About the team:

Vera’s Advocacy & Partnerships (A&P) department serves as the organization’s “center of gravity” for initiatives and projects as we work in greater alignment with others in the movement ecosystem to win real, transformative criminal legal and immigration policy change. In addition to being substantive experts in criminal legal and immigration reform, A&P staff have expertise in leading and supporting campaigns, navigating political government, and executing on movement strategies, and creating data and evidence for policy change. 

Advocacy & Partnerships is responsible for coordinating the vision, strategy, and institutional development across Vera’s initiatives on advocacy, and to foster strong relationships and alignment with others so that we win policy change on our core issues. We bring to bear our strongest advocacy assets, including producing the data, evidence, and solutions that advance an advocacy or policy goal; leading and / or supporting the development of advocacy and campaign strategy, in coalition with other national and local organizations (or independently, but in alignment); researching and drafting policy, including legislation, directives, and regulations; and influencing elected officials and those in power to adopt and champion our criminal legal and immigration policy solutions.  

The Advocacy & Partnerships Department is comprised of three core functions: 

• State and Local Policy, which leads or partners with Vera initiatives to shape advocacy in state and local legislatures, as well as city councils, across the country 

• Federal Policy, which leads Vera's advocacy strategies with the Administration and on the Hill in Washington, DC 

• Advocacy Messaging & Impact, which leads Vera rapid response advocacy messaging.  

In addition, Vera’s Advocacy & Partnerships team benefits from close collaboration with Vera Action, Vera’s independent 501(c)(4) entity, to support strategic priorities through lobbying, political outreach, voter education, and political activity. 

About the role:

The Operations Associate will assist with the day-to-day functions of the A&P Department, as well as provide executive support to the Chief Advocacy Officer, with some administrative support to Vera Action. The Operations Associate will provide ongoing support to the Chief Advocacy Officer, senior members of the Advocacy & Partnerships team, and to Vera Action’s deputy director. This includes calendar management, maintenance of file systems, meeting and event coordination, making travel arrangements, managing internal and external stakeholder relations, and helping to manage department priorities.  

The Operations Associate will be a strong communicator who can conduct themselves with internal and external stakeholders at the executive level, stay organized and proficient at time management, and complete tasks independently and in a timely fashion, handling challenges well and proactively changing strategies when an effort is unsuccessful. 

1. Executive Support: 

• Provide ongoing support to the Chief Advocacy Officer, including calendar management and scheduling to conserve the  CAO’s time.  
• Serve as an administrative contact and liaison with external contacts, typically for scheduling virtual and in-person meetings, events, or interviews. 
• Support document preparation, note-taking and other clerical tasks. 
• Process expenses, produce and edit PowerPoint presentations, and other documents as needed.  
• Provide daily updates on scheduling, administrative tasks completed, and those pending. 

2. Administrative Support to the Advocacy Department and Vera Action: 

• Schedule and arrange all meetings and activities for the CAO, A&P, and Vera Action, including setting up and owning the logistics for all in-person and remote meetings (ex: identifying meeting spaces, conference lines, and other necessary components).
• In partnership with the Associate Director of Operations, plan and be responsible for all aspects of the Advocacy Department’s monthly team meetings. 
• Review each week’s meeting agendas in advance and prepare necessary briefing materials for relevant participants as needed. 
• Manage conflicting scheduling issues and unexpected changes with supreme attention to detail. 
• Handle all communications around scheduling with excellent service and professionalism. 
• Coordinate scheduling, logistics, and detailed preparation for senior staff in A&P and Vera Action to attend external events. 
• Document notes and necessary action items from key team meetings, such as monthly department engagements. 
• Schedule and arrange meetings for senior team members, as needed, and support all team members in travel logistics, where needed. 
• Handle travel arrangements and reimbursement documentation for CAO  and senior team members. 
• Provide coverage and support for various Advocacy Team functions such as reception desk and special events support as needed. 

3. Fiscal and Contract Support: 

• Facilitate procurement processes, including direct correspondence with Vera’s Legal Department and external vendors/partners.  
• Process invoices, track expenses, and reconcile monthly expense reports.  
• Track all non-staff expenses and invoices for all engagements and prepare summary reports to the CAO as needed. 

4. Project Support: 

• Support project management infrastructure for the Advocacy Team and Vera Action, including project development, documentation, execution, and closeout.  
• Work closely with project leads to ensure that projects/activities meet objectives within agreed budgets and timelines.  
• Support Advocacy Team in working with a portfolio of internal and external partners, including but not limited to, tracking deliverables and outcomes, conducting periodic evaluations to ensure program objectives are met, and collaborating with Advocacy Team leadership to ensure the integration of program goals.

