Specialist, Workforce Development (UpNext)

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

Launched in 1993, the award-winning Midtown Community Court is one of the country’s first problem-solving courts. It provides alternatives to fines and jail as a response to low-level crime. Seeking to reduce crime and incarceration and increase public trust in justice, the Midtown Community Court works with neighborhood stakeholders to improve Midtown Manhattan. The court responds creatively to low-level offending, seeking sentences that are restorative to the victim, defendant, and community. The court’s onsite social services clinic and fatherhood and workforce development program are open to everyone—court participants as well as community members. Always growing in its reach, the court currently hears cases that originate in six NYPD precincts and serves as the Adolescent Diversion Part and Human Trafficking Intervention Court in Manhattan. Most recently, in response to a national opioid crisis, the court launched Manhattan’s Overdose Avoidance and Recovery (OAR) part. The OAR part seeks to connect individuals who are at risk of overdose to substance use treatment and supportive services.

The Midtown Community Court, an innovative criminal justice project, is seeking a Specialist, Workforce Development for UpNext, a job training and family engagement program for non-custodial fathers - many of whom have had previous involvement with the criminal justice system. UpNext provides tools, training, and resources for participants to successfully compete in today’s job market and connect with their families. Reporting to the UpNext Program Coordinator, the Specialist, Workforce Development is responsible for leading workforce development programming, providing individualized case management, preparing participants for employment, and linking participants to transitional employment opportunities aligned with their specific goals.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Facilitate workforce development programming, parenting classes using the 24/7 Dad curriculum, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy workshops and other program workshops during morning, afternoon, and evening hours, as needed; 
• Develop and maintain new employment prospects and vocational and academic resources;
• Lead sessions focused on job readiness and job retention, with an emphasis on computer training, life skills, and job search skills workshops;
• Provide lateral coverage of workshops, intakes, and other programmatic responsibilities in the absence of staff, as needed;
• Conduct employment assessments and assist with participant intake, as necessary;
• Conduct clinical assessments during the intake process, as necessary;
• Provide one-on-one individualized career coaching, case management, and support services;
• Assist in the ongoing maintenance of data collection including; writing case notes, entering/updating job placement and retention data, and entering/updating employer contact and hiring information that capture all client work and milestones;
• Provide job retention support to individuals who successfully find jobs including; monthly outreach calls with participants, and job site visits and outreach calls to employers;
• Serve as liaison for the Transitional Work programs by maintaining strong relationships with all partnering placement sites included but not limited to Times Square Alliance and Sullivan Street Bakery;
• Expand the portfolio of transitional employment partners in response to client and community interest;
• Provide ongoing support to participants placed in transitional employment opportunities by continuing case management, providing guidance through onboarding processes, continue relevant training as needed, and submitting timesheet records and expenses in a timely manner; 
• Assist with the planning of UpNext events such as family activities, alumni events, participant orientation, and graduations;
• Develop and maintain partnerships with off-site organizations offering job placement opportunities, social service resources and referrals while providing/receiving updates on client progress;
• Maintain a year-round live programming schedule for all job readiness related programming, including mock interviews and guest speakers;
• Facilitate weekly advanced job search programming for job-ready graduates who are in search of employment;
• Assist in community engagement projects within local neighborhoods with the Midtown Community Court team;
• Participate and assist with evening and weekend meetings, events, and programming, with the Midtown Community Court team including but not limited to distribution events and UpNext workshops; as needed;
• Attend monthly project-wide case management supervision groups hosted by MCC clinicians;
• Communicate effectively, and in a timely manner, with Midtown staff to provide client updates as relevant;
• Collaborate with Midtown Community Court staff to offer workforce development workshops accessible to community members and Midtown Community Court clients more broadly;
• Collaborate on projects with Midtown Community Court colleagues on various initiatives and sub-committees outside of UpNext programming;
• Willing to engage in harm reduction initiatives, including training clients and community members in various harm reduction techniques;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree and/or 2+ years of workforce development experience. Excellent written and verbal communication and computer skills are required. We are Seeking an outgoing, personable and professional individual who can think creatively and critically about their approach to generating employment opportunities for a marginalized population; a detail-oriented, highly-motivated self-starter who takes initiative and can get things done in a high-paced environment; and who is sensitive to working with people who have criminal backgrounds. Must be comfortable leading conversations around barriers to employment, masculinity, trauma, power, and relationships with diverse client population. Knowledge of community-based resources throughout New York City a plus. A commitment to creating, promoting, and maintaining a respectful, inclusive, and anti-racist work environment required.

Position Type: Part-time (21 hours/week); must be available to work evenings and weekends. 

Compensation:  The compensation range for this position is $25 - $30.32 per hour based on a 35-hour work week and is commensurate with experience. This position is eligible for overtime at 1.5x the hourly rate above 40 hours per week. 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%.