Senior Program Associate, Vera Louisiana

Who we are:

The Vera Institute of Justice, founded in 1961, is a nonprofit criminal justice organization that strives to build just government institutions and safe communities free from the scourge of racism, white supremacy, profit, and inequity that is pervasive in this country’s legal systems. We are an “inside” lane organization that drives change at scale with ambitious public sector leaders who share our commitment to building anti-racist, reparative systems that deliver justice. We leverage our access to government to transform these systems and work collaboratively with stakeholders across many movements—including advocacy, grassroots, and grasstop organizations. Our role is to pilot solutions that are transformative and achievable, harness the power of evidence to drive effective policy and practice, and use advocacy and communications to change narratives and norms.

Vera has a staff of 300 people and offices in New York City, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and New Orleans. We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace. We expect our staff to embody respect, independence, collaboration, commitment, anti-racism, and equity—both in our outward-facing work and the internal culture of our workplace. We value a range of experiences in people’s educational backgrounds and encourage people who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system to apply.

Who you are:

The Senior Program Associate will implement Vera Louisiana’s advocacy strategy by leading efforts to effect policy change and programmatic investment at the parish and state-wide levels. Campaigns will prioritize eliminating mass incarceration in Louisiana, advancing prosecution reform, and increasing investments in thriving communities. The Senior Program Associate will work collaboratively with Vera Louisiana leadership, Vera’s Advocacy and Partnerships department, and the Program Director of Vera’s Louisiana Office to develop and maintain advocacy plans that execute on the office’s strategic priorities throughout Louisiana. 

What you'll do:

Lead Vera’s Advocacy Campaigns 

• In collaboration with Vera Louisiana leadership and Vera’s Advocacy and Partnerships department, plan and implement Vera Louisiana’s advocacy strategy.   

• Develop and manage campaign processes to ensure that aligned organizations execute on timely advocacy actions (such as developing and maintaining stakeholder databases and listservs and routinely drafting and sharing campaign information, materials and calls to action, managing projects etc.)   

• Represent Vera Louisiana’s priorities within relevant coalitions and partnerships.

• Cultivate, maintain, and grow relationships with statewide organizations, stakeholders, and elected officials and their staff, including working collaboratively with Vera Louisiana’s current partners.  

• Educate, build strong relationships, and advocate directly with elected officials and other government officials, such as Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections.  

• Collaborate with Vera Louisiana leadership on statewide technical assistance and advocacy efforts, including travel to Baton Rouge or other parishes in Louisiana as needed for engagement with state officials or statewide coalition work.   

• Collaborate with lobbyists as needed to execute on Vera Louisiana’s campaign priorities and legislative agenda.

Writing and Editing Campaign Materials   

• Draft fact sheets, talking points, testimony, model policies, legislative instrument language and other campaign education and outreach materials, in collaboration with Vera Louisiana leadership and Vera’s Advocacy and Partnerships department.  

• Review and edit documents created by associate-level Vera Louisiana staff.   

• Collaborate with Vera Louisiana research staff to gather relevant data and sourcing.   

• Collaborate with Vera Communications department to produce relevant communications materials to influence campaigns (blog posts, social media content, op-eds etc.)

Policy Research 

• Monitor and analyze legislation, regulatory change, and associated news that impacts Vera Louisiana’s advocacy and strategic priorities.    

• Monitor budgets developments relevant to Vera Louisiana’s advocacy and strategic priorities.   

• Provide relevant updates to the team based on research and escalate strategic opportunities or potential threats to Vera Louisiana’s progress.   

• Propose strategies to influence government and elected officials.  

• Collaborate with Vera team members, in the Louisiana office and on other teams throughout Vera, to develop