Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth
Research & Implementation Counsel
Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, Washington, District of Columbia, us, 20022
Overview
The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth is hiring a Research & Implementation Counsel! Founded in 2009, CFSY advocates to ban life without parole for children in the United States, and create opportunities for those directly impacted by extreme sentencing to thrive and lead. The Research & Implementation Counsel is integral to the work of the organization, leading research projects and coordinating implementation efforts. This position will be supervised by the National Legal & Policy Director. Primary Responsibilities
Maintain subject matter expertise and serve as internal and external expert on judicial, legislative, and regulatory trends in extreme sentencing of youth; Design and manage the organization’s information tracking strategy in alignment with organizational priorities and external impact goals, such as identifying key indicators demonstrating shifts in parole policies and release rates, synthesizing state-specific and federal litigation developments, and developing systems to monitor trends in extreme sentencing; Lead organization in developing and drafting strategic publications, including reports, factsheets, articles, amicus briefs, and strategic communications that support litigation, advocacy, and public education; Lead collaboration with research institutions and academics, including managing joint research projects and ensuring alignment with CFSY’s mission and implementation strategies; Lead organization in development of new tools and resources for key system stakeholders—including litigators, parole board members, judges, and advocates—grounded in data, legal analysis, and lived experience; Develop and maintain relationships with attorneys across the country, including public defenders, private defense attorneys, and pro bono attorneys, offering legal and strategic support; In partnership and collaboration with the Movement Building department, communicate and share information with loved ones of people serving lengthy sentences as youth; In collaboration with Communications department, communicate with reporters and media outlets as a subject matter expert on extreme sentencing of youth; Convene and facilitate strategy calls with state and national partners, litigators, and other stakeholders as needed; Participate in recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and supervision of team members, including fellows and interns; Perform other duties as assigned. Preferred Qualifications
Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree (or equivalent) very strongly preferred (although a Ph.D or master’s degree in law, public policy, or related field may be considered); Commitment to criminal and youth justice issues, particularly reform to harsh youth sentencing practices in the United States, racial discrimination in the youth justice system, and/or human rights in the United States; Experience with legal research platforms (e.g., Westlaw, LexisNexis, PACER); Experience using data management and visualization tools (e.g., Excel, Airtable, Tableau, Power BI, etc.); Experience writing reports, law review articles, and journal articles; Comfort navigating case tracking systems and aggregating data from litigation, policy developments, and reentry sources; Experience in academia and/or collaborating with academic researchers; Demonstrated ability to think creatively and explore new and innovative solutions to problems; Exceptional communications skills, including the ability to clearly explain law, research, data, and policy to a wide variety of audiences verbally and in writing, both for use internally and in communicating with external partners and stakeholders; Excellent written communications skills and attention to detail in writing, including strong editorial skills, with experience refining research, policy, and/or advocacy documents to be publication ready; Ability to represent CFSY professionally with external stakeholders, including in person, in virtual spaces, and in written spaces; Self-guided and self-motivated, with the ability to identify new and emerging policy issues and potential solutions without guidance; Experience in managing staff, including day-to-day assistance with project prioritization, review, and implementation, and a welcoming and inclusive attitude; Demonstrated ability to be innovative and strategic in identifying target audiences and reaching them in creative and persuasive ways; Demonstrated ability to design a forward-facing research agenda, with vision towards future reforms; Demonstrated successful participation in organizations and/or movements that are led by the people most directly impacted by the issue being advocated for; Ability to work collaboratively across interdisciplinary teams to unite towards a common goal; Well-developed organizational skills; Maturity and reliability; and Strong communication, interpersonal, and listening skills. Values and Traits
Strong interest in criminal legal reform, particularly ending harsh youth sentencing practices, racial discrimination, and human rights abuses in the United States; Belief that our society has failed the children impacted by life without parole and other extreme sentences, and that we all have a responsibility to create avenues for their restoration and that of our entire community; Belief in the inherent good, dignity, and humanity of all people regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, class, education level, zip code and more; and belief that every one of us is more than the worst things we’ve done or experienced; A willingness to learn; Flexible and willing and able to adapt to the evolving nature of CFSY’s work; Constructive and optimistic; confronts problems with the expectation that a solution exists; and Prioritizes self-care. Location and Travel
