Project Director, Bronx Community Solutions - Center for Justice Innovation

THE OPPORTUNITY
The Center for Justice Innovation (formerly the Center for Court Innovation) is seeking an experienced Project Director for Bronx Community Solutions (BCS) to lead the meaningful early diversion, pre-plea, and post-conviction sentencing options offered by BCS, which operates within the centralized criminal courthouse. By participating in one of BCS’s programs, participants are connected to an array of onsite staff, including social workers, case managers, and group facilitators, with the goal of addressing underlying social service needs and connecting participants to an array of community-based organizations, using the arrest as a window of opportunity to change the direction of an individual’s life and avoid unnecessary incarceration. The next BCS Project Director will be a people-first, experienced, and dynamic leader who will oversee the growth and scale of BCS programs, which currently serve about 2,000 participants annually.  Reporting to the Senior Director of Court Reform Programs, the BCS Project Director will be responsible for executing and implementing numerous initiatives, including pre-trial diversion, alternatives to incarceration, and community-based programs. This position is based in the Bronx and necessities a full-time, in-person work schedule.

More About the Center for Justice Innovation
The Center for Justice Innovation (the Center), formerly known as the Center for Court Innovation, grew out of the Midtown Community Court, which was created in 1993 to address crime and safety issues in and around Times Square. The project’s success in reducing both crime and incarceration led the New York State Unified Court System to establish the Center for Court Innovation as an independent nonprofit dedicated to justice reform. Over the years, the Center have helped design, implement, and run dozens of programs (some of which now function independently of the Center, such as the Brooklyn Treatment Court), produced original research about hundreds of justice initiatives, and hosted tens of thousands of visitors interested in justice reform. 

In 2023, the Center changed its name to the Center for Justice Innovation to reflect how its work has evolved from primarily court-based to a combination of justice system- and community-based programming that emphasizes local leadership, community empowerment, prevention, equity, and safety. The work of the Center touches all stages of the justice system, from arrest through reintegration into the community. But its work goes further by seeking to reduce the need for justice system involvement in the first place. Its primary long-term goal is to identify and resolve as early as possible the challenges that bring people into the criminal and civil legal systems. The Center does this in several ways, including investing resources in underserved communities, problem-solving side-by-side with populations affected by crime, and building programs that respond to offending and increase safety without imposing lasting harms on individuals or communities. As an organization that works closely with systems and with communities, the Center is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between them, fostering communication, understanding, and trust. The Center’s approach involves collaboration among its three main teams: research and evaluation; direct-service programming; and training and expert assistance. Research informs programming, programming informs research, and both research and practice inform the Center’s efforts to train and assist communities across the U.S. and internationally in adopting tailored reforms. 

Candidate Profile and Key Qualifications
The ideal BCS Project Director candidate will exemplify the following competencies and characteristics:

• Significant experience leading and managing large and multi-layered social service teams and programs; experience supervising different disciplines simultaneously is preferred, especially within the realm of criminal legal work;
• Demonstrated success scaling/growing programs and operations using the best practices of change management;
• Knowledge of criminal justice, Alternatives to Detention or Alternatives to Incarceration programs, pretrial services, court administration, diversion or bail reform is strongly preferred;
• Possess existing relationships with key Bronx community members, groups, and stakeholders as well as the ability to develop and maintain new relationships;
• Experience working with or within the judicial system is strongly preferred;
• Unwavering commitment to integrate equitable practices in court and community spaces;
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally responsive manner including a commitment to centering diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging in the department through evidence of integrating equity practices into their own work and supervision;
• Strong interpersonal and written and oral communication and presentation skills, with the ability to build relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the Center as well as external partners including judges, prosecutors, public defenders, government officials, and funders;
• Ability to assess the impact of programs and experience using data to evaluate, implement, and modify programs;
• Knowledge of the local criminal legal system, key stakeholders, and current issues and trends is preferred;
• Exceptional judgement and a high level of emotional intelligence;
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to think creatively and find innovative solutions to complex challenges;
• Excellent writing skills to support proposal writing and grant application processes;
• Demonstrated commitment to the Center’s mission and values;
• Desire to support a complex, decentralized, and fast-paced organization;
• Willingness to travel across NYC as needed to engage with stakeholders, and be on-site five days a week in the Bronx;
• Ability to be on-call as needed.

