Senior Case Manager, Focus Forward

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a community justice organization that centers safety and racial justice. Since our founding in 1996, the Center has partnered with community members, courts, and the people most impacted to create stronger, healthier, more just communities. Our decades of experience in courts and communities, coupled with our field-leading research and practitioner expertise, help us drive justice nationwide in innovative, powerful, and durable ways. For more information on how and where we work, please visit

The Center is a 900-employee, $130 million nonprofit that accomplishes its vision through three pillars of work: creating and scaling operating programs to test new ideas and solve problems, performing original research to determine what works (and what doesn’t), and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to justice reformers around the world.

Operating Programs

The Center’s operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Justice Center, test new ideas, solve difficult problems, and attempt to achieve systemic change within the justice system. Our projects include community-based violence prevention programs, alternatives to incarceration, reentry initiatives, and court-based initiatives that reduce the use of unnecessary incarceration and promote positive individual and family change. Through this programming, we have produced tangible results like safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice.

Research

The Center's research teams are staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically-trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.

Policy & Expert Assistance

The Center provides hands-on, planning and implementation assistance to a wide range of jurisdictions in areas of reform such as problem-solving courts (e.g., community courts, treatment courts, domestic violence courts), tribal justice, reducing incarceration and the use of fines/fees and reducing crime and violence. Our current expert assistance takes many forms, including help with analyzing data, strategic planning and consultation, policy guidance, and hosting site visits to its operating programs in the New York City area.

Center Support

A dedicated support team within the Center ensures the smooth functioning of operations across various domains, including finance, legal, technology, human resources, fundraising, real estate, and communications. Comprising 15% of the organization's staff, these teams provide essential infrastructure support and innovative solutions aligned with the Center's mission and values.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Through its Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) and diversion programs, the Queens Community Justice Center offers meaningful responses to low-level offenses such as shoplifting, reckless driving, and illegal drug use. Individuals charged with misdemeanor offenses often struggle with underlying issues such as substance use disorder, mental illness, unemployment, and trauma. As a response to low-level charges, judges may mandate participation in a range of social services designed to assist participants with their needs, which take a trauma-informed and strengths-based approach.

The Queens Community Justice Center seeks a Senior Case Manager for its Focus Forward program. Focus Forward provides employment-focused services as an alternative to incarceration or as an addition to a probation mandate. Focus Forward serves young adults ages 18 to 35 with moderate to high employment needs. Focus Forward will deliver evidence-based programming to assist participants in obtaining employment and provide them with case management support to ensure they can maintain employment and work towards a long-term career. Reporting to the Associate Director, Adult Operations, the Senior Case Manager will provide direct participant support and increase the range of employment opportunities available to participants using participant interests, experiences, and ambitions as the foundation for participant job placements and, more broadly, for the identification and cultivation of potential employers for prospect portfolios. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Facilitate Cognitive Behavioral Intervention and Employment Readiness group sessions and workshops to build employment readiness skills;
• Lead sessions focused on job readiness and retention, emphasizing life skills and job search skills workshops;
• Conduct outreach to court partners to receive referrals to Focus Forward, including conducting public presentations;
• Conduct screenings, intakes, and clinical/employment assessments with participants;
• Provide case management, crisis intervention, and support services;
• Attend mandatory required cognitive behavioral intervention and employment readiness training;
• Form partnerships with community stakeholders, organizations, and agencies to strengthen systems of support for participants;
• Engage participants in ongoing discussions about their employment goals;
• Provide ongoing support to participants placed in transitional employment opportunities by continuing case management and guiding them through onboarding processes;
• Document all participant and employer contact, activities, and outcomes daily in our case management system (Salesforce);
• Regularly discuss each participant's job start-ready progress with the Focus Forward team, including the Job Developer; problem-solving with colleagues when needed;
• Review participants’ daily performance ratings provided by their worksite supervisor;
• Record and report monthly progress summaries for each participant, detailing steps taken to resolve challenges and the quality of overall participant participation;
• Performing other tasks and responsibilities that will be assigned from time to time;
• Participate in staff meetings and training;
• Attend evening community events and meetings as needed; and;
• Perform other relevant duties to support the Queens Community Justice Center and department activities.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree with at least 3 years of case management and workforce development experience required. Must be highly organized and can multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment. The candidate will have a willingness and interest in engaging individuals with mental health and substance abuse needs. Experience in Motivational Interviewing is a plus. Candidates must be able to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally competent manner. Candidates must also be comfortable working with adolescents, adults, and families and be able to communicate appropriately with stakeholders—excellent organizational, interpersonal, communication, and writing skills required. Bilingual (English-Spanish or other languages) preferred.

Position Type: Full-time from 9:00 AM through 5:00 PM with occasional evening or weekend hours.

Position Location: Queens, NY

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $57,500 - $65,000 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.

Benefits: The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our goal is to create a supportive and respectful environment where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and included.

At this time, the Center is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment.

Candidates are expected to provide accurate and truthful information throughout the hiring process. Any misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of material facts may result in disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of an offer, or termination of employment, regardless of when discovered.

In compliance with federal law, all hires must verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment verification form upon hire. Please refer to the job posting for relevant contact information. If contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.