5. Race, Equity and Inclusion

• Contribute to Advocacy & Partnerships’ REI working group through thought partnership, coordination, research, and support for departmental learning strategies. 

What qualifications are we looking for?

• Bachelor's degree and up to 3 years of relevant experience. In lieu of a bachelor's degree, applicable work or life experience may be considered. 
• Experience as an assistant with administrative, project, and logistical support proficiency. 
• Experience prioritizing multiple time-sensitive projects. 
• Established experience in executing operations with confidentiality and personal responsibility.  

Preferred:  

• Experience within the advocacy space, preferred 
• Experience working on campaigns and/or electoral operations settings, understanding the rapid and vital needs of up-to-the-minute responses, preferred 

We welcome candidates who self-assess that their skills and strengths match the needs of the position. 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring: 

• Exceptional communication and organizational skills 
• Proven ability to adapt and respond; overcome challenges and lead with solutions. 
• Knowledge of administrative filing systems and project administration techniques. 
• Demonstrated accuracy and efficiency in document preparation including creating and editing charts, tables, graphs, and presentations 
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively 
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse array of people and positions, including advocates, funders, government officials, criminal legal system personnel, practitioners, and people who are directly impacted by the criminal system. 
• Most of all, you must be committed to transformational change and share the belief that, for Vera’s advocacy work to be effective, it must be rooted in anti-racism and aligned with the priorities of people and communities most impacted by this country’s criminal and immigration legal systems. 

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY office. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation range for this position is $69,000-$72,000. In addition, this position is part of a bargaining unit represented by the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (ALAA) UAW 2325. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute’s total compensation package for employees. As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff - both personally and professionally - is a priority. To do this, we invest in the well-being of our staff through other rewards including merit pay, generous paid time off, a comprehensive health insurance plan, student loan repayment benefits, professional development training opportunities and up to $2,000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work, employer-funded retirement plan, and flexible time. To learn more about Vera’s benefits offerings, click here. 

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People, Place, and Culture / [JOBTITLE]
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Vera is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. 

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. 

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org.

About the role:

The Data Science Intern for Research's Central Data Science team is an opportunity for a college student or recent grad to immerse themselves in a data role at a non-profit organization. Their work will support a pilot project that supports a national initiative by using machine learning models to build more robust datasets for research.  

The data science intern will work closely with the Senior Data Scientist on setting up the data and infrastructure required to enable the use of ML and AI on messy administrative data. They will gain practical experience in working with realistic datasets to enable impactful analysis on the criminal legal system. They will participate in all day-to-day team activities, ranging from project planning and execution, infrastructure discussions, code review sessions, and more. They will work directly with a senior data scientist on a range of responsibilities including data collection, document review, data prep, and analysis. 

1. Document Review & Data Prep  

• Review files provided by Vera’s external partner to identify relevant documents for data extraction  
• Review police reports and other text data to label and create dataset structures 
• Review semi-structured text data fields to condense into coded categorical variables 

2. Automated data collection and codebase maintenance 

• Contribute code to existing automated data collection system as needed for the pilot’s evolving requirements 

3. Data Analysis 

• Develop descriptive and other summary statistics in support of model development, validation, and evaluation  
• Support senior data scientist in other analytical tasks as needed 

What qualifications are we looking for?

• Currently enrolled in or recent graduate of a college program in data science, a computational social science, statistics, public policy, or a related discipline 
• Commitment to using research and analysis to end mass incarceration and undo racism and inequity in the criminal legal system 
• Proficiency developing code collaboratively using GitHub 

Preferred: 

• Experience working with messy administrative datasets in an academic or professional setting 

Technical knowledge helpful for this role:

The current tech stack uses the following technologies and working familiarity in the following is preferred:  

• Python and/or R 
• GitHub 
• Cloud Technologies such as Microsoft Azure 
• SQL & relational databases 
• Command Line  

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY office. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation range for this position is $17.00-$25.00. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance.

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People, Place, and Culture / [JOBTITLE]
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Vera is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. 

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. 

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org.

About the team:

Vera's Legal Department provides comprehensive in-house legal services to the organization, including each of its administrative departments, initiatives, and projects, and to its Board of Trustees. With a creative and problem-solving orientation, the team advises staff of Vera and Vera Action, an affiliated 501(c)(4) organization, on federal, state, and local requirements and works to develop structures and processes that support compliance without compromising strategy. The Associate General Counsel will report to the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) and will work with the entire Legal Department team (consisting of the CLO, the Deputy General Counsel (DGC), the Associate Director for Legal Operations, and the Clifford Chance Foundation Fellow) to keep pace with the work of an ambitious, mission-oriented organization.

