Policy Manager, East - REFORM Alliance

Organization Overview 

REFORM is committed to transforming probation and parole throughout the United States by changing laws, systems, and culture. The organization is working to replace America’s criminal justice system with a restorative approach that is fair, accountable and invested in rehabilitation. Our goal is for people to reenter society with dignity, create meaningful pathways to work and equip them with the tools to succeed all while making families and communities safer and stronger.

REFORM was founded in the wake of the #FreeMeek movement. The Board includes award-winning recording artist Meek Mill; Fanatics executive chairman Michael Rubin; Arnold Ventures co-founder Laura Arnold; entrepreneur and business mogul Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter; Kraft Group CEO and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft; Galaxy Digital CEO and founder Michael E. Novogratz; Vista Equity Partners founder, chairman, CEO Robert F. Smith; Brooklyn Nets co-owner, businesswoman, investor, and philanthropist Clara Wu Tsai; and co-founder and co-CEO of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Priscilla Chan. Veteran criminal justice advocate Robert Rooks leads the organization as CEO.

Purpose:

The Policy Manager in our Policy & Law Department is a valued and essential member of the Advocacy team. In this position, you will support our state and federal criminal justice reform efforts across the country. This position requires the ability to utilize analytical methods and techniques to analyze policy issues for REFORM Alliance and assist in the drafting of legislation. The Policy Manager should be comfortable with quantitative and qualitative approaches in research and be familiar with public policy issues related to criminal justice systems, especially community supervision. Strong writing and speaking skills, including the ability to synthesize complex analyses into easy-to-understand language for non-technical audiences, are required.  Legal background or a graduate degree in public policy is preferred.  Specifically, the selected candidate will be expected to:

Responsibilities:

• Analyze available information and data 
• Draft state and federal legislation and related guidance, including resolutions, amendments, summaries, and analysis;  
• Draft and regularly update state and federal legislative collateral;
• Provide support to Sr. Director of Policy & Law in policy negotiations;  
• Review, analyze, and edit legislation, amendments to legislation, legal memoranda, and other written work product, including graphical presentation materials, for grammar, spelling, punctuation, comprehensibility, and adherence to all other style and format requirements;
• Conduct policy and legal research for target states and other jurisdictions;
• Become familiar with all relevant federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, and policies pertaining to community supervision; 
• Track legislative developments in state and federal law pertaining to community supervision; 
• Review agency rules to determine whether they are within the rule-making authority of the promulgating agency;
• Complete special projects and other tasks, which may include administrative and/or cross-departmental tasks, assigned by the Sr. Director or Sr. Deputy Director of Policy & Law;

• Work effectively and strategically with Regional Directors and State Organizers to build relationships on the ground in key states and educate key stakeholders; 
• Develop and maintain relationships with partner organizations and lobbyists in REFORM’s target states;
• Work effectively and collaboratively with other legislative drafters and partner organizations; 
• Supervise and manage Policy Associate in the completion of their duties; and
• Otherwise provide general support to the Sr. Director of Policy & Law in the completion of their duties.

Candidates will also possess:

• J.D or M.P.P preferred
• Minimum of 4 years policy experience or 4 years criminal legal services
• Experience crafting criminal justice policy and strong writing background
• Direct knowledge of state and federal legislative processes
• Ability to work effectively with elected leaders, staffers, and diverse stakeholders
• Ability to work efficiently in response to rapid response requests 
• Appreciation for the transformative power of media, storytelling, and digital advocacy
• Excellent writing and editing skills
• Strong organizational and administrative skills; with keen attention to detail

• Strong work ethic and willingness to go the extra mile
• Willingness and ability to travel 

Salary Range: $80,000-$95,000

At REFORM Alliance, we strive to move hearts and minds to create a more humane criminal justice system. This requires us to maintain a company culture that values employee individuality and community development. We are committed to fostering an environment that is inclusive, empowering and globally minded. We firmly believe that diversity in gender, race, ethnicity, sexual identity, cultural background, religion, disability and age produces ideas and perspectives that make our efforts stronger for people unjustly in the system and make our company a better place to work. Our leadership team is committed to embedding diversity and inclusion into everything we do and how we lead.