Specialist, Youth Engagement

Job Description

Job Description

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community safety and racial justice. Since 1996, we’ve worked alongside communities, courts, and those most directly affected by the justice system to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable neighborhoods. With a team of over 900 staff and an annual budget of $130 million, the Center carries out its mission through three core strategies:

1. Operating Programs that pilot new ideas and address local challenges;
2. Conducting original research to evaluate what works—and what doesn’t; and
3. Providing expert assistance and policy guidance to reformers across the country and beyond.

Backed by decades of on-the-ground experience and nationally recognized expertise, we bring innovative, practical, and lasting solutions to justice systems nationwide.
Learn more about our work at

THE OPPORTUNITY

Launched in 1993, the award-winning Midtown Community Justice Center is one of the country’s first problem-solving courts. It provides alternatives to fines and jail as a response to low-level crime. Seeking to reduce crime and incarceration, and increase public trust in justice, the Midtown Community Justice Center works with neighborhood stakeholders to improve Midtown Manhattan, and to serve the vibrant Midtown community, specifically those in need of services. The Justice Center’s court responds creatively to low-level offending, seeking sentences that are restorative to the defendant and community. In addition, the Justice Center works upstream and outside the courtroom through diversion initiatives, street outreach, and community engagement.

The Midtown Community Justice Center is seeking a Temporary Youth Engagement Specialist to lead the Justice Center’s work with young people from Amsterdam Houses and the surrounding community. Reporting to the Community Partnerships Coordinator, the Youth Engagement Specialist will play a key role in both developing and overseeing youth programming at Amsterdam Houses and supporting the Justice Center’s broader community engagement initiatives across the borough of Manhattan. By working with community stakeholders, local leaders, community-based organizations, and the young people themselves, the Youth Engagement Specialist will seek to understand quality of life and public safety challenges for the community then co-lead the Justice Center’s programming built in response to those findings. This role will, among other things, provide tangible support and coaching to the program members, and will support residents, community partners and local city agency representatives through the process of identifying and solving issues that create vulnerabilities in community safety and well-being. The Youth Engagement Specialist will also be principally tasked with supporting the Justice Center’s Youth Advisory Board. The Youth Advisory Board is comprised of a group of young people dedicated to providing feedback and helping inform the Center’s programming to remain responsive to community trends.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Recruit and retain a diverse team of residents from across Amsterdam Houses and the local community to facilitate the implementation of resident-led community-building projects;
• Support the use of data to inform resident-led strategies that promote community safety;
• Facilitate resident and stakeholder planning meetings that support engagement, problem identification, problem-solving, practice and action steps, and memorialize plans in a centralized, digital platform; 
• Promote positive cultural norms around behavioral change to maintain community-led public safety;
• Support the development of a comprehensive engagement plan, with a clear strategy, benchmarks, and outcomes, to create partnerships and gain a solid understanding of key community priorities; 
• Assist with planning, hosting and attending in-person and virtual community meetings and events, including; community based workshops, resource fairs, family days, precinct council meetings, community board meetings, and Tenant Association meetings;  
• Lead the exploration of new community partnerships across a variety of fields, including but not limited to criminal justice, economic development, recreation, arts, and social services;
• Work with Justice Center staff to build out volunteer opportunities for local community members, residents, professionals, and stakeholders;
• Liaise across Center for Justice Innovation projects to coordinate collaborative community engagement initiatives as appropriate;
• Facilitate groups and workshops as necessary;
• Champion ongoing community outreach and communications to raise awareness of residents’ priorities and place-keeping projects;
• Plan, coordinate, and execute place-keeping activities, community events/meetings, and direct-action activities to address and advocate for community needs and concerns;
• Collaborate with other staff and team members to implement systems that support effective project planning and data collection;
• Support in the collection, input, and processing of all necessary documents for resident and volunteer stipends by completing and maintaining stipend agreements, stipend logs, and tracking attendance; 
• Participate in staff meetings, team-building exercises, trainings, and site visits;
• Participate in evening and weekend community meetings, events, and programming, as needed; and
• Perform other relevant duties, including coverage and support, as needed to support the Midtown Community Justice Center and Center for Justice Innovation.

Qualifications: Bachelor's degree or a minimum of 3-4 years’ experience in a related area, preferably community engagement/organizing and/or community development. The candidate should be passionate, skilled, and experienced in working with communities to promote health and safety. Additional qualifications include:

• Experience with young adult social services or youth development programming required;
• Demonstrates success leading logistics, identifying and achieving project goals, quickly, effectively, and successfully in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment; 
• Flexible schedule with the ability to work afternoons and evenings, some weekends required; 
• Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment, create collaborative relationships with colleagues, and work/communicate well with multiple department leaders;
• Superb facilitation skills to identify community issues, needs, feedback, and preferences in a timely manner; 
• Superior project and time management skills, highly organized, detail-oriented and meticulous about quality, accuracy, and timeliness; 
• A dynamic personality with a strong desire to lead and public speaking skills; 
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with governmental and community agencies, non-profit organizations, and community groups; 
• A strong connection, familiarity, and in-depth knowledge and familiarity of Amsterdam Houses;
• Sound ability to work with diverse communities in an empathetic, comfortable and non-judgmental manner; 
• Experience with harm reduction, trauma-informed and anti-oppressive practice required;
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills;
• Knowledge of community-based resources throughout New York City; and
• Experience and commitment to creating, promoting, and maintaining a respectful, inclusive, and anti-racist work environment.

Position Type: Full-time temporary for one year working Monday - Friday from 9:00AM - 5:00PM, with some evening and weekend shifts as needed.

Position Location:  Midtown Manhattan.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $28.57 - $32.91 per hour, annually equivalent to $52,000 - $59,900 based on a 35-hour work week and is commensurate with experience. 

Benefits: The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network after 90 days of employment. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We also 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 is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa. 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.

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.

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