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

The Center is seeking a Media and Communications Manager for the Communications team, which is responsible for the Center’s external communications. The department oversees the Center’s website, social media, email marketing, video production, publicity, and events. Reporting to the Director of Communications and working closely with a growing and collaborative communications team, the Media and Communications Manager will be a nimble, strategic, creative thinker with their finger on the pulse of the justice reform landscape.

This role will help the department grow its audience and increase reach and engagement with key target audiences, including policymakers, funders, donors, and practitioners.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Strategize and execute public relations efforts, including media outreach, journalist cultivation, and story planning and pitching in partnership with the Director of Communications and Chief External Affairs Officer;
• Actively manage and monitor the organization's social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn,YouTube; additional channels like TikTok and YouTube Shorts may also be included);
• Execute email campaigns through MailChimp platform and develop effective messages, CTAs, and copy for increased engagement
• Develop and implement segmented social media strategy;
• Manage a robust ongoing social media calendar based on marketing and communications goals;
• Monitor and listen to social media and news for trending topics
• Propose ideas for articles, blog posts, campaigns, and social media posts;
• Manage weekly media tracking and round-ups, research and maintain media contact lists
• Build and maintain relationships with media/press and potential partnerships
• Provide support Center-sponsored events and coverage/capture of events at program sites citywide;
• The ideal candidate will be a strong and effective written and verbal communicator with the ability to translate complex legal, research, and policy work to a broad audience, craft an engaging social media caption, and understand the nuanced environment in which the Center operates.
• Additional relevant tasks, as needed.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelors and 3-5 years of equivalent work experience, possessing a strong background in communications, public relations, and marketing. Excellent oral and written communication skills are required. Familiarity and experience with all major social media platforms and MailChimp (or similar email service provider) is required. Event planning skills are a plus. Candidate will be detail-oriented, organized, and work successfully both independently and within a collaborative team. They will be culturally responsive and interested in helping reform the criminal justice system.

Position Type: Full-time; 35-hour work week, Monday-Friday, occasional evenings may be required for events as needed. Hybrid work schedule (currently 2 days in office per week).

Compensation: Salary starts at $60,950-$75,720 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Court 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%.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer. The Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities as well as individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system.

As of September 9, 2021, all new hires are required to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, unless they have been granted a reasonable accommodation for medical, disability or religious reasons by the Center’s Human Resources Department.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete an employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. No phone calls or emails please.

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