Senior Research and Data Associate

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation (formerly the Center for Court Innovation) is a non-profit organization that works with communities and justice systems to advance equity, increase safety, and help individuals and communities thrive. The Center's goal is to identify and resolve as early as possible the challenges that bring people into the criminal and civil legal systems. It does this in a number of ways—by developing and running programs that reduce the need for incarceration and enhance economic opportunity, conducting original research to identify what works, and sharing what we learn from our programming and research with those seeking to transform the justice system around the world.

The Center is an 800-employee, $100 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. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Data Analytics and Applied Research (DAAR) team collaborates with the Center’s operating programs to inform new and existing programming through data tracking, analysis, evaluation, and surveys. The work frequently includes measures such as case outcomes and program impacts, case processing, community needs and concerns, and perceptions of justice-involved individuals. The team also provides technical assistance to community court and diversion programs across the country. 

The Center’s DAAR team is seeking a Senior Research and Data Associate to conduct and supervise data collection and research at the Midtown Community Justice Center and projects throughout the Center’s Community Development and Crime Prevention (CDCP) department. This position will report to a Principal Research and Data Associate on our team. This position offers an opportunity to conduct on-the-ground research and data analysis on innovative court and community-based projects and, more generally, to manage program outcomes and policy implications through data tracking and analysis. The successful candidate must bring a real interest in this work and have a strong preexisting skill set in using SPSS or other statistical software, along with a strong knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methodology, and a strong analytic skillset for using statistical software to manipulate, analyze, creatively communicate and visualize data. For more information about the Center’s operating programs, please visit https://www.innovatingjustice.org/programs.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Collaborate with team leaders and project managers to decide what research and analysis tasks are most important for each location. Use data to guide how programs are run, even if some locations have better data systems than others;
• Ensure all data cleaning and reporting deliverables are met;
• Extract, clean, and analyze data from large databases;
• Help maintain the Salesforce- and Oracle-based case management systems;
• Work closely with team management and the Center’s operations and technology departments to streamline, document, and standardize data management, reporting, and analytic practices;
• Design and produce recurring statistical reports, dashboards, fact sheets, and other data products/visualizations to identify trends and critically assess project progress against benchmarks; 
• Conduct ad hoc data analyses to respond to requests for information, both internally and externally;
• Synthesize, present, and disseminate analytic findings to a range of stakeholder audiences, including, but not limited to practitioners, court actors, community partners and members, policymakers, and other researchers;
• Oversee the creation of and future amendments to data collection and reporting tools, as well as the development and maintenance of data-related protocol documentation and training materials;
• Work closely with staff at program sites to understand programmatic data needs;
• Communicate regularly with on-the-ground program staff about data entry processes and protocols, providing data trainings and support, as needed;
• Coordinate and work with team management, project leadership, and other Center departments to write data-related sections of funding proposals, and plan and implement new programs;
• Provide support and/or oversight throughout all stages of larger scale research projects, as needed, – including potential coordination with external research partners;
• Provide support with CDCP initiatives throughout all design phases, as needed;
• Co-create and collaborate with CDCP staff and leadership;
• Oversee fieldwork, as needed – including potential hiring, training, and supervision of research assistants;
• Potentially directly supervise one or more Research and Data Associates on the growing team supporting community-based projects; and
• Additional relevant tasks, as needed.

Qualifications: The candidate will have a minimum of a Master’s Degree or PhD and 3+ years, or a Bachelor’s Degree and 5+ years, of relevant research and data experience, preferably as a researcher with criminal justice, community justice, and/or other community-based programs. The ideal candidate will have prior supervisory/management experience. Candidate must be a skilled communicator (written and oral) and able to interact effectively and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including members of the Center’s operational staff, criminal justice personnel, representatives of city agencies and community-based organizations, and members of the public. Prior experience is required in using syntax-based statistical software syntax (R, SAS, Python, Stata, SPSS, etc.); using advanced quantitative and qualitative methods; and managing research or data analysis projects. Experience managing large databases, is preferred, especially working with Salesforce and/or querying large databases using SQL (or other programming languages used to extract and manipulate data). Experience using data visualization software (e.g., PowerBI, Tableau) is a plus. The ideal candidate will have knowledge of community development and/or the legal system and intersecting issues that impact people’s lives, coupled with a passion for advancing both court- and community-based justice.

Position Type: Full-time.

Position Location: Hybrid, Midtown Manhattan and occasional travel to other locations throughout all of New York City

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $85,000 - $98,500 and is commensurate with experience. 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. 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. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, as well as individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our aim is to create a supportive and respectful environment where every individual, irrespective of their background or identity, feels valued and included.

As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the requirement of the COVID-19 vaccination for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. Accordingly, the Center does not require all new hires be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus; however, the Center recommends all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up-to-date on the vaccination.

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

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