[URBANTH-L]job posting Vera Institute of Justice

[Nina F Siulc]

Please post. 

Director of Research
Vera Institute of Justice 
New York, New York

The Vera Institute of Justice, a nonprofit organization founded in 
1961, is dedicated to improving the services and processes the public 
relies on for safety and justice. Widely recognized for the central 
role research has played in the Institute’s work since its inception, 
Vera conducts research and evaluation of key systemic and emerging 
justice issues as well as current policy and programmatic responses to 
those problems.  High quality, timely research is important to the 
Institute’s mission to develop, operate and study affordable programs 
and policies and to communicate that knowledge to constituents 
positioned to use it effectively. Located in the Woolworth Building 
across from City Hall in Manhattan, and with New York City as its 
research and programmatic base, the Institute also works extensively 
at the national and international level, providing assistance to 
local, state, federal, and international public officials and to 
policy, community and nonprofit leaders to advance justice and 
safety.  In the next three to five years, Vera’s work will emphasize 
sentencing and corrections, youth justice, immigrants and the justice 
system, child welfare and domestic violence.

Director of Research: The Vera Institute seeks an experienced, senior 
researcher to serve as its Director of Research.  This position 
reports directly to the Director of the Institute.  The Research 
Director develops the Institute’s research program; oversees its 
research portfolio and the development of research funding 
applications; deploys, manages and supervises all research staff, and 
is responsible for overseeing all research designs and products. The 
Research Director position is supported by a full-time Administrative 
Director.

Some research staff in the Institute are located in subject matter 
centers, conducting research in close collaboration with experienced 
Vera planning, technical assistance and program staff on specific 
projects, and developing new initiatives in these substantive areas.  
Research staff also work outside subject matter centers on research 
and development in other areas of interest, including, for example, 
substance abuse and mental health.  Overall coordination of Vera’s 
research with the programmatic work of the Institute is the 
responsibility of the Research Director and the Institute’s Chief 
Program Officer who also reports to the Vera Director.

Qualifications: Candidates are required to have a PhD in a relevant 
field of research, substantive expertise in several areas in which the 
Institute is working, and familiarity with justice and criminal 
justice issues generally.  This expertise should be reflected in a 
candidate’s record of scholarship and publications in peer-reviewed 
journals.  Equally as important, a candidate’s background should 
exhibit an enthusiasm for intellectual exchange with practitioners, 
public officials, and policy planners seeking practical reforms as 
well as with other scholars and researchers. Candidates should be able 
to maintain a non-partisan and effective collaboration with public 
officials, community groups, funders, and government officials.

Candidates should have demonstrated skills leading, developing, and 
managing social science research; an ability to sustain a diverse and 
respectful work environment; experience managing research and 
organizational budgets, and a record of successful competition for and 
fulfillment of government and philanthropic research grants and 
contracts.  Excellent oral and written communication skills are 
important as is an ability to adapt scientific materials for policy 
and general audiences.  

Salary: Highly competitive; excellent benefits.
 
Availability:  Immediate

Contact:  Send curriculum vitae, cover letter and salary requirements 
to:

                        Sally T. Hillsman, PhD, Chair, Search Committee

                        Vera Institute of Justice

                        233 Broadway, 12th floor

                        New York, NY 10279

                        Fax: 212-941-9407

                        Email: job.res.director at vera.org

The Vera Institute of Justice values diversity and is an equal 
opportunity employer.

www.vera.org

02/06

Nina Siulc
Senior Research Associate
Immigration and Justice Program
Vera Institute of Justice
233 Broadway, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10279
(212) 376-3130
nsiulc at vera.org
www.vera.org