Planner, Operations & Planning

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

The Center's research teams are staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically-trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.

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

Underway since 2015 and led by the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ), the Mayor’s Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety (MAP) is a comprehensive strategy to enhance public safety and strengthen community well-being in 30 public housing developments across New York City. Neighborhood Safety Initiatives (NSI), a project of the Center for Justice Innovation, supports the implementation of NeighborhoodStat (NSTAT), a resident-driven community organizing initiative within the MAP program. Funding from the Fund for Public Housing has allowed NSI to increase investments in the Bronx at Patterson and Castle Hill Houses. Funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance has allowed us to increase investments at Wagner Houses and extend the Center’s community engagement model to Jefferson and Johnson Houses in East Harlem. 

Neighborhood Safety Initiatives works to improve quality of life in New York City by investing in residents, transforming public spaces, and influencing policy to address structural racism, local concerns and enhance public safety, reduce victimization, and promote healing. The key pillars that form the foundation for our work are racial equity, shifting power, access to resources, inclusive design, and deep participation. Resident stakeholder teams collaboratively identify community conditions, access and analyze data, propose tangible solutions to challenges, and learn how to access the resources needed to carry them out. Staff co-design and execute participatory decision-making processes to center residents in government decision-making and resource allocation. 

Reporting to the Associate Director of Operations and Planning, Neighborhood Safety Initiatives is seeking a Planner to provide a broad range of support, including but not limited to, project coordination, budget tracking, procurement, and on site support for built environment projects and social programming.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Operations Support and Project Coordination:

• Work closely with NSI staff to advance various tasks and timelines, including but not limited to providing on-site support for community projects, policy summits with policymakers and residents, participatory design workshops with resident NStat teams, and participatory budgeting events with the wider community
• Utilize project management tools such as Asana and AirTable with Map Engagement Coordinators (MECs), key management staff, and stakeholders to ensure timely execution of project deliverables
• Monitor budgets and expenses using expense trackers, make approved purchases, communicate closely with CCI’s Fiscal department to ensure timely payments utilizing internal CCI systems, and coordinate delivery of supplies across all NSI team events and programming
• Manage procurement process for selecting vendors for supplies, event production, staff and participant retreats, and social programming. This may entail coordinating with prospective vendors to obtain bids for projects, repairs, and installations, and sourcing materials for built environment projects
• Attend regular meetings with MECs as needed to report updates and progress reports regarding vendors, contracts, invoicing, supply purchases, project spending pace and habits, and more
• Attend MEC/Project Manager’s (PM’s) resident meetings as needed in support of project development
• Provide onsite support during community events and meetings (i.e; setting up events spaces, maintaining materials, vendor communications, etc.)

Administration:

• Support in the management of program finances which include payment protocols, bill processing, expense reports, and credit card reconciliation in accordance with Center policies
• Draft vendor contracts and coordinate with CCI Legal and Fiscal departments to approve contracts
• Communicate with vendors as needed regarding paperwork required for contracting and invoicing, payment timelines, project deliverables and supply needs
• Submit stipends for designated stakeholder teams on a monthly basis utilizing internal CCI systems
• Attend weekly Staff and Operations meetings and provide reports to NSI staff regarding contracts, invoices, supply purchases, catering requests, stipends, spending trackers, community event support, and more
• Provide office wide administrative support including but not limited to troubleshooting with the Center’s technology department when issues arise
• Perform additional relevant tasks as needed

Qualifications:  The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. At least 3 years of community-centered work experience in project coordination and procurement is highly preferred.

Additional qualifications include:

• Solid knowledge and understanding of project coordination, procurement processes, financial and analytical skills such as financial planning and forecasting, and tracking and reporting skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining precise attention to detail and meeting deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; must be able to convey complex concepts in a clear and concise manner
• Ability to interface effectively with all levels of management and must work and communicate effectively with both internal and external stakeholders
• Strong proficiency with Google Suite, Microsoft Suite, and web conferencing programs required. Willingness to learn Asana and AirTable preferred
• Demonstrated experience with or willingness to learn AgiLoft, NetSuite (Oracle), and CSS preferred
• Willingness to travel across the 5 boroughs and work with residents of NYCHA
• Ability to lift at least 20 pounds
• Available to work nights and weekends, as needed.

The ideal candidate carries all the necessary qualifications, is goal-oriented, highly organized, takes initiative, can work independently, follows through, and is a strong team player.

Position Type:  Full-time (occasional weekends, evenings, and holidays)

Location: Manhattan, NY with frequent travel to sites across all 5 boroughs.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $55,410 - $72,090 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%.