Manager, Community Initiatives

THE ORGANIZATION

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 www.innovatingjustice.org.  

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.

Operating Programs

The Center’s operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Justice Center, test new ideas, solve difficult problems, and attempt to achieve systemic change within the justice system. Our projects include community-based violence prevention programs, alternatives to incarceration, reentry initiatives, and court-based initiatives that reduce the use of unnecessary incarceration and promote positive individual and family change. Through this programming, we have produced tangible results like safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice.

Research

The Center's research teams are staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically-trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.

Policy & Expert Assistance

The Center provides hands-on, planning and implementation assistance to a wide range of jurisdictions in areas of reform such as problem-solving courts (e.g., community courts, treatment courts, domestic violence courts), tribal justice, reducing incarceration and the use of fines/fees and reducing crime and violence. Our current expert assistance takes many forms, including help with analyzing data, strategic planning and consultation, policy guidance, and hosting site visits to its operating programs in the New York City area. 

Center Support

A dedicated support team within the Center ensures the smooth functioning of operations across various domains, including finance, legal, technology, human resources, fundraising, real estate, and communications. Comprising 15% of the organization's staff, these teams provide essential infrastructure support and innovative solutions aligned with the Center's mission and values. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Brownsville Community Justice Center (BCJC) seeks to co-create community safety in Brownsville, Brooklyn by investing in local residents, transforming public spaces, and creating youth opportunity. The Justice Center envisions a safe and resourced Brownsville where all residents can thrive. The Justice Center focuses on engaging young people most impacted by criminal legal systems and community violence as leaders and innovators to create community driven public safety solutions.

BJCJC is seeking a Manager of Community Initiatives. Reporting to the Project Director, the Manager of Community Initiatives serves as a leader within BCJC, overseeing the strategy, execution, and evaluation of youth and community engagement programs that advance equitable, community-driven public safety solutions. The Manager is responsible for program innovation, cultivating leadership, partnership development, and ensuring compliance with contractual and grant requirements.

This position centers on fostering youth development, designing impactful public events, leveraging data and community voice, and aligning BCJC's human and financial resources to deliver high-impact community benefit and reinvestment. The role requires strong project management, experience in grassroots and civic engagement strategies, and a deep commitment to justice, equity, and place-based work.

Strategic Program Development:

• Utilize crime data, community input, and youth feedback to identify opportunities for public safety interventions in neighborhood hotspots;
• Design and lead youth- and community programs that integrate project-based learning, civic engagement, skill-building, and experiential learning opportunities; and
• Be a thought leader and develop strategy to identify opportunities to scale programs, align resources, and deepen BCJC’s youth development work and community impact.

Event and Initiative Management:

• Oversee the planning and execution of high-profile, branded events such as the [B] Live Arts and Music Festival, the Be On Belmont annual block party, and other cornerstone initiatives;
• Identify and implement new opportunities for community-based programming and public engagement; and
• Assist the Project Director with identifying new strategic initiatives, youth and public programs and safety interventions that support testing and innovation at the Justice Center.  

Performance Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Monitor progress toward key program deliverables, including recruitment, participation, and engagement goals;
• Implement course corrections as needed to ensure successful program, project and event outcomes; and
• Lead data collection and reporting on metrics including attendance, engagement, stipends, neighborhood reinvestment, and partnership outcomes.

Knowledge Management and Systems Oversight:

• Oversee the development and maintenance of systems to track subcontractor services, program resources, and community partnerships; and
• Ensure consistency and accessibility of information across teams to support coordination and long-term sustainability.

Partnership and Resource Development:

• Proactively seek sponsorships and funding to support program growth and event execution; regularly pitch partnership opportunities to public, private, and philanthropic stakeholders; and
• Lead the development and submission of funding proposals and new program concepts aligned with local needs and organizational goals.

Team Leadership and Supervision:

• Manage the Community Initiatives team, providing regular supervision, coaching, and performance evaluations; and
• Set clear goals and accountability standards while promoting professional growth through targeted training, mentorship, and development opportunities.

Compliance and Contract Management:

• Ensure compliance with grant requirements, reporting deadlines, and budgetary parameters for all assigned initiatives and contracts; and
• Collaborate with the Project Director and the finance and development teams to ensure fiscal responsibility and alignment with funding agreements.

Other Duties:

• Perform additional tasks, as assigned, to support the mission, vision, and strategic goals of the Brownsville Community Justice Center.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, nonprofit management, youth development, urban planning, or a related field; Master’s degree strongly preferred;
• Minimum 5 - 6 years of progressively responsible experience in community organizing, program design, youth development, or event planning required;
• Demonstrated success in leading large-scale public events and youth-centered programming;
• Strong leadership and supervisory skills, with experience managing multidisciplinary teams;
• Excellent organizational and project management abilities, with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously;
• Advanced communication skills, including the ability to engage diverse audiences and represent the organization externally;
• Experience with data tracking, evaluation, and reporting;
• Deep commitment to racial equity, restorative justice, and community-led approaches to safety and well-being; and
• Availability to work some evenings and weekends, as needed, for community events and meetings.

Position Type: Full-time, Monday - Friday from 10:00am - 6:00pm. This position is based in a fast-paced, community-focused environment. It requires regular on-site engagement in community spaces, partner meetings, and events. Flexibility, creativity, and collaboration are essential for success in this role.

Position Location: Brownsville Brooklyn.

Compensation: The compensation for this position is $85,000. 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%.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on 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 LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our goal is to create a supportive and respectful environment where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and included.

At this time, the Center does not sponsor or support any immigration status, which includes supporting or completing any foreign student training plan. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment.

Candidates are expected to provide accurate and truthful information throughout the hiring process. Any misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of material facts may result in disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of an offer, or termination of employment, regardless of when discovered.

As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. While the Center does not require vaccination, we strongly recommend that all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up to date.

In compliance with federal law, all hires must verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment verification form upon hire. Please refer to the job posting for relevant contact information. If contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.