Chief Program Officer, Community Safety

The Center for Justice Innovation is a community justice organization that centers safety and racial justice. Since our founding in 1996, the Center has partnered with community members, courts, and the people most impacted to create stronger, healthier, more just communities. Our decades of experience in courts and communities, coupled with our field-leading research and practitioner expertise, help us drive justice nationwide in innovative, powerful, and durable ways. For more information on how and where we work, please visit . The Center is a 900+ employee, $130 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. THE OPPORTUNITY The Center is seeking a seasoned and dynamic Chief Program Officer, Community Safety to lead its Community Safety department, composed of 200 professionals working at sites across New York City. The Community Safety department seeks to reengineer how the justice system works and change the narrative of systematically under-resourced neighborhoods throughout New York City. The department's place-based work is grounded in the understanding that safe and healthy neighborhoods have strong local institutions, dynamic connections among residents, and meaningful relationships with government agencies. As a member of the Center's Executive Team, the Chief Program Officer, Community Safety will report to the Center's CEO and oversee and support all existing programming and develop new initiatives to help prevent and reduce crime through individual and community-based programming. The Chief Program Officer will oversee the day-to-day operations of 10 neighborhood-based programs, staffed by more than 200 professionals, and directly supervise between four and six Senior Directors. The selected candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to the Center's approach to place-based and restorative community safety, experience bringing together community and government institutions to improve outcomes for historically marginalized populations, expertise in the fields of community safety approaches and housing justice, and a collaborative and transparent approach to leadership and management. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: Lead and Supervise the Community Safety Team Supervise a committed team of Senior Directors of Community Development and Crime Prevention (CDCP), Neighborhood Safety Initiatives (NSI) and Housing Justice Initiatives (HJI), while providing support for the broader team of staff, interns, and volunteers. Develop systems and training that prepare Center staff and contractors to implement community safety programming with fidelity to community priorities and emerging practices in the field of community safety. Have overall accountability and responsibility for the team's engagement in the community, ensuring the approach is focused on creating access and opportunities. Create and maintain systems for communicating department priorities and decisions across the team. Develop and maintain organizational vision and priorities Collaborate closely with the CEO to execute a strategic vision for the Community Safety Team that advances the Center's mission, addresses emerging issues in the field, and helps drive innovation across the organization. Serve as subject matter expert and partner to CEO in developing long-term strategy. Collaborate with the Center's CEO, Executive Team and Leadership Team to develop and implement strategic vision and operating plans. Create a Culture of Excellence in Leadership Facilitate the professional development of Senior Leaders in the Community Safety Team by identifying areas for growth and skill-development. Together with the CEO and Executive Team, identify and cultivate emerging leaders from across the Center. Collaborate with the People Department to create a culture of excellence in leadership by identifying areas for growth and ensuring successful implementation of training and additional resources. Build and maintain a trusted space for team members to engage in an open dialogue regarding their daily responsibilities, challenges, and reflections on organizational culture. Ensure organizational investment in the professional development of Community Safety Team members by cultivating a culture of feedback, recognition, and opportunities for growth. Lead Community Safety Team in biannual performance review process and other performance management efforts to ensure that team members are meeting professional goals and maintaining a standard of organizational excellence. Develop and Execute Program Strategy Lead the strategic planning and implementation of all community safety programming and services, ensuring all sites have capacity to carry out strategic priorities with fidelity to the Center's community safety model. Oversee the mobilization and inclusion of community members to advance community safety priorities and foster community revitalization. Identify community hot spots and collaborate with senior staff to develop programming that empowers residents and strengthens civic opportunities. Collaborate with the National Technical Assistance team to expand community safety initiatives nationwide. Develop Collaborations with Partners and Funders Manage existing relationships with key government partners including the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice, New York Police Department, New York City Housing Authority, and District Attorneys' Offices. Work closely with stakeholders such as the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice, the Department of Youth & Community Development, and the NYC Housing Authority to develop initiatives centered on community safety and public-housing residents. Cultivate relationships with funders, ensuring they are kept apprised of program accomplishments and investment needs. Oversee Program Evaluation, Monitoring, and Reporting Collaborate with the Center's Chief Research Officer to develop systems and tools for tracking program effectiveness and ensuring data-driven decision-making at the program and project level. Monitor program deliverables and budgets, ensuring alignment with Center's priorities. Communicate program effectiveness through grant reports, organization-wide communications, and tailored reports to key stakeholders. Promote Equity and Inclusion at the Center Demonstrate personal commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in all aspects of work and leadership. Build a team grounded in equity and reflective of the diversity of the Center community. Work to ensure that all voices are heard, including those coming from diverse lived experiences. Ensure DEI principles are embedded in the organization's culture and programming. Qualifications: Master's degree or Bachelor's Degree in relevant field plus 10-15 years' experience managing high-performing teams in a multi-site, multi-service structure required. Strong track record serving in a leadership and management role, supervising team members and demonstrating a collaborative and transparent leadership style. Demonstrated success in securing and stewarding funding from state agencies and philanthropic organizations. Commitment to the Center's mission and model of working alongside and on behalf of historically marginalized populations. An understanding of the challenges and strengths of New York City neighborhoods; experience in the field of housing justice is a plus. Extensive experience developing and overseeing programs with multiple priorities, ideally programs that meet the stated needs of community members. Ability to communicate complex information to a broad range of audiences, including policymakers, communities, and funders. Position Type: Full-time Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $220,000 - $255,000 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare, dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts. 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. 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr

Created: 2025-02-03