The CFSY’s headquarters are in Washington, DC, with many staff working remotely throughout the country. Candidates from the metro-DC region are strongly encouraged, but all qualified candidates will be seriously considered. The Research and Implementation Counsel can work remotely, and is expected to travel approximately 2-3 times a year for conferences. Staff are expected to participate in in-person, all-staff gatherings approximately 3-4 times per year, which are frequently hosted in Washington, DC, but may require travel to other locations. In accordance with CFSY internal policies, all required home-office technology, equipment and supplies, and all business related travel is paid for by the CFSY. Physical Environment and Equipment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone; Specific vision abilities include close vision requirements due to computer work; Ability to effectively use a telephone, including mobile phone; computer (with Microsoft and Google applications); keyboard; and video conferencing; Ability to travel to a variety of locations in the continental United States via plane, train, and/or car. Compensation, Benefits, and Culture
The annual salary for this position is commensurate with experience and starts at $80,000. This position is regular, full-time, and exempt. The CFSY believes in and actively practices meaningful connection to individuals directly impacted by extreme prison sentences. We work in deep partnership with people currently in prison, those who have been released, and their family and social networks. All staff at the CFSY, regardless of role and position, engage in this connection and are regularly proximate to those directly impacted by the work we do. To apply
Email a letter of interest, resume, a brief writing sample (3-5 pages), and three references (contact information only, recommendation letters are not necessary) in
one PDF file
to jobs@cfsy.org. Use “Research Implementation Counsel-Last Name” as the subject of your email and as the file name for your PDF. For tax purposes, please list the address you will be working from on your resume.
Only complete applications sending all application materials in one PDF file will be reviewed. We will offer interviews based on application strength, including demonstrated interest, skills, and work experience. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The CFSY is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. People of color, individuals with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and those with personal experience in the criminal legal system are strongly encouraged to apply. Closing
If you don’t meet every qualification listed but are excited about our mission and the work described, we encourage you to apply. CFSY is most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and you may be just the right person for this or other roles.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth is hiring a Research & Implementation Counsel! Founded in 2009, CFSY advocates to ban life without parole for children in the United States, and create opportunities for those directly impacted by extreme sentencing to thrive and lead. The Research & Implementation Counsel is integral to the work of the organization, leading research projects and coordinating implementation efforts. This position will be supervised by the National Legal & Policy Director. Primary Responsibilities
Maintain subject matter expertise and serve as internal and external expert on judicial, legislative, and regulatory trends in extreme sentencing of youth; Design and manage the organization’s information tracking strategy in alignment with organizational priorities and external impact goals, such as identifying key indicators demonstrating shifts in parole policies and release rates, synthesizing state-specific and federal litigation developments, and developing systems to monitor trends in extreme sentencing; Lead organization in developing and drafting strategic publications, including reports, factsheets, articles, amicus briefs, and strategic communications that support litigation, advocacy, and public education; Lead collaboration with research institutions and academics, including managing joint research projects and ensuring alignment with CFSY’s mission and implementation strategies; Lead organization in development of new tools and resources for key system stakeholders—including litigators, parole board members, judges, and advocates—grounded in data, legal analysis, and lived experience; Develop and maintain relationships with attorneys across the country, including public defenders, private defense attorneys, and pro bono attorneys, offering legal and strategic support; In partnership and collaboration with the Movement Building department, communicate and share information with loved ones of people serving lengthy sentences as youth; In collaboration with Communications department, communicate with reporters and media outlets as a subject matter expert on extreme sentencing of youth; Convene and facilitate strategy calls with state and national partners, litigators, and other stakeholders as needed; Participate in recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and supervision of team members, including fellows and interns; Perform other duties as assigned. Preferred Qualifications
Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree (or equivalent) very strongly preferred (although a Ph.D or master’s degree in law, public policy, or related field may be considered); Commitment to criminal and youth justice issues, particularly reform to harsh youth sentencing practices in the United States, racial discrimination in the youth justice system, and/or human rights in the United States; Experience with legal research platforms (e.g., Westlaw, LexisNexis, PACER); Experience using data management and visualization tools (e.g., Excel, Airtable, Tableau, Power BI, etc.); Experience writing reports, law review articles, and journal articles; Comfort navigating case tracking systems and aggregating data from litigation, policy developments, and reentry sources; Experience in academia and/or collaborating with academic researchers; Demonstrated ability to think creatively and explore new and innovative solutions to problems; Exceptional communications skills, including the ability to clearly explain law, research, data, and policy to a wide variety of audiences verbally and in writing, both for use internally and in communicating with external partners and stakeholders; Excellent written communications skills and attention to detail in writing, including strong editorial skills, with experience refining research, policy, and/or advocacy documents to be publication ready; Ability to represent CFSY professionally with external stakeholders, including in person, in virtual spaces, and in written spaces; Self-guided and self-motivated, with the ability to identify new and emerging policy issues and potential solutions without guidance; Experience in managing staff, including day-to-day assistance with project prioritization, review, and implementation, and a welcoming and inclusive attitude; Demonstrated ability to be innovative and strategic in identifying target audiences and reaching them in creative and persuasive ways; Demonstrated ability to design a forward-facing research agenda, with vision towards future reforms; Demonstrated successful participation in organizations and/or movements that are led by the people most directly impacted by the issue being advocated for; Ability to work collaboratively across interdisciplinary teams to unite towards a common goal; Well-developed organizational skills; Maturity and reliability; and Strong communication, interpersonal, and listening skills. Values and Traits
Strong interest in criminal legal reform, particularly ending harsh youth sentencing practices, racial discrimination, and human rights abuses in the United States; Belief that our society has failed the children impacted by life without parole and other extreme sentences, and that we all have a responsibility to create avenues for their restoration and that of our entire community; Belief in the inherent good, dignity, and humanity of all people regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, class, education level, zip code and more; and belief that every one of us is more than the worst things we’ve done or experienced; A willingness to learn; Flexible and willing and able to adapt to the evolving nature of CFSY’s work; Constructive and optimistic; confronts problems with the expectation that a solution exists; and Prioritizes self-care. Location and Travel
The CFSY’s headquarters are in Washington, DC, with many staff working remotely throughout the country. Candidates from the metro-DC region are strongly encouraged, but all qualified candidates will be seriously considered. The Research and Implementation Counsel can work remotely, and is expected to travel approximately 2-3 times a year for conferences. Staff are expected to participate in in-person, all-staff gatherings approximately 3-4 times per year, which are frequently hosted in Washington, DC, but may require travel to other locations. In accordance with CFSY internal policies, all required home-office technology, equipment and supplies, and all business related travel is paid for by the CFSY. Physical Environment and Equipment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone; Specific vision abilities include close vision requirements due to computer work; Ability to effectively use a telephone, including mobile phone; computer (with Microsoft and Google applications); keyboard; and video conferencing; Ability to travel to a variety of locations in the continental United States via plane, train, and/or car. Compensation, Benefits, and Culture
The annual salary for this position is commensurate with experience and starts at $80,000. This position is regular, full-time, and exempt. The CFSY believes in and actively practices meaningful connection to individuals directly impacted by extreme prison sentences. We work in deep partnership with people currently in prison, those who have been released, and their family and social networks. All staff at the CFSY, regardless of role and position, engage in this connection and are regularly proximate to those directly impacted by the work we do. To apply
Email a letter of interest, resume, a brief writing sample (3-5 pages), and three references (contact information only, recommendation letters are not necessary) in
one PDF file
to jobs@cfsy.org. Use “Research Implementation Counsel-Last Name” as the subject of your email and as the file name for your PDF. For tax purposes, please list the address you will be working from on your resume.
Only complete applications sending all application materials in one PDF file will be reviewed. We will offer interviews based on application strength, including demonstrated interest, skills, and work experience. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The CFSY is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. People of color, individuals with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and those with personal experience in the criminal legal system are strongly encouraged to apply. Closing
If you don’t meet every qualification listed but are excited about our mission and the work described, we encourage you to apply. CFSY is most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and you may be just the right person for this or other roles.
#J-18808-Ljbffr