Job details
Job type full-time
Full job description
Who we are:
The council of state governments justice center is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that combines the power of a membership association, representing state officials in all three branches of government, with policy and research expertise to develop strategies that increase public safety and strengthen communitiesWe help achieve those results by
Bringing people together from both sides of the aisle to foster collaboration;
Driving the criminal justice field forward with original research;
Building momentum for policy change at the state and local levels; and
Providing expert assistance to translate the latest research into policy and practice.
The csg justice center is one of the most robust criminal justice organizations in the country, composed of approximately 120 employees with decades of experience in law enforcement, community corrections, court administration, housing, mental health and addiction services, state prisons, local jails, juvenile justice, education, workforce development, and victim advocacyStaff here have served governors, state legislators, and members of congress on both sides of the political spectrumWhat bonds us together is a shared commitment to our mission, to a common set of values, and to the national, bipartisan advisory board that guides our workLearn more about careers at the csg justice center.
How you`ll fit in:
Safety and justice deserve better dataJustice counts is a multi-year, national initiative to design and implement a set of metrics across state and local justice agencies that help policymakers and the public better understand and improve the justice systemJustice counts launched in 2020 and is led in partnership with, and funded by, the u.sDepartment of justice`s bureau of justice assistance, along with an unprecedented coalition of state and local leadersTogether, we are working to enhance policymaking by ensuring that criminal justice data is more timely, less disjointed, and as useful as possibleLearn more at https://justicecounts.csgjusticecenter.org.
The justice counts team seeks a senior policy analyst to join a team that is coordinating a national campaign aimed at encouraging state leaders to make public commitments and take concrete actions to build a foundation for better, more useful, and transparent data on our criminal justice systemYou will bring excellent communication and project management skills, experience fostering collaboration among teammates and stakeholders with diverse perspectives, and a proven ability to multitask across deliverables while advancing the strategic goals of a projectA goal of the campaign will be to identify and secure interest and commitments in up to 10 states to work with the justice counts team and partner organizations to publicly report data on the justice counts metricsThe next phases of work on justice counts will include providing states with technical assistance to assist states in their implementation of the metrics, and the senior policy analyst may transition to working directly on this over time.
What you`ll do:
Specific responsibilities of the senior policy analyst include the following:
Provide direct support to the director of strategic initiatives (justice counts) in designing, launching, and managing the national justice counts campaign, including coordinating key logistics and planning internally and externally, tracking follow-up items and next steps, developing presentations, and multitasking across competing priorities.
Monitor key tasks and deliverables, coordinate across colleagues and external partners to ensure progress, track areas for follow-up, and identify the critical staff and leadership necessary to weigh in and move things forward.
Clearly communicate obstacles and potential solutions to senior staff and colleagues.
Coordinate and communicate with national partners related to their work on the campaign.
Support the director of strategic initiatives in developing and building relationships with state legislators and their staffs, staff in governors` offices, directors of state criminal justice agencies, court administrators and judges, local criminal justice agency leaders, state-level association leaders/staff, staff from project partner organizations, and other stakeholders to encourage them to respond to the campaign with bold, yet practical steps to build a stronger foundation for criminal justice data using the metrics.
Draft and monitor the development of written products, including communications documents and deliverables, policy briefs, and research memos, that concisely and clearly describe complex issues to a wide array of stakeholders, including members of the public, policymakers, national organizations, and project funders.
Plan and participate in policy-focused meetings of high-ranking government officials, advocates, and national experts.
Participate actively in staff discussions and strategic planning meetings.
Collaborate with senior staff to develop long-range strategies to guide the csg justice center`s justice counts efforts.
Monitor timelines, deliverables, and budgets to ensure that responsibilities to funders and the project objectives are met in assigned project areas.
What you`ll bring:
Ability to interact effectively with diverse people in different contexts and foster equity and inclusion through self-awareness, cultural sensitivity, and valuing others
Dedication to public service with an unfailing commitment to act with civility, be nonpartisan in performing csg justice center duties, and be a responsible steward of member and donor funds
At least five years of work experience in criminal justice, data-driven policymaking, social impact campaigns, research, data analytics, or other directly relevant fields
A bachelor`s degree (required), preferably in the social sciences such as criminal justice, psychology, sociology, or public policy
Direct experience working on a political campaign, state or national policy campaign, or other national initiatives aimed at securing commitments across multiple states, agencies, and leaders
Experience managing multiple deliverables at once and using strong project management to track progress and advance project goals
Experience building and maintaining strong professional relationships with a diverse array of people from outside organizations
Experience working well both independently and in teams and demonstrated success managing up to senior level leadership
A track record of delivering high-quality work and seeing projects through to completion even in the face of competing priorities and tight deadlines
An analytical mind and the ability to see potential challenges down the line and suggest solutions
Excellent research, writing, and editing skills
Strong verbal communication skills, including active listening and the ability to distill and present complex information in a concise and compelling way and/or adjust your messaging for different audiences
Excellent interpersonal skills and a sense of humor
Willingness to travel, several times per year, when it is safe to do so
How you apply:
If you`re interested in helping us drive change across the country, you should upload the following elements with your application:
Cover letter with salary expectations
Resume
Writing sample
At least three professional references
Learn more about careers at the csg justice center.
We welcome and value diversity in our staff, including race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, educational attainment, disability, protected veteran status, and personal experience with the criminal justice system.
Csg is an affirmative action/equal employment opportunity employerCsg participates in e-verify.