About the role:

As an experienced attorney, the Associate General Counsel will be expected to assist the CLO and DGC in larger projects, both through coordinating projects and through creation and execution of legal elements of long-term projects. Accordingly, applicants for this role should be comfortable coordinating processes across teams, particularly from a “second chair” perspective. The Associate General Counsel’s portfolio will also include drafting and review of contracts, review of assignments by the fellow and interns, and management of certain projects with a lesser degree of supervision. This position will be based in Vera’s New York office, in Industry City, Brooklyn. 

Expertise in 501(c)(3) and (c)(4) compliance, lobbying laws across jurisdictions, and labor relations will be particularly useful. 

1. Legal Advice and Research 

• Provide legal advice on arising matters, including researching legal and regulatory issues, advising initiatives and programs on arising matters, and ensuring compliance with legal requirements for nonprofits. 

• This includes, without limitation:
  • Overseeing arising departmental projects as assigned by the CLO, and seconding CLO on other projects and standing portfolio matters (assisting with project management, action items, etc.); and
  • Having command of major laws and regulations governing legislative advocacy and 501(c)(3) and (c)(4) governance, answering questions as they arise, and developing guidance as needed

2. Legal Agreements 

• Draft, review, and negotiate agreements of various kinds: grants, service contracts, licenses, independent contractor agreements, master service agreements, memoranda of understanding, and any others that may arise.  

• This includes supporting agreement reviews by other members of the department.

3. Other duties as assigned 

• Other duties as arising and assigned, including assisting in reviewing, developing, and training others on organizational and departmental policies, systems, and procedures. 

What qualifications are we looking for?

Required: 

• J.D. or LL.M. from an ABA-accredited U.S. law school. 

• Admission to New York State bar 

• Five or more years of relevant experience (whether at another not-for-profit, a law firm, or elsewhere). 

Preferred:  

• An interest in the substantive areas in which Vera works (including criminal justice and immigration), and in non-profit tax issues, employment law, and policy. 

• Experience in political law or employer-side labor law a plus. 

• Three or more years’ experience specifically in an in-house or other transactional environment. 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring: 

• Must have a strong interest in the operations of nonprofit organizations and a broad-based curiosity about potentially unfamiliar legal matters coupled with the ability to master new topics independently, as the Institute is known for its innovative and entrepreneurial approach.  

• Vera’s Legal team works to automate as many of its processes as possible, so this person must be adept with technology and welcome the creative challenge of improving operations. 

• Excellent writing skills are required. This person must have sufficient command of the written word to draft documents that are professional yet accessible, and sufficient command of legal ideas not to fall back on legalese.  

• This person must have the ability to manage relationships across the organization and with outside parties diplomatically, including when enforcing a rule or managing expectations. 

Technical knowledge helpful for this role:

• Microsoft Office 

• General facility with online databases 

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY office. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation range for this position is $118,000-$121,000. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute’s total compensation package for employees. As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff - both personally and professionally - is a priority. To do this, we invest in the well-being of our staff through other rewards including merit pay, generous paid time off, a comprehensive health insurance plan, student loan repayment benefits, professional development training opportunities and up to $2,000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work, employer-funded retirement plan, and flexible time. To learn more about Vera’s benefits offerings, click here. 

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People, Place, and Culture / [JOBTITLE]
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Vera is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. 

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. 

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org.

About the team:

The Program Analyst provides administrative and programmatic support for Greater Justice New York (GJNY)’s policy development and advocacy aimed at ending mass incarceration and creating a smaller, fairer criminal legal system in New York. The Program Analyst will assist with the day-to-day functions of the GJNY program by providing ongoing administrative and operations support to the  Director and team, including calendar management, maintenance of file systems, meeting and event coordination including logistics and preparation of materials and notetaking, travel arrangements, managing internal and external stakeholder relations, and helping manage priorities. In addition, the Program Analyst will contribute to GJNY’s projects through supporting GJNY staff by conducting initial research and scoping, drafting policies, writing reports, and producing other written deliverables that further GJNY’s mission. 

About the role:

1. Administrative support 

• Provide administrative support to GJNY leads and programmatic staff including but not limited to:
  • Assist in planning, preparing for, and taking notes at meetings, conference calls, webinars and conferences  
  • Process and track invoices and expenses
  • Organizing internal and external meetings  
  • Team calendar administration 

• Collaborate on behalf of the GJNY team with operations teams across the Institute 

2. Technical assistance and advocacy 

• Assist in conducting research, drafting policies, writing reports, and otherwise generating material that furthers GJNY’s goals of ending mass incarceration and creating a smaller, fairer criminal legal system in New York 

• Track media mentions, project milestones, and other metrics of interest for grants 

• Coordinate with the grants management team to ensure timely and accurate reporting on GJNY’s work to current and potential funders
  • Support in planning, preparing for, and taking notes at meetings, conference calls, webinars and conferences 
  • Support the facilitation of meetings and trainings
  • Support with presentations and providing subject matter knowledge to external partners/sites under the supervision of senior staff
  • Conduct background research and compile materials, including literature reviews
  • Prepare, format, and draft portions of reports, training decks, policy memoranda, and other products
  • Prepare information or infographics for reports and other products 

3. Team support and internal collaboration  

• Collaborate with coordinators, operations associates, program and research analysts across teams 

• Contribute to the development of reports, policy memoranda, and other documents 

What qualifications are we looking for?

Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree +  up to 3 years of relevant experience.  In lieu of a Bachelor’s degree, applicable work or life experience may be considered 

• 1+ years of experience in project administration, policy research, analysis, and writing 

Preferred:  

• Advocacy experience; and/or lived experience as a person directly impacted by the criminal justice system. 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring: 

• Organization and attention to detail: You are detail-oriented but can see the big picture and keep track of multiple competing deadlines and priorities because of systems developed to help you and the team meet deadlines. You also have requisite knowledge to complete these tasks, especially Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Adobe Professional 

• Research and policy writing: You have experience conducting policy research, analysis, and writing reports and briefs for a variety of audiences to convey information in a compelling way 

• Background or interest in Criminal Justice Reform: You will have a demonstrated commitment to criminal justice, racial justice, or related fields 

• Interpersonal skills: You need to be able to engage effectively with our talented and diverse team members to generate and improve ideas and to efficiently execute your goals and deliverables 

• Cultural competence and commitment to equity: We are committed to making our own organization one where people from all races and backgrounds thrive, you have experience working in and creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments. You bring real commitment to those values and a thoughtful perspective on how best to advance them 

• Management alignment: You share our approach to management—results-oriented, practical, positive, and direct 

• Exceptional problem solving and rigorous thinking: You quickly grasp the root of a problem and come up with ways to address them 

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY office. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation range for this position is $64,000 - $67,000. In addition, this position is part of a bargaining unit represented by the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (ALAA) UAW 2325. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute’s total compensation package for employees. As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff - both personally and professionally - is a priority. To do this, we invest in the well-being of our staff through other rewards including merit pay, generous paid time off, a comprehensive health insurance plan, student loan repayment benefits, professional development training opportunities and up to $2,000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work, employer-funded retirement plan, and flexible time. To learn more about Vera’s benefits offerings, click here. 

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People, Place, and Culture / [JOBTITLE]
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Vera is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. 

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. 

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org.

About the team:

The Finance Department at the Vera Institute of Justice supports the organization’s mission by stewarding resources responsibly, transparently, and equitably. The team oversees budgeting, financial reporting, grants and contract compliance, and internal controls to ensure that Vera’s programs are well-supported and financially sustainable. Through strong financial management and cross-team collaboration, Finance helps enable impactful justice reform work and ensures that organizational resources are aligned with Vera’s values and strategic priorities.  

The Finance & Accounting Intern will work closely with the CFO to support financial operations, accounting processes, and strategic initiatives. This role includes assisting with projects that involve collaboration between Finance and IT, such as system upgrades, data integrity, and process automation. The internship provides exposure to executive-level decision-making and cross-functional teamwork.  

By the end of the internship, the intern will: 

• Gain insight into executive-level financial decision-making. 
• Understand the end-to-end financial reporting and accounting cycle. 
• Learn how finance and IT collaborate to improve efficiency and compliance. 
• Develop skills in budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis. 
• Acquire experience in ERP systems and financial technology tools. 
• Build cross-functional collaboration experience with IT and other departments. 

About the role:

1. Assist in preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.

2. Support budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis activities.

3. Help maintain accurate accounting records and reconcile accounts.

4. Participate in cash flow analysis and working capital management.

5. Assist with internal audits and compliance documentation.

6. Prepare presentations and reports for CFO and senior leadership.

7. Collaborate with the IT department to:

• Support implementation and testing of financial systems and ERP upgrades.
• Ensure data accuracy and integrity across finance and IT platforms.
• Assist in automating financial reporting processes using technology tools.
• Help document workflows and system controls for compliance purposes.

9. Contribute to ad-hoc financial projects and strategic planning initiatives.

What qualifications are we looking for?

• Currently pursuing a degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other MS Office applications.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information with integrity.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring: 

• Familiarity with ERP systems and financial reporting tools preferred, but not required.
• Basic understanding of GAAP and corporate finance principles.
• Interest in technology and process automation.

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Indsutry City, Brooklyn office. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation range for this position is $17.00 - $25.00. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute’s total compensation package for employees. As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff - both personally and professionally - is a priority.

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People, Place, and Culture / Summer 2026 - Intern, Finance
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Vera is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. 

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. 

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org.