwebinars and other external events.
• Present at internal Vera events (department meetings brown bag discussions etc.)

3. Team Support and Internal Collaboration

• Create agendas update internal documentation support with facilitation of team meetings
• Mentor program analysts and/or interns on tasks as needed
• Monitor relevant news coverage of this work to stay informed about trends in the field
• Support the logistical/event planning process as needed
• Support related research projects as needed

What qualifications are we looking for

:

• A bachelors degree in political science criminal justice public policy or other relatedfieldand3 plus years of relevant lieu of aBachelorsdegree applicable work or life experience may be considered.

Preferred:

• Experience in reentry workforce development affordable housing reentry housing and/or homeless

Knowledge Skills & Abilities youll bring:

• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
• Demonstrated interest in and/or knowledge of policy development government criminaljusticeand social justice for underserved populations
• Strong research and writing skills
• Excellent strategic problem-solving and analytic skills
• Experienceand abilitytomanagemultipleprojects committees or work groups
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills
• Ability to work with peoplewithdiverse experiences and backgrounds
• Abilityto work independently as wellas collaboratively
• Knowledge of policy change processes is a plus
• Knowledge of housing finance is a plus
• Abilityto travel around the country

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn NYoffice. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation range for this position is $77000 - $80000.In addition this position is part of a bargaining unit represented by the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (ALAA) UAW 2325.Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institutes total compensation package for employees. As an employer of choice in our field supporting Vera staff - both personally and professionally - is a priority. To do this we invest in the well-being of our staff through other rewards including merit pay generous paid time off a comprehensive health insurance plan student loan repayment benefits professional development training opportunities and up to $2000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work employer-funded retirement plan and flexible time.To learn more about Veras benefits offeringsclick here.

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People Place and Culture / JOBTITLE
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St Suite 4-2A Brooklyn NY 11232
Fax:
Please use only one method (online mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

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.

Vera works to advance justice particularly racial justice in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences includingwith regard toeducational background and justice system contact and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.

For more information about Vera please visit.