Title: State Juvenile Manager, Public Safety Performance Project
Organization: Pew Charitable Trusts
Location: Washington D.C.
Description:
Pew Center on the States
The Pew Center on the States (PCS), an internal operating division of The Pew Charitable Trusts, identifies and advances effective policy approaches to critical issues facing states. It researches emerging topics, develops 50-state comparisons, and highlights innovative approaches among states to complex problems. When the facts are clear, PCS advocates for nonpartisan, pragmatic solutions.
PCS makes use of the basic tools required to help states explore and advance effective policies, regardless of the issue: credible, timely, and user-friendly research; assessments of public support for change; strategic outreach and dissemination to ensure that good information is widely communicated to state decision-makers, media, influential stakeholders, and the public; the capacity to bring together diverse perspectives and find common ground; and the ability to identify approaches that have proven successful elsewhere.
PCS staff have expertise in research, communications, and coalition building; those engaged in issue-specific projects have deep substantive expertise.
Project Description
The Public Safety Performance Project (PSPP) was launched in 2006 as an initiative of the Pew Center on the States. The project helps states advance fiscally sound, data-driven policies and practices in sentencing and corrections that protect public safety, hold offenders accountable and control costs. In 2012, PSPP will expand its portfolio to include work in the juvenile corrections system. For more information about this project, visit www.pewpublicsafety.org.
Position Overview
The Trusts is seeking to hire a project manager to oversee the Public Safety Performance Project’s assistance to states interested in improving their juvenile corrections systems. The project manager will be expected to contribute at multiple levels, taking lead responsibility for designing and implementing state juvenile corrections reform strategies, managing staff, and supporting the entire spectrum of activity under the project, including research, communications, and national initiatives. The project manager is a newly created position based in Washington, D.C. and reports to the PSPP State Director.
Responsibilities
• Conduct state assessments and manage the strategic selection of states to receive juvenile corrections reform assistance from the project.
• Conduct and coordinate the project’s state juvenile corrections assistance efforts, ensuring high-quality data analysis, development of evidence-based policy options, and effective policymaker and stakeholder education of proposed policies and practices.
• In conjunction with the PSPP research team, ensure the timely and accurate collection and analysis of state juvenile justice data to inform the project’s assistance efforts.
• Identify strategic in-state partners, and develop and manage partner contracts related to state juvenile corrections assistance.
• Develop relationships with respected policymakers in the field and seek out potential partnerships to advance the project’s agenda and expertise.
• Manage the project’s state juvenile corrections staff, fostering team cohesion and providing opportunities for skill building and professional advancement.
• Assist with identifying and securing operating and funding partners to support the project’s work.
• Ensure strict compliance with all federal, state and local lobbying and ethics laws.
• Proactively and closely coordinate activities with relevant external and internal partners, including the Pew Results First initiative.
• Contribute to and participate in tasks of the project and the Pew Center on the States as assigned, as well as broader Pew-related projects and activities as needed.
Requirements
• At least eight years experience in the public policy arena, with a working knowledge of juvenile adjudication, placement and programmatic issues. A masters or other advanced degree in a relevant area preferred.
• Experience convening groups of policymakers, practitioners, stakeholders, researchers and other constituencies, and supporting their efforts to develop consensus and move toward a desired outcome. Acute political awareness and non-partisan perspective and approach.
• Experience working with complex policy and political issues, and developing sophisticated communications and government relations strategies.
• Demonstrated strong analytical skills applied to public policy issues, including an ability to synthesize and summarize large amounts of information and to focus quickly on the essence of an issue.
• Ability to communicate ideas, thoughts and concepts clearly and concisely and in a compelling way, both in writing and orally. A clear, effective writing and presentation style.
• Demonstrated time and project management skills, including an ability to meet multiple deadlines by maintaining a high level of organization. Ability to think strategically and creatively, adjust to changing circumstances, organize time, remain attentive to details, and identify resources for projects. Ability to establish a systematic course of action to ensure project completion.
Travel
Approximately two times per month (on average) to attend meetings and conferences.
Compensation
We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits package, including a generous 401(k) plan, four weeks of vacation, and flexible benefit options.
How to Apply
For application instructions, candidates are invited to visit the Careers@Pew page on our Web site at www.pewtrusts.org.