Assistant Director of Violence Prevention

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

The Community Safety Department (CSD) was established to provide a non-police alternative response that prioritizes issues of mental and behavioral health. CSD’s Community Assistance Response and Engagement (CARE) Team responds to 9-1-1 calls related to non-violent behavioral health issues such as wellness checks, mental health crisis response and supports for the unhoused population. In addition to providing responses to immediate requests for support, the Team offers follow-up care for the City’s most vulnerable community members.

In 2026, the CSD will expand to include a Violence Prevention Division. This division will liaise between various City departments and organizations to enhance and promote violence prevention efforts in the City of Cambridge.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

The City of Cambridge is seeking a compassionate visionary, and equity-centered Assistant Director of Violence Prevention to lead strategic initiatives relating to preventing violence and supporting survivors and families to build a more resilient and empowered community. Reporting to the Director of the CSD, this role emphasizes holistic, collaborative, and community-driven responses to systemic violence – particularly impacting vulnerable youth and families.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

Community Engagement and Leadership

• Lead a citywide, community-based violence prevention strategy prioritizing the voices and lived experiences of youth, survivors, and system-impacted individuals;
• Facilitate and formalize partnerships with valued stakeholders (i.e. community-based organizations, credible messengers, youth leaders, and faith groups);
• Implement community-based participatory research (CBPR) to assess needs and co-design solutions in partnership with residents;
• Coordinate with the City Manager’s office, public health agencies, neighborhood coalitions for integrated, cross-sector violence prevention.

Program Design and Oversight

• Design, develop, and execute programs rooted in healing-centered engagement, positive youth development, and restorative practices;
• Identify and fill geographic- and resource-access gaps through asset mapping and inclusive planning;
• Oversee the dissemination of grant funding to community agencies while collecting data to evaluate funding impact.

Data-Informed and Equity-Driven Strategy

• Establish a transparent and ethical data system to identify and engage individuals most at risk – without criminalization;
• Employ tools like Social Network Analysis (SNA) in collaboration with public safety and public health professionals to enable early, voluntary interventions;
• Measure outcomes based on community wellbeing, reduction in harm, and increase in trust.

Capacity Building and Technical Assistance

• Provide training for staff, partners, and community members on trauma-informed care, de-escalation, credible messenger mentoring, and systems navigation;
• Create professional development pipelines for system-impacted residents and youth interested in careers relating to violence prevention and community well-being.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy or a related field;
• Experience working with justice-involved youth and families, including experiences in navigating systemic barriers;

VALUED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Exceptional communication abilities, demonstrated experience building sustaining partnerships, and community-facilitation skills;
• Bilingual and/or bicultural capacity in communities most impacted by violence in Cambridge;
• Lived experience as a system-impacted individual or in communities disproportionately affected by violence is highly valued.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Familiarity with the City of Cambridge service provider landscape and history of public safety reform efforts;
• Experience with participatory research, data equity, or implementing strategies, recommendations and best practices from other communities.

VALUES REQUIRED TO CARRY OUT JOB DUTIES:

• Dignity and worth of the person by centering healing, empowerment, and humanization in every interaction;
• Passion for social justice by advocating for equitable access to services and power, especially for marginalized groups;
• Emphasis on the importance of human relationships through building trust and showing mutual respect among City agencies, and community;
• Ensuring transparency, ethical standards, and excellence in practice and policy by upholding integrity and competence.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Ability to access, input, and retrieve information from a computer. Ability to answer phones and maintain multiple files. Ability to travel throughout the City of Cambridge to various meetings, site visits, etc.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Standard office environment. Fluorescent lighting and window unit air conditioning. Moderate noise level. This position may be eligible for hybrid work under the City's Telework Policy depending on operational needs.

SUMMARY OF BENEFITS: 

• Health, dental and vision insurance 
• Vacation, personal and sick days 
• Paid parental leave 
• Sick incentive pay eligibility 
• Management stipend of $2,700 annually
• 14 paid holidays 
• City employee commuter benefits (T-Pass reimbursement, Blue bikes membership, EZRide Shuttle membership) 

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

Please upload the following documents to complete your application:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

SUMMARY OF BENEFITS: 

• Health, dental and vision insurance 
• Vacation, personal and sick days 
• Paid parental leave 
• Sick incentive pay eligibility 
• Management stipend of $2,700 annually
• 14 paid holidays 
• City employee commuter benefits (T-Pass reimbursement, Blue bikes membership, EZRide Shuttle membership)