Project Director

June 16th, 2020
Project Director

Project Director

  • Full Time
  • Senior Level
  • Applications have closed
Job Category: Executive
Location: Brooklyn
Job Sectors: Other
Salary Range:

The Center for Court Innovation is a non-profit organization that works to create a more effective and humane justice system by performing original research and helping launch reforms by guiding justice innovators, nationally and internationally. The Center creates operating projects that have been documented to reduce the use of jail and prison, assist victims of crime, and strengthen communities. 

Neighbors in Action (NIA), formerly known as the Crown Heights Community Mediation Center, provides anti-violence programs, youth programs, and resource links to community residents in the Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhoods of Brooklyn. It’s mission is to encourage communication and understanding, prevent future conflicts, and help foster stronger, healthier neighborhoods. The organization also houses two Cure Violence sites in partnership with the NYC Mayor’s Office: Save Our Streets (S.O.S.) Crown Heights and S.O.S. Bed-Stuy, collectively known as Save Our Streets Brooklyn and the NIA Youth Program. Operating with the overarching goal of enhancing public safety, the Director will promote the five pillars of NIA: Promoting Community Safety, Healing, Aiding Neighbors, Investing in Young People and Placemaking.

NIA is looking for an experienced professional, an innovator committed to building and maintaining community relationships and responding to neighborhood needs and concerns. Reporting to the Director of Anti-Violence Programs and Capacity Building in CCI’s Department of Community Development and Crime Prevention (CDCP), the Director will be responsible for all NIA programming. This will include providing overall leadership as well as support for day-to-day operations while charting new directions. The Director will work with CDCP senior staff to maintain and create and build partnerships, increase funding opportunities and maintain cohesion across the multiple program sites of NIA.


Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

            • Manage all NIA programs and ensure alignment with program vision and funder expectation/requirements;
            • Oversee all aspects of program planning and implementation, especially around Public Safety, utilizing the five pillars of NIA: Promoting Community Safety, Healing, Aiding Neighbors, Investing in Young People and Placemaking;
            • Oversee daily operations, providing executive direction over program strategy, compliance, quality assurance, and program efficiency;
            • Ensure ongoing programmatic excellence, rigorous program evaluation, and consistent quality of all systems including finance and administration, fundraising, and communications;
            • Set and manage all timelines and resources needed to achieve NIA’s strategic goals;
            • Set and meet aggressive annual fundraising goals, in partnership with the CDCP Director, to secure financial support from foundations, corporations, individuals and government funding sources;
            • Discover new funding opportunities and expand fundraising activities to support existing program operations and expansion;
            • Build partnerships in new areas within Central Brooklyn and beyond, establishing relationships with funders, political, and community leaders at potential expansion areas;
            • Retain a diverse, highly qualified staff by providing career coaching, growth, and personal development for workers;
            • Identify and implement staffing requirements for efficient operations, maintaining a strong culture and work climate that attracts and retains quality staff and drives the organization’s mission;
            • Provide overall leadership and supervision for an interdisciplinary team of program staff;
            • Ensure that all NIA departments have appropriate support;
            • Work with CCI’s Communication Department to broaden and refine all aspects of NIA communications, with the goal of creating a stronger NIA presence online, in the field, and in the community;
            • Plan and manage program budgets in collaboration with the CCI Fiscal Department to ensure that funds are spent efficiently and effectively;
            • Ensure that the Center’s CDCP leadership team are kept up to date about progress of projects;
            • Work with Center for Court Innovation’s Training Department as well as with outside resources to make sure that staff are trained in topics such as: social and emotional development, trauma-informed and racially just care, youth development, community organizing, and safety planning;
            • Identify and connect lessons learned and findings from programming and research to increase overall staff knowledge, develop best practices, and inform the ongoing development of new tools, services and resources that advance healing and well-being for marginalized communities;
            • Consult with Senior Leadership of the CDCP team about employee relations issues, human resources concerns, performance related issues, employee training needs;
            • Work in coordination with the leadership team of all NIA sites to uphold shared practices and program;
            • Create systems and protocols that facilitate excellent integrated and holistic practices for all the Neighbors in Action programming;
            • Additional relevant tasks, as necessary.

 Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have an advanced degree in social work, public health, public safety, criminal justice, or a related field and minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience required OR a bachelor’s degree in a related field and minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience required. Commitment to, and experience using, holistic and strengths-based approaches, as well as the ability to work with people from personal and professional diverse backgrounds in a culturally-competent manner. Candidate must be comfortable navigating interdisciplinary settings and must be willing to roll up their sleeves and be actively involved in day-to-day operations. Significant experience in community organizing, partnership building, grant writing and fundraising; experience developing and/or running new and innovative programs and working in a multi-disciplinary and creative setting are required. Able to juggle multiple projects and deadlines at one time. Excellent organizational and analytical skills, and comfort with data-driven analysis and strategic planning. Ability to communicate in a clear and concise manner, both verbally and in writing. Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel required.

Compensation: Salary range starts at $100,000 and is commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits package, including comprehensive health, dental and life insurance, four weeks paid vacation, paid sick time, TransitChek, Flexible Spending Account plans for health and dependent care, a 403(b) retirement plan and a 401(k) retirement plan with a generous employer match.

Center for Court Innovation

  • 520 Eighth Avenue, 18th fl
  • New York, New York 10018
  • United States
  • Phone: 646.386.3100