Manager, Program Operations

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation (formerly the Center for Court Innovation) is a non-profit organization that works with communities and justice systems to advance equity, increase safety, and help individuals and communities thrive. The Center's goal is to identify and resolve as early as possible the challenges that bring people into the criminal and civil legal systems. It does this in a number of ways—by developing and running programs that reduce the need for incarceration and enhance economic opportunity, conducting original research to identify what works, and sharing what we learn from our programming and research with those seeking to transform the justice system around the world.

The Center is an 800-employee, $100 million nonprofit that accomplishes its vision through three pillars of work: creating and scaling operating programs to test new ideas and solve problems, performing original research to determine what works (and what doesn’t), and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to justice reformers around the world.

Operating Programs
The Center’s operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Court, test new ideas, solve difficult problems, and attempt to achieve systemic change within the justice system. Our projects include community-based violence prevention programs, alternatives to incarceration, reentry initiatives, and court-based initiatives that reduce the use of unnecessary incarceration and promote positive individual and family change. Through this programming, we have produced tangible results like safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice.

Research
Researchers at the Center conduct independent evaluations, documenting how government systems work, how neighborhoods function, and how reform efforts change things. We believe in the “action research” model; accordingly, our researchers provide regular feedback on the results of the Center’s own operating programs. The Center has published studies on topics including youth in the sex trade, reentry, gun violence, and drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration. Our researchers have been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals.

Policy & Expert Assistance
The Center provides hands-on, planning and implementation assistance to a wide range of jurisdictions in areas of reform such as problem-solving courts (e.g., community courts, treatment courts, domestic violence courts), tribal justice, reducing incarceration and the use of fines/fees and reducing crime and violence. Our current expert assistance takes many forms, including help with analyzing data, strategic planning and consultation, policy guidance, and hosting site visits to its operating programs in the New York City area.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Brooklyn Justice Initiatives (BJI) seeks to reengineer the experience of criminal court in Brooklyn, New York by providing judges and attorneys meaningful alternatives to bail, fines, and jail sentences. Operating out of Kings County Criminal Court, Brooklyn Justice Initiatives is a team of social service providers, court-based resource coordinators, and others who seek to improve the quality of justice. By providing meaningful pre-trial supervised release and post-conviction sentencing options, Brooklyn Justice Initiatives seeks to use an arrest as a window of opportunity to change the direction of a participant’s life and avoid the harmful effects of incarceration.

Brooklyn Justice Initiatives (BJI) is seeking a Manager of Program Operations. The Manager of Program Operations will oversee operations by providing logistical and administrative support to all programming areas at BJI. The Manager of Program Operations will spearhead collaboration with the Center for Justice Innovation’s Human Resources, Technology and Training departments. This collaboration will centralize communication in order to meet all hiring, training and retention needs at this growing project. Additionally, this role will work with BJI department heads to assure operational efficiency and efficacy in BJI programming.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

• Liaise with the Center for Justice Innovation’s Operations and Human Resource departments on recruitment and hiring of staff; 
• Manage the hiring process for job vacancies within BJI;
• Manage the screening and interviewing of qualified applicants; 
• Oversee all administrative support and organization of new hires within BJI; 
• Liaise with the Human Resources department and Director of People and Culture to standardize all hiring practices at Brooklyn Justice Initiatives, with an emphasis on racial equity; 
• Liaise with the Center for Justice Innovation’s Criminal Court Operations team on program policy implementation, trainings, and program development; 
• Develop and implement new and existing strategic plans for effective hiring, onboarding, and training for virtual and in-person program operations, in coordination with the Human Resources and other administrative departments; 
• Coordinate the onboarding and orientation of new staff; 
• Collaborate with CCI’s Training Institute and BJI management to develop and implement training of BJI staff;
• Manage BJI operations’ relationship with the Technology Department to ensure all equipment needs of staff and participants are met; 
• Assist with planning and implementing new processes and technologies for BJI-wide use; 
• Manage and provide task oversight of other members of BJI’s administrative team including but not limited to planners, office management staff, and/or an operations’ associate; 
• Host project site visits, including but not limited to: creating agendas, liaising with visitors, coordinating the logistics of travel and arrival, working with existing staff to ensure all relevant criminal justice issue areas are covered during visit, and preparing meeting rooms; 
• Oversee press related-inquiries; 
• Coordinate with department leads on program implementation; 
• Coordinate with the Research department on internal and external educational and presentation materials; 
• Assist with the opening of office spaces and compliance with all COVID-related safety measures; 
• Assist in other aspects of Brooklyn Justice Initiatives’ daily strategic operations, as needed;
• Attend Brooklyn Justice Initiatives’ events after hours, as needed; and 
• Additional relevant tasks, as needed.

Qualifications: the ideal candidate will have the following: 

• B.A. (or higher) in human services field or equivalent experience; 
• Minimum of 3 years of experience with the criminal justice system, including supervisory experience OR 5 years of relevant experience; 
• Strong team skills and ability to work in a fast-paced environment; 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously and adhere to timelines; 
• Excellent communication skills and ability to facilitate and manage team projects and initiatives; 
• Excellent organizational and administrative skills; and 
• Candidates must have the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally responsive manner.

Position Type: Full-time, nights/weekends, as needed.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $60,950 - $75,720 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.