Manager of Criminal Justice - Corrections

Application deadline: Jan. 13, 2023

Arnold Ventures is a philanthropy whose core objective is to maximize opportunity and minimize injustice. We are dedicated to tackling some of the most pressing problems in the United States. We invest in sustainable change, building it from the ground up based on research, deep thinking, and a strong foundation of evidence. We drive public conversation, craft policy, and inspire action through education and advocacy.

Position Overview

Arnold Ventures’ Criminal Justice Initiative aims to advance community safety and the values of fairness, effectiveness, and racial justice. The Initiative works with teams of experts from inside and outside government and across disciplines to reform the U.S. criminal justice system through research, evidence, testing innovative pilot programs, and policy change. We fund this innovative work through three teams working on the domains of Corrections, Policing, and Pretrial Justice. 

The Corrections team focuses on prisons, community supervision, fines and fees, and reintegration. Within the prisons portfolio, we aim to increase transparency and accountability of prisons through data and independent oversight, support innovations to improve conditions and reentry, and safely reduce incarceration through sentencing and release policy. In our community supervision portfolio, we aim to promote success and better outcomes for people on probation and parole. Our fines and fees work focuses on ensuring that state and local criminal legal systems do not rely on legal financial obligations as a source of revenue, and that monetary sanctions, when necessary, are imposed and collected equitably. Finally, our reintegration work strives to remove legal barriers to full participation in society for people with criminal records, particularly in the areas of employment and housing. In each of these portfolios, we employ a combination of policy advocacy, research, litigation, and communications.

We are seeking a Manager of Criminal Justice to work on the Corrections team to identify, analyze, develop, and pitch new, high-leverage grants opportunities aligned with our strategies, manage current philanthropic investments, and engage a variety of stakeholders, both internal and external, in research, policy, advocacy, and litigation. This position will be located in our Washington, DC office and report to a Director of Criminal Justice for the Corrections team. 

Core Responsibilities

• In collaboration with Directors on the Corrections team, identify, assess, and develop high-impact investment opportunities and recommendations for funding. 
• Prepare and present proposals to the Criminal Justice Initiative leadership team and Arnold Ventures’ Board of Directors.
• Manage grants and investments, track progress and impact, and draw lessons from these investments to inform strategic priorities and the development of future investments.
• Provide thought partnership to prospective on proposals by advising on the design and structure projects and deliverables and establishing performance metrics 
• Develop and manage relationships with key stakeholders, experts, and new and existing grantees.
• Analyze and draft summaries of relevant legislation, policy and programming to inform strategic priorities, research agendas, and the development of future investments.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 3 to 6 years of relevant work experience (inclusive of graduate work) preferably in positions involving policy, consulting, advocacy, research, or project management with a focus on criminal justice policy.
• Knowledge of and demonstrated interest in policy, research, and legislative developments related to criminal justice.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to summarize and communicate key takeaways to diverse, nontechnical audiences, and present information compellingly.
• Strong ability to analyze policy, research, and related data and information for strategic insights.
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills.

Our Culture and Core Values

Our culture seeks to inspire and empower our people to innovate and develop bold ideas that will help Arnold Ventures achieve lasting impact. Our culture, and the core values that support it, should create an environment that spurs our team to think outside the box, feel comfortable pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and signal confidence in our team’s ability to make change happen through our philanthropic efforts. Although not an exhaustive list, below you’ll find examples of Arnold Ventures’ work culture. 

• We are adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity. 
• We are intellectually curious, open-minded, objective, humble, collegial, and receptive to feedback.
• We are action-oriented with strong self-direction and self-motivation skills with the ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects.
• We are able to interact confidently and collaboratively with team members and navigate relationships with external experts, government leaders, advocates, and individuals impacted by the justice system. 

Arnold Ventures’ values are integral to our lived experience. They genuinely reflect who we are as an organization, help us accelerate our strategic goals, strengthen our resolve, anchor us to our mission, and guide our decision-making. The successful candidate will also demonstrate the following core values that inspire the Arnold Ventures team to make a difference.

• Respect for Ourselves & Others
• Audacious Action
• Collaborative Engagement
• Depth of Thought
• Clear Communication

The salary range for this role will be $100,000 to $130,000 per year.

Arnold Ventures is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, military/​veteran status, or any basis prohibited by applicable law. 

Acknowledging the importance of diverse perspectives, Arnold Ventures is committed to employing individuals from a variety of backgrounds and with a variety of experiences. Members of historically marginalized communities and candidates who have been impacted by the systems we are seeking to change are strongly encouraged to apply.