Restorative Justice Programs Coordinator

LOCATION : MCDC Office in Poughkeepsie, NY. Position requires significant local car travel – current driver’s license, insurance, and transportation is a necessary qualification for this position.

FLSA : Full-Time, Non-exempt

SALARY : $27.50 hourly, 35 hours/week

DESIRED START DATE: August 10, 2026

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Mediation Center of Dutchess County, a community dispute resolution center in Poughkeepsie, NY, is seeking a Restorative Justice Program Coordinator (RJPC). This position is full-time (35 hours/week) with the expectation of working Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm. Please note that, on occasion, the Coordinator will need to come in earlier, based on the needs of school partners.

The Restorative Justice Programs Coordinator serves as the crucial link between the general public, community partners, local businesses, public schools, and MCDC staff. The primary focus and day-to-day service of this position will take place in public schools. This means the RJPC must be comfortable and proficient in appropriately communicating with young people and the administrative and/or executive staff of school systems.

The Coordinator will also provide accurate, detailed, and timely administrative support for the Restorative Justice programs’ offerings, including but not limited to outreach, trainings, and public circles. This position supports our community in resolving a variety of disputes through Restorative Practices, mentoring implementation, and direct case work. The RJPC approaches their work with curiosity, listens deeply, and communicates with a high level of professionalism.

This position comes with numerous opportunities for growth within the agency, including training and education in Restorative Practices and other conflict resolution methods, as well as access to additional development opportunities across the NY statewide professional network.

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ABOUT MCDC

We are an established volunteer-driven nonprofit providing alternative dispute resolution services to individuals, families, and groups. Our mediation programs practice exclusively in the Transformative Mediation model. Our Restorative Justice programs offer a relational approach to culture-building and conflict resolution. Special priority is given to working with youth in educational settings, where restorative practices help foster accountability and creative problem-solving, while strengthening community.

We seek team members who demonstrate an aptitude for clear communication, professional integrity, and a willingness to center community voices over individual recognition. Understanding that many qualified candidates may not have direct experience with restorative practices, we place equal value on effective customer service, youth service, and group facilitation. Previous training in Restorative Practices preferred, but training is available based on demonstrated skills and experience. We are mission-driven, not profit-driven; read more at dutchessmediation.org.

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ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Program Duties (60%)

• Regular direct services, including but not limited to in-person engagement with schools and community partners;
• Appropriately communicate and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, including youth, educators, and community-based organizations;
• Lead community outreach, relationship development, and educational efforts related to Restorative Practices and services;
• Facilitating Circles (Tier 1, 2, 3, aka Community, Responsive, Re-entry);
• Assists in coordinating program functions, including, but not limited to, trainings, case management, and outreaches.

Administrative Duties (40%)

• Inputs all required information into databases (case, donor, mailing, etc.) in accordance with program requirements and ensures accuracy on a rolling basis;
• Grant support, including data entry, outcome analysis, and reporting;
• Assist other staff with various projects and other duties in support of the Agency’s Mission, as assigned.

Our Best Candidate

• Has extensive experience working with young people.
• Maintains the highest standards of professionalism and integrity while building relationships with people of varied backgrounds and levels of authority;
• Integrative approach to working authentically and effectively with diverse populations;
• Demonstrates both comfort and discernment in public speaking, with an emphasis on facilitation, dialogue, and amplifying diverse community voices;
• Is bilingual (fluency in Spanish), which is highly desirable;
• Comfortable answering the phone and interacting directly with the public;
• Can draw on a restorative background to apply critical thinking skills in complex and sensitive situations;
• Demonstrates sound judgment in their conduct, decision-making, and problem-solving;
• Demonstrates a polished, professional style of communication internally and externally
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Criminal Justice, Sociology, or related field preferred. Certifications in Restorative Justice Philosophy are most welcome.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), Google Workplace (Sheets, Docs, Gmail, etc.), Adobe Acrobat, Zoom, etc; and
• Current driver’s license, insurance, and transportation are necessary qualifications as significant travel is required throughout the county for service delivery (mileage reimbursement provided).

The Path to Success

While we welcome the unique talents and ambitions of applicants, these are the milestones we expect to see for successful onboarding:

• Within the first month
  • Have a well-developed understanding of the Mediation Center of Dutchess County’s mission, vision and values
  • Immersed in the principles of restorative practices, as engaged at MCDC, including development of a working agreement document
• Within three months
  • Complete IndentiGo background check and fingerprinting for access in schools
  • Facilitating circles (with supervision and support) for students
  • Developed the foundation for trust-based relationships with internal and external stakeholders
  • Have taken ownership of administrative tasks, including accurate recording of programs
• Within six months
  • Have taken the lead on fostering school partnerships, with continued oversight of the Director of Restorative Justice Programs
  • Have prospected and assessed potential collaborators for outreach