Vera Institute of Justice is hiring a
Senior Program Associate

Summary

The job is for a Senior Program Associate at Vera Institute of Justice in California to work on legislative agenda around decarceration and pretrial reform. The role involves developing the legislative agenda, being a primary point of contact for legislative staffers, researching and drafting bills, and tracking pending legislation. The job requires a bachelor's degree and 4-7 years of relevant experience.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in public policy, social work, political science, criminal justice, or related field
• 4-7 years of relevant experience

Responsibilities

• Help develop Vera CA’s legislative agenda for the year
• Be a primary point of contact for legislative staffers, consultants/lobbyists, and CA-based advocacy groups/coalitions to advance Vera CA’s legislative goals
• Work with the Vera California Associate Director and other team members to research, develop, and draft model bills, fact sheets, and educational materials on decarceration and bail reform
• Draft, review, and submit letters of support and opposition to bills in the legislature
• Coordinate testimony in support of or in opposition to bills in the legislature
• Alongside supportive team members, analyze and track pending legislation related to Vera’s priorities in the criminal-legal system; follow and frequently attend relevant committee hearings and track amendments
• Analyze bills and existing statutes related to Vera CA’s priority issues
• Track and relay legislative progress and relevant information on Vera CA’s policy priorities to colleagues and partners in a timely, clear and action-oriented format
• Develop and maintain relationships with government actors, elected officials, community groups, and advocates
• Help to drive the creation and presentation of communications materials—like blog posts, PowerPoints, or talking points—for a variety of settings and diverse audiences, related to legislative policy priorities
• Craft talking points for Program Director and Associate Directors for interviews with media related to legislative agenda. Help to draft op-eds related to legislative policy priorities
• Support communications team in their efforts to craft communications strategy and planning, including by identifying opportunities for earned media, tracking media hits, and attending media conferences, events, or press conferences in Sacramento
• Liaise with Vera’s communications department to implement communications strategy and deliverables, including social media posts, reporter outreach, and earned media hits
• Facilitate strategic planning sessions with the Vera CA team to develop a state legislative agenda and priorities
• Serve as an expert and thought partner on strategies and tactics to advance Vera CA’s policy priorities
• Support, develop ideas, and organize briefings, meetings, and events involving high-level state and non-governmental participants and stakeholders to highlight Vera CA’s work
• Represent Vera at conferences, meetings, and coalition calls related to Vera CA’s legislative priorities
• Develop and manage issue area campaigns and building/driving legislative agendas

Preferred Qualifications

• Lived experience as a person directly impacted by the criminal-legal system
• Juris doctor or graduate degree in public policy, social work, political science, criminal justice, or related field; or equivalent work experience; or relevant work or educational background and lived experience as a person directly impacted by the criminal legal system