Program Associate, Opening Doors & Unlocking Potential

Program Associate, Opening Doors & Unlocking Potential Brooklyn, New York About the team Access to employment and housing is essential to success in reentry and post‑release well‑being. The Opening Doors & Unlocking Potential team works to create pipelines to meaningful work and break down barriers to housing opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals through legislative advocacy and technical assistance. The Program Associate will help drive policy change, build coalitions, and provide technical assistance in selected jurisdictions to advance the Initiative’s priorities. About the role Technical Assistance and Advocacy Develop state‑based strategies with leadership to advance policy changes and provide technical assistance. Cultivate relationships with partners and stakeholders in relevant states to implement strategies. Provide advocacy support, including meetings with policymakers, coalition building, and drafting advocacy documents. Lead meetings, conference calls, webinars, and site visits; serve as main point of contact for external partners. Collaborate with state leads, Vera’s Advocacy and Partnerships, Communications, and Research teams on active and forthcoming campaigns. Track and monitor relevant state and federal policies. Draft and finalize program and technical assistance materials, including work plans, agendas, presentations, recommendations, and guidance documents. Field stakeholder questions and devise solutions for housing providers, employers, government partners, and service providers. Develop trainings or conduct policy analyses as part of broader projects. Write Up and Presentation of Projects Prepare background research and literature reviews for reports, write results, and integrate them into public products. Provide technical assistance to partners, including preparation of public presentations, facilitation of meetings, and sharing expertise. Co‑author program reports, fundraising proposals, presentations, and blog posts. Present Vera’s work at conferences, webinars, and internal events. Team Support and Internal Collaboration Create agendas, update documentation, and support team meeting facilitation. Mentor program analysts or interns as needed. Monitor news coverage of relevant work to stay informed about field trends. Support logistical and event planning processes. Assist with related research projects. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in political science, criminal justice, public policy, or related field and at least 3 years of relevant experience. Applicable work or life experience may be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree. Preferred Qualifications Experience in reentry, workforce development, affordable housing, or homelessness. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite. Demonstrated interest and knowledge of policy development, government, criminal justice, and social justice for underserved populations. Strong research and writing skills. Excellent strategic, problem‑solving, and analytical skills. Experience managing multiple projects, committees, or work groups. Strong interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to work with diverse groups and independently as well as collaboratively. Knowledge of policy change processes and housing finance is a plus. Ability to travel nationwide. Location The position reports to the Brooklyn, NY office. Employees are expected to work in‑office on an alternating schedule totaling approximately 10 days per month. Compensation and Benefits The salary range for this position is $77,000 – $80,000. Being part of a bargaining unit represented by the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (ALAA UAW 2325). Benefits include merit pay, paid time off, comprehensive health insurance, student‑loan repayment, professional development, up to $2,000 annually for education, employer‑funded retirement plan, and flexible time. Vera is an equal‑opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in a diverse and interconnected world. We value diverse experiences and rely on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. #J-18808-Ljbffr Vera Institute of Justice