Job Opportunity: Executive Director, Justice Policy Institute, DC

The Justice Policy Institute is a Washington, DC-based research, policy and communications advocacy organization whose mission is to end society's reliance on incarceration, and to promote effective solutions to social problems. Since 1997, the Justice Policy Institute (JPI) has worked to enhance the public dialog on incarceration through accessible research, public education, and communications advocacy. Policymakers, the media, advocates, people who work in the juvenile and criminal justice system and the general public rely on JPI's timely analysis to help implement policies to reduce the use of incarceration, and promote effective public safety strategies. JPI's research is frequently cited by policy makers and in America's leading print and electronic media, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. JPI has published over 100 pieces of research, including reports, monographs, articles, fact sheets, and other materials used to promote policy reform. By providing communications and research technical assistance to national and state-based reform initiatives, including foundation-led efforts, JPI has played a significant role in helping America turn the tide against runaway prison expansion.

JPI is engaged in work to support the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, Models for Change: Systems Reform in Juvenile Justice, the Partnership for Treatment, Not Incarceration in Maryland, and other juvenile and criminal justice projects that seek to reduce the use of incarceration. In the past decade, JPI has worked closely on projects with the Center for Child Law and Policy, the Youth Law Center, the National Juvenile Justice Network, the Drug Policy Alliance, Families Against Mandatory Minimums, the Campaign for Youth Justice, Critical Resistance and various governmental and non-profit agencies.

In the last decade, JPI's research and communication strategies have been used to help prevent federal laws to try more young people as adults from being enacted, and worked with national and state-based campaigns to repeal these laws; prevent a number of initiatives to lengthen prison sentences or tougher juvenile justice measures from being enacted at the local, state and federal level; pass legislation to divert drug involved individuals from prison to drug treatment programs in Maryland and California; develop a constituency to help enact the Prison Rape Elimination Act; reshape public opinion to where reform of California's "Three Strikes Laws," and reforms to Maryland's drug sentencing statutes are now being considered; elevate the importance of, and promoted effective strategies to reduce the number of young people in pre-trial juvenile detention, and reduce racial and ethnic disparities in juvenile justice system.

JPI's budget is roughly $750,000 annually and it is supported by grants from several national foundations. JPI currently has a staff of six, with a cadre of long-time professional consultants who work with the staff to achieve the mission through research and communication work. JPI's office, staff and Board are based in Washington, DC. JPI is poised to grow, and increase its influence and policy impact.

JPI is seeking a dedicated and experienced leader to move the organization forward. The executive director must be committed to and respect JPI's historic mission, and understand the organization's place within the larger field working for more sensible sentencing and correctional policies, and juvenile justice reform. The executive director must have a background in juvenile and criminal justice research, understand and have implemented research and communications strategies to achieve policy reform goals, and know how to harness both research and communications strategies to support policy reform. While the organization is seeking someone with strong leadership qualities, the organization's key strength is that it works collaboratively with other organizations and initiatives, and harnesses our core skill sets to support other organizations through research and communication work.

Specific responsibilities of the Executive Director include direct supervision of all staff and consultants to complete products to support five major projects that cross the domains of juvenile and criminal justice reform; ensuring that research projects reflect the JPI brand type, quality, and design to maximize their policy impact; ensuring that well-planned and strategic communication techniques are employed to maximize JPI's policy impact; serving as "editor-in-chief" on JPI written materials; serving as primary spokesperson for JPI; maintaining ongoing relationships with press; working with project staff and consultants to conduct other public relation activities on JPI projects; soliciting grants and maintaining ongoing relationships with funders; ensuring sufficient funding for organizational projects and operations; overseeing, managing and maintaining the budget; being responsible for organizational assets, expenditures, salaries, benefits, and overseeing annual reports and accounting reviews; engaging in semi-annual fundraising drives and solicitations; recruiting and hiring; establishing training, supervision, management and staff evaluations; identifying opportunities for staff professional development; completing reports for, and communicating with, the Board of Directors; recruiting new board members; engaging in organizational development activities to enhance the quality and impact of JPI's work; developing policy positions that help advance the work of reducing society's reliance on incarceration; and conducting research and developing communications and advocacy strategies to achieve those goals.

Qualifications include having experience managing within or directing a nonprofit organization, government agency or equivalent academic center or program (experience with personnel management is particularly desirable); good strategic thinking and understanding how to craft and move a policy reform agenda; creativity; being a team player; possessing the skills to work with government, allied organizations, organizers and advocates; and being able to find the balance between advocating for change when required and managing projects that work to use research and communications to build a consensus for change with policymakers and key stakeholders; having experience with juvenile and criminal justice issues. Having experience working in a national organization that engages in research, communication or advocacy on a national level is also a plus. Fundraising experience is highly desirable.

People of color and individuals with direct experience with the criminal justice system are strongly encouraged to apply. The Justice Policy Institute is an equal opportunity employer.

Salary is commensurate with experience, generous benefits included.

To apply, please e-mail your resume and cover letter to Tara Andrews, JPI Board of Directors at [email protected].