Policy Research Associate

The Legal Action Center (LAC) seeks a full-time Policy Research Associate to work on our criminal legal system reform work, reducing discrimination against individuals with histories of criminal legal involvement and/or addiction to increasing access to services to help our constituents succeed in the community.

The Policy Research Associate will report directly to the Senior Director of NYS Policy. The primary function of this job involves participating in LAC public policy and advocacy activities to increase opportunities for the agency’s priority populations. The ideal candidate is a self-starter with a proven track record of commitment to racial justice and equity, a passion for dismantling barriers to reentry, ending mass incarceration, promoting a public health approach to addiction, securing and enforcing privacy rights, and championing economic justice. This individual must have research and policy advocacy experience with the criminal legal system, state and city budget, legislation, and knowledge of the New York State and/or City government system.

The position is based in New York City. LAC has instituted a hybrid work model for our return to the office. This position will include the opportunity to work remotely some of the time, even after a full re-opening. COVID-19 vaccination and booster, if applicable, are required as a condition of employment.

About the Organization: LAC is a private, not-for-profit law and policy organization with offices in New York City and Washington, DC. LAC is the only organization in the country whose sole mission is to fight discrimination against people with criminal records, drug or alcohol histories, and/or HIV/AIDS. LAC is a national leader in fighting mass incarceration by expanding alternatives to incarceration, seeking to connect individuals in the criminal legal system to health care services, and reducing barriers to reentry into employment, housing, and higher education. LAC uses legal and policy strategies to fight discrimination, build health equity, and restore opportunities for people with criminal records, substance use disorders, and HIV or AIDS. LAC uses a multi-faceted approach to effectuate its mission and create systemic change through impact litigation, legal services, education, and policy advocacy. In addition, LAC’s two newly created positions of Director of Community of Engagement and Equity Officer will help ensure the centering of individuals and communities directly impacted by mass incarceration and health inequity in all aspects of LAC’s work and LAC’s fulfillment of its commitment to addressing racial justice and equity.

For over 50 years, LAC has fought to dismantle systemic barriers that perpetuate racial disparities in health, justice, and opportunities. LAC’s litigation and legal services program has established cutting-edge legal precedents and provided legal services. These services help thousands of individuals with arrest and conviction records, substance use disorders, or HIV/AIDS overcome discrimination and privacy violations in various walks of life, including employment, housing, education, and health care. Some of LAC’s policy advocacy and special projects include No Health = No Justice, CHAMP, parity@10, and the Black Harm Reduction Network.

Job Responsibilities:

•Research and analyze New York State and City’s budget, legislative, and policy proposals in areas that impact LAC’s target population, primarily in NY but not limited to.

•Conduct background policy research and analysis to support existing projects and proposals for new bodies of work; synthesize research findings to identify and recommend best practices or develop briefings.

•Write reports and position papers to help develop advocacy strategies, including educational materials and presentations on complex issues to government officials, staff, and other audiences.

•Network, develop, and maintain relationships with individuals, organizations, coalition partners, and government agencies.

•Organize meetings with key officials, partner organizations, and others, including preparing briefing materials and taking and sharing notes of the meetings.

•Extract, collect, and aggregate data across databases, information sources, survey responses, and other sources, ensuring data quality and accuracy.

•Help organize and track upcoming work and prepare reports on past work.

•Work collaboratively with the criminal legal system team and the policy team.

•Manage multiple projects at one time.

Required:

•Bachelor’s degree or equivalent public policy work experience.

•Three to five-plus years of experience in organizing, policy, or advocacy, preferably in criminal justice reform.

•Intermediate level of experience in prepping data sets and analysis with the ability to read and interpret complex materials and perform data cleaning.

•Strong understanding of databases, analytical tools, and concepts.

•Strong handle of Excel, including V-lookup and Pivot tables.

•Deep understanding of the criminal legal system and how law and practice impact the system.

•Experience working with state and local policymakers and/or criminal justice practitioners.

•Experience working in a coalition with other organizations and criminal legal system stakeholders.

•Experience and ability to work with partners across the political and ideological spectrum.

•Prior work with underrepresented communities, e.g., people living with HIV/AIDS, substance use disorders, or criminal legal system involvement.

•Demonstrated commitment to racial justice and equity.

•Proven track record of passion for dismantling barriers to reentry, ending mass incarceration, promoting a public health approach to addiction, securing and enforcing privacy rights, and championing economic justice.

•Passion for advocacy to expand opportunities for individuals with a history of involvement with the criminal legal system and/or increase access to addiction and other health care services and eliminate discriminatory policies.

•Detail-orientated with excellent communication, analytical, strategic planning, and research skills.

•Proven ability to communicate complex information in writing and orally to various audiences.

•Proven track record of excellent networking skills and the ability to develop and maintain relationships with individuals, organizations, and government agencies and work with diverse groups of people, both within the office and through coalitions.

•Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively, take initiative, think creatively, problem-solve, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

•Exceptional time-management, organizational, and project management skills, plus the ability to adapt to changing priorities or deadlines.

•Willingness to travel occasionally within the United States (as COVID restrictions lift)

•An urgency to drive meaningful change in our nation’s criminal legal system is a must.

Compensation and Benefits: Salary is commensurate with experience: The salary range is $73,000 to $84,200 per year. Excellent benefits include medical insurance, a 403(b) plan with employer contribution, and flexible pre-tax benefits.

Application Instructions: Please email a cover letter, résumé, and writing sample (no calls) to humanresources@lac.org and write “Policy Research Associate” in the subject line. Please submit your writing sample in PDF format and your resume and cover letter as one PDF document. Please briefly describe the following in your cover letter:

1. Your experience in organizing, policy, or advocacy for criminal justice reform.
2. Your interest in policy as it relates to racial justice and equity.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Only complete applications will be considered, and only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

The Legal Action Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Members of LAC’s stakeholder populations are strongly encouraged to apply.