Research and Data Associate, Project Reset

New York, NY

Full Time

Data Analytics and Applied Research

Mid Level

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, $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.

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 Data Analytics and Applied Research (DAAR) Department 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 DAAR Department is seeking a Research and Data Associate to support operating programs and advance community justice through data analytics and applied research. The Research and Data Associate will support program evaluation and standardize reporting for Project Reset, a citywide pre-arraignment diversion initiative. Reporting to the Senior Research and Data Associate, this position offers an opportunity to conduct on-the-ground research and data analysis on innovative community justice projects and, more generally, to manage data-driven programs practices, 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 statistical software, along with a basic knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methodology.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

Partner with the Senior Research and Data Associate, Principal Research and Data Associate, program management and staff, and the technology team to develop specs for, set-up, and test Salesforce- and/or Oracle-based case management systems and other data collection systems ;
Ensure all data quality assurance and reporting deliverables are met;
Query, download, code, clean, merge, manipulate and analyze data from program databases of various scales and complexity
Implement standardized procedures to streamline data processes and improve team efficiency;
Produce regular statistical reports and analysis (e.g., regarding program volume, service linkages, or outcome metrics) for program staff, funders, government officials, court stakeholders, and others to inform operations and meet contractual data deliverables;
Regularly present data at staff and management meetings;
Interface with program staff, directors, and stakeholders as needed to track data and troubleshoot case management issues;
Conduct ad hoc data analyses to respond to time-sensitive requests for information, both internally and externally;
Ensure that all ad hoc and regular reports are clear and accurate; 
Communicate analytic and research findings, including drafting reports, factsheets, policy memos, presentations, infographics, and data dashboards for a range of audiences; 
Help maintain the case management systems;
Assist with the creation of and amendments to data tracking and reporting tools with operations staff and the technology department; 
Collaborate with the Center’s technology department to streamline internal data processes, translate operational needs into technical specifications, and manage internal databases;  
Work closely with program staff at various operating sites to understand programmatic data needs;
Develop and maintain data collection protocols and training materials;
Lead data entry trainings for program staff at various operating sites; promote universal and standardized data collection; 
Translate operational needs into technical specifications and maintain internal database documentation;
Travel to operating sites around the five NYC boroughs as necessary;
Design and conduct research and evaluation projects involving both qualitative and quantitative methodologies in collaboration with senior research and program staff; 
Maintain rapport with various stakeholders including assistant district attorneys, defense attorneys, NYPD officers and officials, and representatives from funding organizations; and
Additional tasks as necessary.

Qualifications: Master's Degree plus 2-3 years, or a Bachelor's Degree plus 4-5 or more years, of relevant research and data experience, preferably as a researcher with criminal justice, community-based and/or restorative justice programs. Intermediate skills in data analysis, knowledge of basic quantitative and qualitative methods and demonstrated proficiency with statistical software packages (R, SAS, Stata, SPSS, etc.) is required. Database management and relational databases experience preferred; familiarity with Salesforce and SQL is preferred. Experience with data visualization (Power BI) is a plus. Candidate must be open to feedback and dedicated to ensuring accuracy and clarity around operationalized definitions. Strong organizational skills and ability to effectively juggle multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail is a must. Candidate must be a skilled communicator (written and oral) who can collaborate with and effectively convey data findings to a variety of internal and external stakeholders, including program staff, community-based partners, criminal justice personnel, government funders, and CJI colleagues across the research, technology, and operations departments. The successful candidate must also bring a passion for improving the justice system.

Position Type: Full-time.

Position Location: Hybrid - Midtown Manhattan, NY with travel to various Center programs in New York City.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $70,000 - $84,200 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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