Director, Human Resources Operations

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 Center for Justice Innovation (formerly the Center for Court Innovation) is seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking Director of Human Resources Operations to lead the Center’s growing human resources operations. The Director of HR Operations will build and support the Center’s multi-site, high-performing team with efficient and service-oriented HR functions to effectively serve the Center’s programs and projects. The Director will drive strategic HR-related planning in areas of organization design, recruitment and talent management, compensation planning and philosophy, professional development and talent management, and staff and manager coaching and performance management. The Director will join the Center’s leadership team and collaborate on both a strategic and tactical level with the executive members and other operating leaders on a variety of HR and business-related initiatives to support the Center’s operational goals. The Director will prioritize developing and executing a “people-oriented” strategy to propel the Center’s growth and reputation as an excellent nonprofit workplace, which currently employs over 900 employees. The Director will report to the Chief People Officer and be based in NYC with a hybrid schedule (approximately 3 days per week at project sites and/or in the Manhattan headquarters) and requires some travel to the Center’s project sites as well as in person time with peers, executives, and HR teams. 

Strategic HR Operations Leadership: 

• Team Development and Leadership: Build, mentor, and empower a team of HR professionals to serve as strategic business partners, effectively addressing the evolving needs of the organization and its employees;
• HRIS and Systems Management: Spearhead the implementation, optimization, and ongoing management of our HRIS system and identify and implement additional technology solutions to enhance HR efficiency and effectiveness;
• Talent Acquisition and Management: Design and execute strategic recruitment, hiring, onboarding, retention, and compensation strategies that align with our institutional values and promote equity, diversity, and accessibility;
• Functional Area Enhancement: Develop and enhance core HR functions, including talent development, training, performance management, and employee engagement;
• Compensation and Benefit Strategy: Research, develop, and implement competitive compensation, benefits, and employee incentive programs, adopting a holistic "total rewards" approach; and
• HR Metrics and Analytics: Establish and utilize key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure and monitor the employee lifecycle and the effectiveness of HR programs, driving data-informed decision-making. 

Policy and Compliance: 

• Policy Development and Legal Liaison: Collaborate with the Director of Employee Relations and the office of the General Counsel to develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive HR policies and procedures;
• Expert Consultation and Guidance: Provide expert counsel to staff and leadership on HR-related matters, including performance management, workforce development, and conflict resolution; and 
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with all applicable employment laws, regulations, and best practices related to benefits, insurance, safety, immigration, and other relevant areas. 

Strategic Organizational Leadership and Collaboration: 

• Executive Leadership Collaboration: Partner with executive leadership to align HR strategies with the organization's long-term mission and goals, ensuring talent management supports the organization’s strategic direction; 
• Performance Measurement and Improvement: Identify and utilize KPIs to assess and improve the effectiveness of HR and talent management functions; 
• Professional Development and Networking: Actively participate in professional development and networking opportunities to stay abreast of industry trends and promote the organization as an employer of choice; 
• Employee Wellbeing and Engagement: Play a key role in shaping a positive and inclusive workplace culture by partnering with the Director of Learning and Organizational Development, the Director of Employee Relations, and the Senior Advisor of People and Culture to promote organizational values and foster a sense of belonging; and
• Additional tasks as necessary.

Qualifications:  

Candidate Profile and Key Qualifications: 

• Required: Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of demonstrable experience as a human resources leader in large, complex organizations and roles that include management, problem-solving, and strategic planning; 
• Preferred: Master’s degree and HR management in a nonprofit organization;
• A commitment to centering diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging in human resources; 
• Experience implementing HR systems and processes including policy and procedure development; 
• Clear and accessible communication skills to translate HR functions and support across the organization; 
• Experience customizing HR functions as needed for various departments and programs, realizing the Center has various needs across the organization; 
• Working knowledge of compensation/total rewards programs; 
• Passion for systems and strategy including those that support onboarding, offboarding, employee retention, staff recruitment, and talent development; 
• Ability to quickly learn a new organization and develop relationships across departments and teams; 
• Exceptional judgement and a high level of emotional intelligence including the ability to observe organizational dynamics and support a positive organizational culture; 
• Demonstrated commitment to the Center’s mission and values; experience working in social services is a plus; 
• Desire to support a complex, decentralized, and fast-paced organization; and  
• Enthusiasm for leading change management while proactively coaching staff, peers, and the HR team. 

Deadline to Apply: April 5, 2025. 

Position Type: Full-time, in office at least three days per week. 

Position Location: Manhattan, NY with potential travel within the five boughs, Newark, NJ and Upstate NY. 

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $130,000 - $155,000 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. 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.