Associate Director of Research, Beyond Jails Initiative

Key Skills

Data science techniques, Effective communication skills, Github, Leadership Skill, Microsoft Office suites, Project management, R Programming, Teamwork

Job Description

What you'll do:

Research leadership

Develop and lead initiative research strategies and budgets. 

• Develop, manage, and oversee all aspects of research within initiatives, in coordination with the research director for initiatives and initiative director and associate director for advocacy. 
• Represent research on BJI leadership team.

• Work with other members of BJI leadership team to develop strategies that incorporate research, participating in theory of change planning, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning, and other activities related to initiative strategy. 
• Work with initiative leadership in support of annual planning and budget development, staffing plans, and fundraising. 

• Serve as a member of the Vera Research Leadership Team, providing mentorship and support across the department and aligning research supports and culture with Vera’s mission and values. 
• Supervise, support and mentor the BJI research and data science team, including developing staffing plans and leading recruitment and hiring.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with partner organizations. 
• Work with BJI leadership to support overall and targeted fundraising. 

Mentorship and Supervision 

• Provide training, mentoring, and methodological guidance to researchers on the BJI team and other teams as needed 
• Mentor early career researchers in human subjects /IRB protocols 
• Oversee and own the overall development of research and data science staff on the team, including professional development, goal setting, and elements of accountability aligned with Vera’s commitment to anti-racism and REI efforts.

Research design and implementation 

• Review IRB applications: develop and present IRB applications and ensure that research is conducted to the highest ethical standards, serving as Principal Investigator on research projects as appropriate. 
• Lead the initiative’s data collection and analysis.

Presentation and dissemination of research

• Oversee development, writing, and editing of research publications and evidence-based messaging and products in support of initiative goals, including rapid response work.
• Act as an internal and external spokesperson/ representative of the research to a range of audiences 
• Partner with advocacy and communications staff to develop coordinated strategies that leverage research. 

What qualifications are we looking for?

Education and Experience:

• ADRs typically have advanced graduate training, such as a Ph.D. or equivalent, as well as 6+ years of work experience or equivalent applied experience over 8+ years. Additionally, ADRs will have several years of experience supervising interdisciplinary research teams.  
• Experience supervising and working with mixed methods research and/or researchers; ability to supervise and advise on sophisticated quantitative analyses.  
• Experience conducting applied policy research; subject matter expertise including understanding of current criminal legal and immigration systems and policy. 
• Ability to support and build advocacy efforts and external stakeholder relationships.  
• Advanced technical, methodological, analytic, and project leadership skills  
• Commitment to race equity is required.  

Preferred:  

• Direct experience with and/or impact by the criminal legal or immigration system  

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring: 

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• ADRs are generally subject matter experts, with substantial management experience, advanced methodological skills, strong research communication skills, and experience building and leading a research team. The ADR for the Beyond Jails Initiative should be fluent in research on mass incarceration and related areas and understand the evidence base that is needed to achieve the team’s long-term goal of jail decarcerating.
• Advanced social science, analytical and project management skills, and an extensive track record using research approaches as a tool for applied justice reform. Familiarity with administrative criminal legal system data is especially welcome.
• Ability to supervise mixed methods research.

Technical knowledge we need you prepared to use:

• Advanced knowledge of R or other statistical software, ability to work in/ learn GitHub; familiarity with qualitative research methods and tools.  
• Microsoft Office suite 

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY; Washington, DC; Los Angeles, CA or New Orleans, LA office. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation range for this position is $127,000 - $132,000. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute’s total compensation package for employees. As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff—both personally and professionally—is a priority. To do this, we invest in the well-being of our staff through other rewards including merit pay, generous paid time off, a comprehensive health insurance plan, student loan repayment benefits, professional development training opportunities and up to $2,000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work, employer-funded retirement plan, and flexible time. To learn more about Vera’s benefits offerings, click here.