WHO WE ARE:

The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. For more information, visit vera.org.
Vera has a staff of 230 people, is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York and has offices in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and New Orleans. We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace. We expect our staff to embody respect, independence, collaboration, commitment, anti-racism, and equity—both in our outward-facing work and the internal culture of our workplace. We value a range of experiences in people’s educational backgrounds and encourage people who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system to apply.

WHAT QUALIFICATIONS ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Typically, an SRA will have 6+ years research experience. This may include academic training in a post-graduate setting, and/or experience conducting applied research outside of academia. Many Vera researchers have a Ph.D. or other post-graduate qualification, but applicants who have gained research experience in other settings are encouraged to apply. Senior associates have strong research / data science skills and emerging leadership and project management skills.
Preferred: Experience and/or training in the disciplines of economics, sociology, public health, demography.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES YOU’LL BRING:

• Demonstrated experience on research projects related to inequality, criminal legal system, or immigration system
• Experience conducting research and managing staff within an equity framework
• Track-record designing and conducting rigorous research
• Applied experience with descriptive analysis and statistical modeling, including familiarity with a range of multivariate methods
• Writing and editing experience related to justice and equity issues
• Excellent communication skills
• Demonstrated technical experience in programming and/or statistical analysis (Python or R preferred)
• Experience using shared, reproducible code with version control (github)
• Microsoft Office Suite or similar software

ABOUT THE ROLE:

Vera is seeking a Senior Research Associate to join a multidisciplinary project on the economic impacts of incarceration. The SRA will work as part of a team focused on compiling and deploying national datasets to describe the relationship between incarceration in the United States and the economic wellbeing of communities. This role is for a fixed, 15-month term. This position would suit an experienced researcher with an interest in using primarily quantitative methods to address applied, policy-related research questions.
The SRA will work as part of a team producing research on the economic impacts of mass incarceration in the United States. They will partner with Vera researchers, data scientists and communications staff to identify research questions, and conduct analysis that leverages IIPs national dataset with a focus on real-world impact. The SRA will be involved with all stages of the research, from developing research designs, conducting analysis, writing, and presenting findings; with a primary focus on research design, analysis, and reporting. This position would suit researchers with a background in economics, demography, sociology, or a related social science. Applicants with applied research experience/non-academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply, as are candidates with direct experience of criminal legal system involvement.
The position reports to the IIP Project Director.