Director, Youth & Community Initiatives

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

The Bronx Community Justice Center (BxCJC), one of the Center's newest projects, works to create a safer, more equitable Bronx through community-driven safety initiatives, violence prevention, youth opportunity, and economic development efforts.

The Bronx Community Justice Center is seeking a Director for Youth Community Initiatives. Reporting to the Project Director of Bronx Community Justice Center, the Director will manage all aspects of the planning and implementation of the Bronx Community Justice Center's youth and community initiatives including alternative to incarceration, interest-based, workforce development, economic mobility, placekeeping and community organizing initiatives.  

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead the strategic development, planning and implementation of all youth and community initiatives and economic mobility strategies; 
• Develop and maintain relationships with community leaders, businesses, youth serving organizations, and youth advocacy groups;
• Develop and maintain relationships with funders, government officials, and stakeholders;
• Lead a portfolio of youth initiatives including alternative to incarceration, interest-based, and arts-based programs; 
• Lead an interdisciplinary team of social workers, youth advocates, community organizers and programs managers; 
• Develop and implement a youth leadership strategy to center youth voice in the development of new programs and initiatives and create scaffolded leadership opportunities; 
• Develop and support a workforce development strategy focused on building training programs, career pipelines, and non-traditional employment pathways; 
• Support a team of social workers providing individual and group clinical supervision and support; 
• Work with local and city-wide stakeholders to build workforce development and mobility out of poverty strategies;
• Develop a comprehensive youth entrepreneurship initiative; 
• Develop and maintain a Bronx-based entrepreneurship advisory board; 
• Manage existing relationships with the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, and criminal legal stakeholders and develop new relationships;
• Ensure staff are providing the highest quality individual support, advocacy, education, training, internship, and employment services for program participants;
• Model and facilitate creative problem solving, facilitation, community and youth organizing practices; 
• Prepare grant progress reports and other program reports, as needed;
• Manage Youth Initiatives budgets; 
• Organize and participate in regular reviews with Center staff about program progress;
• Actively build a work culture centering anti-oppressive and anti-racist practice, community centered practice, and innovation; and
• Other relevant tasks, as needed.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree required, with a minimum of 7–8 years of progressively responsible experience in innovative community-based youth-serving organizations or equivalent experience, including at least 1–2 years in a supervisory or leadership capacity. A Master’s degree is preferred. Additional qualifications include:

• Demonstrated experience supervising multiple staff members and teams simultaneously, strongly preferred;
• A strong connection and commitment to the South Bronx;
• Significant experience in leadership roles with youth programs preferred;
• Experience in strategic planning, project facilitation and management, and youth organizing; 
• Experience working with youth impacted by criminal legal systems and/or community violence; 
• An understanding of the challenges and strengths of the South Bronx;
• Extensive experience developing and overseeing programs with multiple priorities;
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills with experience leading diverse teams;
• Experience fundraising and grant writing; 
• Exceptional ability to communicate with and guide internal and external teams;
• Highly organized, responsible, innovative, and flexible;
• Excellent attention to detail and communication skills;
• Ability to do both immediate “nuts and bolts” thinking and long-term strategic planning, often simultaneously;
• Ability to effectively communicate in a transparent and direct manner;
• Experience with coaching and managing staff and developing teams;
• Demonstrated experience in setting and achieving strategic objectives;
• Commitment to anti-racist, anti-oppressive practices. 

Position Type: Full-time, from Monday - Friday, 10:00am - 6:00pm, working some evening/weekend hours as needed.

Position Location:  Bronx, NY

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $87,550 - $113,300 and is commensurate with experience. 

Benefits: 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 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.