City Jobs

Policy Advisor- OCJC

Description

The Juvenile Justice Policy Advisor will support the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Coordination (OCJC). The OCJC fosters system-wide communication and evidence-based policymaking to promote an accountable, coordinated, equitable, efficient, and effective criminal and juvenile justice system.

The Juvenile Justice Policy Advisor is charged with providing support to ensure the effectiveness and coordination of juvenile justice services; connecting stakeholders; and leveraging resources to support the systemic improvement of the juvenile justice system to foster safe and flourishing communities. They will act as a high-level policy expert and problem solver, addressing administrative and procedural barriers to equitably and effectively service young people impacted by the juvenile justice system. The Policy Advisor will coordinate efforts to build and strengthen partnerships with the juvenile justice system agencies and community partners to:

  • Facilitate the allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding dedicated to support juvenile justice infrastructure and create a plan to sustain investments;
  • Convene regular meetings of community, nonprofit provider, and system stakeholders, while collaborating with stakeholders to leverage existing coordinating bodies, for data review and development of strategies for system improvement;
  • Coordinate collective training and technical assistance opportunities for local providers, as well as improve the collective capacity building for data and outcome tracking;
  • Address systemic barriers to accessing services through collective engagement for youth and their families.

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with stakeholders to develop systemic improvement plans through identifying reoccurring issues, bottlenecks, and duplicative efforts and providing research on evidence-based best practices to safely reduce the reliance on youth detention and incarceration.
  • Provide recommendations for programmatic or operational improvements to the juvenile justice system.
  • Review juvenile justice social science research literature, statutes, and case law.
  • Consult with internal and external experts to generate innovative solutions and assess their feasibility.
  • Find and distribute information on evidence-based or best practices, published statistical reports, and locally generated analyses.
  • Develop clear and appropriate project plans for juvenile justice programs. • Establish information management systems to collect, analyze, and evaluate data.
  • Manage and maintain strong working relationships with a broad set of stakeholders, including city, parish, state, and federal law enforcement partners; community-based organizations; and social service providers.
  • Communicate progress to all relevant stakeholders, both in written and oral forms.
  • Facilitate community engagement initiatives to incorporate youth voice into program design and implementation.
  • Perform any other duties necessary to advocate for young people and advance the mission and vision of the Office of Criminal Justice Coordination.

Qualifications

  • Characteristics of successful candidates for the Juvenile Justice Policy Advisor position include demonstrated: Track record of thinking independently, rationally, analytically, and critically;
  • Proven ability to deliver results in a high-pressure environment with multiple workstreams;
  • Track record of success in coordinating complex communications and interactions among multiple stakeholders;
  • Ability to tactfully manage the concerns of policymakers who sometimes have competing priorities;
  • Systemic perspective of the juvenile justice system within the context of structural well-being;
  • Ability to research potential solutions to urban policy issues and analyze their implications;
  • Ability to clearly and concisely communicate complex ideas orally and in writing; • Solicit and supervise the work of outside contractors for special projects or activities, when needed;
  • Combine new information and data with existing information and data to inform recommendations for future actions;
  • Understanding of the purpose, structure, and funding sources of government agencies at the municipal, parish, and state levels;
  • Demonstrated understanding of racial justice principles and approaches; • Understanding of evidence-based practices in prevention and intervention of violence, criminal behavior, mental health and substance use;
  • Computer literacy, including knowledge of basic software applications for data analytics and visualizations;
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, including knowledge of trauma-informed approaches, keen judgment, and empathy;
  • Ability to work independently and as a member of a team

Education

Qualified applicants should have a bachelor’s or other post-baccalaureate degree in a relevant field, such as social or behavioral science, law, criminal justice, public administration, public policy, or political science, and at least 4 years of related experience. A master’s degree may be substituted for 2 years of experience.

How To Apply

To apply for this position, email a resume and brief cover letter with Juvenile Justice Policy Advisor in the subject line to: Kate Hoadley at kate.hoadley@nola.gov.

 

The City of New Orleans is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, nation origin, gender, race, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, creed, culture, or ancestry.