Communications & Policy Associate - Reshaping Prosecution

Do you know what gets us up in the morning? Justice. (We literally have that phrase plastered on our coffee mugs. That's how zealous we are). We envision a society that respects the dignity of every single person, and are fighting to realize this every day. To tackle the most pressing injustices of our day. To explicitly, pointedly and effectively reduce the burdens of the justice system on people of color. To secure equal justice, end mass incarceration, and strengthen families and communities around the country.

Who We Are

The Vera Institute of Justice, founded in 1961, envisions a society that respects the dignity of every person and safeguards justice for everyone. Vera is committed to securing equal justice, ending mass incarceration, and strengthening families and communities.

• We study problems that impede human dignity and justice.
• We pilot solutions that are at once transformative and achievable.
• We engage diverse communities in informed debate.
• We harness the power of evidence to drive effective policy and practice.

We work with others who share our vision to tackle the most pressing injustices of our day—from mass incarceration, racial disparities, and the loss of public trust in law enforcement to the unmet needs of the vulnerable, the marginalized, and those harmed by crime and violence. Vera has offices in New York City, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and New Orleans. Vera is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace—specifically, we value diverse experiences with regard to educational background and justice system contact. We hire employees that reflect our values: respect, independence, collaboration, and commitment. 

Reshaping Prosecution
The Reshaping Prosecution Program is dedicated to transforming what it means to be a prosecutor by focusing on the dignity of all people impacted by the criminal justice system. Prosecutors play a critical, but often hidden, role in mass incarceration as one of the most powerful actors in the criminal justice system. They decide who to charge with a crime, what crime to charge, whether to ask that a person sit in jail pending trial, and what sentence to ask
for upon conviction. Yet, despite this immense power, prosecutors have largely not been the focus of criminal justice reform efforts until recently. Our team helps prosecutors across the country work to end mass incarceration, pursue racial equity, and be more transparent with the communities they serve.

Who You Are

• You have experience with the justice system—either you were yourself in the system, have a family member who is/was in the system, you worked in the system, or you worked to change the system. You are deeply committed to the missions of racial justice and ending mass incarceration. You are knowledgeable about and fluent in discussing and advancing both racial justice and ending mass incarceration.
• You have a knack for storytelling. You're passionate about finding the exact right way to tell a story. You have the ability to articulate complex issues into digestible, interesting, and public-facing narratives. You’re thoughtful about how strategic communications can drive change within an organization and social media savvy. You're comfortable with writing and editing, especially under a time crunch.
• You're organized and never saw a to-do list you didn't love. You're ready to get your hands dirty by drafting documents, articles, and various forms of content; pitching creative communications strategies; and jumping in to help the rest of the Reshaping Prosecution team as needed. You're able to handle multiple projects simultaneously and keep track of tasks and timelines for each project.
• You're just getting started. You have 2-4 years of professional or internship experience in communications, policy, or advocacy, with a strong passion for social justice movements centered around racial equity.

The Role
As Communications & Policy Associate, you will work with the Reshaping Prosecution Program team. You will also routinely collaborate with members of Vera’s Communications Team. You will support the Reshaping Prosecution Program by developing the messaging strategy for our work across several platforms, advising our site partners on strategic internal and external communications, and implementing a long-term communications strategy to advance our mission.

To be successful in this job, you will excel in the following tasks:

• Crafting drafts of written materials related to Reshaping Prosecution’s work, including blog posts, op-eds, memos, email newsletters, talking points, and reports.
• Monitoring news developments and tracking prosecution reform-related news, seeking opportunities to bring the Program’s work to diverse audiences.
• Advising our partner prosecutor’s offices on tools for effective internal communications about policy reforms, working with them to devise strategies for transparent and accountable communications with the communities they serve, and helping them communicate externally about the reforms they are pursuing.
• Building out Vera’s prosecution network, Implementing digital education campaigns and assisting with the production of audiovisual content.

The Nitty-Gritty

• The preferred location for this position is New York City, but candidates in remote locations will receive equal consideration. Please note that our Manhattan office will be relocating to Industry City in Brooklyn, NY this fall.
• Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Here's the best part. When you join our team, you'll find:

• A dedicated team you can bank on. A team of amazing people who have tenacity, who are creative, and most of all, who are scrappy. We want to get the work done. And we will do whatever we need to do to get that work done. Why? Because our work is more important than ever. And we need you to make it happen.
• Solutions-oriented work that is both innovative and fulfilling. We come to work every day feeling a bit restless. From the causes and consequences of mass incarceration to the unmet needs of the vulnerable, the marginalized, immigrant communities, and those harmed by crime and violence, we ask the difficult questions and entertain unconventional answers, so we can reckon with the uncomfortable truths that our work grapples with. Nothing short of this will help us affect the change we want to see.
• A gym membership you can't turn down. Driving meaningful change is hard work. But we also know that you have a life, places to go and people to see. That's why we make it a point to make sure you have work-life balance. Our benefits are pretty sweet, too. We also have an awesome softball team. Just saying.

How To Apply
Please submit cover letter and resume. Cover letters should include your preferred job location. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Online submission in PDF format is preferred. However, if necessary, materials may be mailed or faxed to

ATTN: Human Resources / Reshaping Prosecution Program
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Vera is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status or current employment status.

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.

For more information about Vera please visit www.vera.org