Associate Director, Design and Construction

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 www.innovatingjustice.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY

• Direct the planning and implementation of design and construction projects, and all related administrative requirements, serving as project manager across successive projects of varying diversity and complexity; working closely with the diverse team members, funders and stakeholders to execute this work;
• Co-develop project management tools with leadership, managing staff, and funders to ensure timely execution of NeighborhoodStat deliverables, including action plans, maintenance plans, communication strategies, and more;
• Plan and execute participatory design modules that help Program Managers guide conversations across resident teams, and co-develop corresponding frameworks, agendas, presentations, and facilitation guides for community engagement;
• Create facilitation tools for resident and stakeholder planning meetings that support human-centered design, project development and management for NSI projects,
• Provide training to staff on project management facilitation tools to ensure comprehension and consistent use across all sites;
• Collaborate with leadership, managers, and funders to design built-environment (placemaking) projects reflecting stakeholder priorities, including project site plans, renderings, and drawings to support community decision-making and action plan scope submission/approval;
• Support action plan scope development, submission, review, and approval;
• Identify designers, vendors, and related industry professionals to advance action plans, direct action, or capacity-building objectives;
• Support Program Managers in securing vendors, coordinating planning and logistics, reviewing work, and ensuring delivery of milestones;
• Oversee the duties and responsibilities of outside design consultants and fabrication vendors to deliver high-quality placekeeping projects;
• Work with leadership, funders, and Program Managers to ground community priorities within available action plan budgets;
• Participate in stakeholder meetings, site visits, and events as needed;
• Liaise with funders and government partners to communicate project progress and build partnerships advancing project goals;
• Represent the Center and NSI at community meetings, events, and public forums as needed.

• Directly supervise a Designer, overseeing their duties and responsibilities across branding campaigns, social media marketing, communications materials, and design production, and providing performance management, feedback, and professional development support;
• Work with leadership and key design and communications staff to identify NSI's communications goals and design a comprehensive communications strategy — including branding campaigns, external campaigns, and press strategies — that advances those goals; design evaluation metrics to track the strategy's outcomes;
• Guide the Designer in producing multi-platform communications and branding materials (digital content for social media, printed collateral, interactive dashboards, etc.) in support of outreach around participatory design, action plan engagement, direct action campaigns, and events;
• Oversee the external and internal editorial calendar for design, production, and campaign execution across NSTAT processes, including action plan projects, trainings, branding campaigns, local initiatives, and participatory design;
• Direct the Designer in developing internal communications guides, templates, outreach materials, and presentation materials;
• Set clear branding and design guidelines for the Initiative and lead branding campaign development in collaboration with leadership, funders, and the Designer.

• Collaborate with other NSI staff and team members to implement systems that support effective project planning and data collection;
• Co-create key performance indicators with key Center staff and Communications and Design Coordinator for each communications channel which will indicate a campaign's level of success
• Oversee the workflow of press releases and media strategy;
• Work with the Project Director, Deputy Director, to hire a new Communications and Design Coordinator and onboard the new staff member;
• Work with the Project Director, Deputy Director, and key staff to design a geospatial analysis (GIS) to track the initiatives impact and create meaningful and compelling visuals;
• Attend meetings with research and evaluation partners to support data collection, inform research frameworks and provide regular and timely project updates;

• Work and communicate closely with the Project Director, key Center staff, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice to support and advance all project tasks and timelines;
• Work with the Project Director, Deputy Director, Operations Manager, and Planners to ensure projects are executed within budget;
• Maintain project management and design files on a shared drive;
• Work with Communications and Design Coordinator and key Center staff to create a CMR (Contact Management System) to organize NSI’s partners and potential collaborators;
• Other duties, as necessary.

• The candidate will have a Master’s degree with 5 years of architecture, urban planning, or design and communications experience;
• Must have design skills and expertise using Adobe Creative Cloud including programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign;
• Excellent communication skills required;
• Have the ability to learn new tools and do self-guided work within a fast-paced environment;
• Proficient in Microsoft programs ;
• Some levels of experience in community engagement and creativity in developing new ways to reach the public;
• Dedication and commitment to social justice issues with an equity lens;
• Knowledge of, or a willingness to learn about accessibility in marketing materials and design;
• A strong work ethic and passion for collaborating with others;
• Ability to work well with diverse groups of people;
• Candidate must be highly organized and detail-oriented;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to interface effectively with all levels of management and must work and communicate effectively with both internal and external stakeholders;
• Demonstrated capacity to identify and achieve project goals quickly, effectively, and successfully in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment;
• Have the ability to learn new tools and do self-guided work within a fast-paced environment;
• Experience in AutoCAD, SketchUp and/or GIS is a plus;
• A strong work ethic and passion for collaborating with others;
• Ability to travel locally across all five boroughs as needed;
• Bi-lingual (English/Spanish) preferred but not required;
• Available to work nights and weekends as needed; and;
• Driver’s License preferred but not required.

Position Type: Full time, from Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM, working some evening and weekend hours with possible holidays as needed.

Position Location: Manhattan, New York

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $70,500 - $92,200 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.