Program Manager, Youth and Justice 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 Queens Community Justice Center – The Rockaways is seeking a Program Manager of Youth and Justice Initiatives to lead and grow its youth development and alternative-to-detention programming. This role offers a unique opportunity to build out innovative, community-rooted programming for young people. The Program Manager will oversee daily operations, provide administrative support, guide a team of staff, manage external partnerships, and ensure program goals are met. This position is ideal for a strategic and hands-on leader who is passionate about youth empowerment, community safety, and systems change.

• Collaborate with the Project Director, program staff, and other managers to develop the department’s vision and oversee planning, implementation, and evaluation of youth and justice initiatives;
• Supervise and support program staff across youth and justice initiatives, including performance evaluations, clinical oversight, and the development of training and support systems for both staff and subcontractors;
• Design and implement dynamic youth programming, including arts-based and project-based activities, academic support, retreats, field trips, and employment readiness opportunities, in partnership with teaching artists and community collaborators;
• Manage alternative-to-detention programming, including participant referrals, court reporting, and coordination with probation officers and justice system partners;
• Lead recruitment strategies to ensure consistent and meaningful youth engagement in programming;
• Provide oversight of daily program operations, including data entry, stipend disbursements, contract tracking, and administrative processes;
• Oversee grant implementation and ensure all reporting requirements, deliverables, and fiscal responsibilities are met;
• Develop and maintain systems for data tracking, program evaluation, and budget management;
• Identify and support referrals for participants to educational, vocational, and wraparound services;
• Represent the Justice Center at community events, local meetings, and citywide partner convenings;
• Foster a team culture rooted in innovation, creativity, accountability, healing, and youth-centered action;
• Develop and manage community justice education workshops; and
• Other relevant duties as assigned.

Qualifications: Master’s degree in social work, education, public administration, or a related field with at least three years of experience. Candidates should bring a strong, intentional approach to working with young people—someone who sees programming as a tool for healing, growth, and community safety. Whether your background is rooted in formal education, on-the-ground experience, or both, we welcome candidates with the following qualifications:

• Creative, justice-driven leader with a passion for youth development, community building, and transformative education;
• A team centric approach to accomplishing goals;
• An understanding and familiarity with Queens in general and Far Rockaway specifically;
• Demonstrated experience designing or facilitating educational workshops rooted in social justice, healing, leadership, or civic engagement;
• Experience supporting youth in community-based or justice settings, using strengths-based, trauma-informed, or transformative practices;
• A creative and flexible mindset with the ability to turn bold ideas into meaningful programming;
• Experience supervising staff, mentors, or volunteers, and fostering a collaborative team environment;
• Strong organizational and administrative skills with the ability to juggle multiple responsibilities, timelines, and deliverables;
• Familiarity working with system partners, such as courts or probation, and navigating interdisciplinary environments; and
• Commitment to place-based, community-led work, and cultural humility in working with people from diverse backgrounds.

Position Type: Full-time, Monday - Friday working from 10:30am - 6:30pm, working nights and weekends as needed.

Position Location: Far Rockaway, Queens.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $66,490 - $80,000 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 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.