Core Responsibilities
The BCS Project Director will maintain oversight of daily operations of the project, including managing high-performing teams across multiple sites in the courthouse as well as in the community; implementing and assuring fidelity to the program model; writing grant reports and proposals; evaluating program effectiveness; and serving as a public ambassador of the program to judicial and non-judicial stakeholders. The BCS Project Director will also be responsible for coordinating consistent protocols and practices across BCS programs, including supporting the hiring and training of a large and diverse staff, as well as communicating and collaborating with a broad range of criminal justice, city government, treatment providers, and community stakeholders. They will have an existing and deep connection to the Bronx.

Responsibilities of the BCS Project Director include but are not limited to: 
Strategic Leadership:

• Lead the innovative design, strategic planning, and implementation of Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) and other community-based programming and services;
• Develop and convey a cohesive narrative that communicates the positive and transformative impacts of BCS programs to internal and external stakeholders;
• Ensure all programs, including felony and misdemeanor adult ATI initiatives, Bronx HOPE, Project Reset, and Youth Impact, are meeting or exceeding program goals;
• Develop and maintain relationships with funders and government officials as well as court and community stakeholders;
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders to develop and identify program and system gaps and to develop innovative programs and interventions in response;
• Foster a work culture conducive to innovation, operational excellence, team building and respect;

• Provide direct supervision to senior staff at all project sites using a person-centered approach to staff engagement;
• Ensure court-based and community-based staff are providing the highest quality case management, education, training, internship, and employment services for program participants;
• Liaise with judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, other court administrators, and community leaders and agencies to ensure program operations run smoothly;
• Manage the day-to-day budget and establish quarterly and yearly budget goals;
• Collaborate with other Bronx-based projects to ensure seamless cross-site collaborations;
• Ensure program models and evidence-based practices are implemented with fidelity;
• Participate in meetings with staff and partnering agencies to review program protocols and policies, as well as identify practices that impact program operations and outcomes;
• Oversee the quality of program data and materials, refining and improving workflow and case processing when necessary;
• Devise and implement strategies for improving department cohesiveness and interdepartmental communication;

• Coordinate project research, planning, and reporting activities with the Data Analytics and Applied Research team;
• Oversee quality assurance and program performance initiatives with the support of the Data Analytics and Applied Research team;
• Assist the Center’s development team in grant management and writing, including monthly and quarterly reporting to funders and opportunities for new initiatives;
• Develop procedures and protocols to track and meet grant deliverables; 
• Facilitate conversations with senior staff to identify, sustain, and explore new funding sources, and to develop and coordinate new initiatives;
• Approve, develop, maintain, and track social media and marketing materials;
• Additionally tasks as necessary. 

Compensation and Benefits
The compensation range for this position is $130,000 - $145,000 and is commensurate with experience. 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%.

To Apply    This search is being conducted by Challenges and Solutions, LLC. If you need accessibility modifications to complete this application, please email the address below with your needs. To apply, you must submit a cover letter and resume to this job posting. You many also email (with a subject of “BCS Project Director”), in confidence, to: Mo Coffey at mo@challengesandsolutions.com.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, and as such, we do 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 welcome 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. Our aim is to create a supportive and respectful environment where every individual, irrespective of their background or identity, feels valued and included.

As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the requirement of the COVID-19 vaccination for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. Accordingly, the Center does not require all new hires be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus; however, the Center recommends all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up-to-date on the vaccination.

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. Kindly refer to the job posting for the relevant contact information. If the contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from making inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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