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On-Ramps · 14 hours ago

President and Director at Vera Institute of Justice

New York, NY

Full-time

Hybrid

Director/Executive

$450K/yr - $500K/yr

7+ years exp

The Vera Institute of Justice is a leading and nonpartisan national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders to advance evidence-driven solutions that deliver safety, accountability and justice at scale. The new leader will guide Vera and Vera Action through the next phase of evolution, overseeing all aspects of both organizations and continuing to drive innovation and sustain impact.

ConsultingHuman Resources

Senior Management

Responsibilities

Serve as the senior-most executive tasked with achieving Vera and Vera Action's missions

Oversee the implementation and refinement of programmatic work, which includes: Pursuing a portfolio of initiatives that maximize the reach, depth, scalability, and durability of Vera's impact, focusing on work that represents the highest and best use of Vera's unique capabilities; Continuing to evolve Vera's innovation, planning and strategy development processes; Building initiative strategies that deploy the right mix of research, technical assistance, communications and advocacy capacities to deliver maximum impact; Ensuring high-performance and outcome-focused execution and adaptation of strategies through robust deployment of monitoring, evaluation and learning

With Vera Action's Director, set and build out the strategy for Vera Action, driving decision-making related to lobbying, advocacy, and political initiatives in service of changing both narratives and policies around the criminal legal and immigration systems

Work closely with both organizations' boards to ensure strong governance, fostering a collaborative relationship to achieve each organization's current and future strategic objectives; provide all information necessary for the boards to function properly and to make informed decisions

Oversee and strengthen fundraising strategies and culture of philanthropy to support organizational sustainability and growth

Maintain thriving, equitable, and high-performance organizations, ensuring commitment to core values, including racial equity, and strengthening accountability and a results orientation

Ensure that Vera and Vera Action take a thoughtful and strategic approach to risk mitigation, ensuring that necessary systems and processes are developed, refined, and followed

Serve as a leader of leaders: managing and mentoring a high-performing, diverse team with a commitment to mission, results, and belonging

Act as an exemplar for values of racial equity, collaboration, respect, commitment, and independence; foster and promote a culture rooted in those values

Ensure staff has the resources, skills, and infrastructure necessary to meet and exceed goals

Build and maintain a constructive, collaborative relationship with a newly established union, and support the development and negotiation of its first collective bargaining agreement

Serve as the primary external face of the organization, representing the organizations with the full range of audiences engaged in their work, with an eye toward increasing Vera and Vera Action's profile in advocacy and addressing the politics of crime

Expand the organizations' visibility and impact in the media

Build relationships and establish Vera and Vera Action as leaders among the broad network of policy makers, political candidates and elected leaders, policy and political organizations/actors and funders to effectively advocate for transformative approaches to deliver safety, accountability and justice

Cultivate the donor base, building upon existing relationships while forging new ones in service of short and long-term fundraising goals; lead the diversification of revenue streams, with an emphasis on expanding the network of major donors funding Vera's work

Support and strengthen Vera and Vera Action's role as an anchor for the field, connecting, convening and organizing partners

Qualification

Policy change toolsPolitical strategyFundraising experienceLeadership experiencePublic speakingBudget oversightCritical thinkingInterpersonal skillsResults orientationCommunication skillsTeam managementCollaboration

Required

A minimum of 7-10 years of significant leadership experience (i.e. Executive Director or divisional leadership), with a track record of leading high-impact initiatives to end mass incarceration

Broad familiarity, sophistication and relevant experience with tools for policy change: research, advocacy, political strategy, communications and technical assistance

Experience shaping political and advocacy strategies, with a strong understanding of policy, electoral and political environment and processes, as well as players and networks necessary to achieve desired outcomes

Understanding of and comfort with the strategic purposes and regulatory frameworks surrounding 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and the range of entities that operate in the policy and political environment

Track record of creating and sustaining an organizational culture that fosters accountability, results orientation, inclusion and belonging

Strong critical thinking and decision-making skills, with a track record of developing solutions to complex issues in the face of uncertainty and ambiguity

Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop strong relationships across a diverse spectrum of stakeholders, and to influence leaders in the private, public, and non-profit sectors

Excellent public speaking, communication and media skills with the ability to serve as a strong external voice for both organizations and their work

A demonstrable track record of success working with both individual and institutional funders, and the ability and appetite to lead a high performing fundraising function

Experience overseeing budgets, with the capacity to support the strategic allocation of resources and manage spending effectively