Associate Director of Research, Vera California

About the team: Vera California aims to advance policies and funding to reduce incarceration and support the community-based systems of care that promote safety and wellness in California. We use data and policy analysis to drive concrete change and center racial equity (e.g., sharing data analysis with state legislators on the potential impacts of criminal justice bills). We bring expertise on best practices from around the country to local conversations in California. We collaborate with government leaders and community partners on policy development and implementation, working together toward a new vision of safety, wellness, and racial justice for all Californians.   Our work covers diverse criminal justice reform issues in California. It includes developing policy recommendations around county-level jail incarceration processes; pretrial and bail reform issues; state and local budgetary processes; and general public safety debates in Los Angeles and statewide.  About the role: The Associate Director of Research is a manager-level role that reports to the Initiative Director with a “dotted line” to the Institute’s Managing Director of Research. In this role, the Associate Director of Research leads all aspects of the team’s research portfolio, including designing research plans, directing the team’s research activities, collaborating with other Vera California leadership (the director and associate director) on overall strategy, and overseeing staff working across a range of methods and projects. As the leader of a small research team, they are expected to engage directly in the research and represent California’s research portfolio externally.    Associate Directors of Research at the Vera Institute of Justice bring experience managing research projects and teams, advanced methodological skills, and strength in leveraging research and evidence in support of policy and advocacy solutions. We are seeking someone for the California team who brings understanding of relevant administrative datasets and has fluency in advocacy and communications strategies in support of big goals.   1. Research Leadership  Develop, manage, and oversee all aspects of Vera California research, coordinating with the initiative director to ensure alignment with Vera California priorities and timelines, the managing director of research on methodological approaches, and other Vera teams on overlapping content areas  Supervise, support, and mentor Vera California research staff, and lead research hiring or recruitment as needed  Support the whole Vera California team in ensuring appropriate deployment of data and evidence in support of its solutions  Work with Vera California director and associate director as a management team on annual planning, program development, staffing plans, and fundraising  Serve as ...