The Institute is seeking to hire an Executive Assistant to the President & CEO who will provide high-level administrative support to ensure the efficient operation of the executive office.

The Executive Assistant will be the primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders on all matters pertaining to the President & CEO and will also support the Board of Trustees and provide office Support.

We are seeking a candidate who has strong connections within the nonprofit sector in New Jersey and possesses in-depth knowledge of key players in the political and social environment within the state. The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of the local landscape, enabling them to navigate effectively and build meaningful partnerships that further our mission.

Reports to: President & CEO
Responsibilities include:
President & CEO Support

• Oversee the day-to-day administrative and organizational needs of the President & CEO.
• Manage and maintain the executive’s schedule, including arranging meetings, appointments, and travel  arrangements.
• Screen and prioritize incoming calls, emails, and correspondence, ensuring that urgent matters are addressed promptly.
• Respond to inquiries on behalf of the President & CEO.
• Prepare and organize documents, presentations, and reports for meetings and presentations.
• Coordinate and facilitate communication between the executive and internal and external stakeholders.
• Conduct research and gather information to support the executive in decision-making and project management.
• Assist with the preparation and coordination of meetings, including scheduling, agenda creation, and document distribution.
• Manage and maintain filing systems, both electronic and physical, ensuring that documents are organized and easily accessible.
• Handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
• Act as a liaison between the executive and other members of the organization, as well as external partners
• Provide administrative support, including expense tracking, invoice processing, and other ad hoc tasks as needed.

Trustee Board Governance:
• Liaison to the Board of Trustees, Board Chair and Governance Chair. Manage governance, plan, and coordinate board and committee meetings. Track and communicate RSVPs.
• Coordinate and plan board and committee meetings, tracking and communicating RSVPs.
• Assemble documents for Board and Committee meetings.
• Communicate with Committee Chairs and generate reports and materials.
• Serve as Acting Secretary, recording Board and select Committee meeting minutes.

Office Support:
• Welcome visitors to the office, provide assistance as needed, and ensure they are directed to the appropriate meeting or individual.
• Coordinate catering for meetings and events, including ordering lunch or refreshments, and ensuring dietary preferences and restrictions are accommodated.
• Schedule and coordinate meetings, including sending out invitations, booking meeting rooms, and arranging necessary equipment or materials.
• Assist in the preparation of meeting materials, including agendas, presentations, and reports, and ensure they are distributed to attendees in advance.
• Monitor and replenish office supplies, ensuring that necessary supplies are available for day-to-day operations.
• Provide general administrative support to the president & CEO and other team members, including copying, scanning, and filing documents, as well as handling mail and other administrative tasks as needed.
• Assist with special projects and ad hoc tasks as assigned, demonstrating flexibility and willingness to support the organization as needed.

Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in an executive assistant role supporting C-level executives.
• Exceptional organizational and time-management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Ability to work independently and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• High level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving abilities.
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing priorities and demands.
• The ideal candidate will be a proactive, resourceful individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can effectively support the President & CEO in achieving organizational goals.

Please email your cover letter, resume, and three professional references to recruitment@njisj.org.

About the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice:
The Institute is an equal opportunity employer, and we value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture.
Established in 1999 by Alan V. and Amy Lowenstein, the Institute’s cutting-edge racial and social justice advocacy seeks to empower people of color by building reparative systems that create wealth, transform justice and harness democratic power—from the ground up—in New Jersey.

Known for our dynamic and independent advocacy aimed at toppling load-bearing walls of structural inequality to create just, vibrant and healthy communities, we are committed to exposing and repairing the cracks of structural racism in our foundation that erupt into earthquakes in communities of color. The Institute advocates for systemic reform that is at once transformative, achievable in the state and replicable in communities across the nation.

The Institute is looking to welcome to its team a sophisticated, creative and dynamic team player to serve as our Director of Criminal Justice Reform to manage and implement a program of strategic legal and policy advocacy to expand racial and social justice in New Jersey and beyond. 

This is an exciting opportunity, at a critical time in our history, to advance racial and social justice on behalf of New Jersey’s communities of through the Institute’s Criminal Justice Reform Program, which is at the forefront in the movement to reduce the footprint of law enforcement and help keep communities safe. 

The Director of the Criminal Justice Program, working with the President & CEO and reporting directly to the Law and Policy Director, is responsible for leading a team based in Newark that will include a Counsel, a Policy Analyst and legal interns.  

The responsibilities of the Director of the Criminal Justice Reform Program include but are not limited to the following:  

• Work in partnership with the Law & Policy Director to (1) implement and manage the Institute’s strategic vision for criminal justice programs, (2) cast a creative vision for criminal justice reform in New Jersey, (3) set goals for the Program, (4) monitor progress, and (5) evaluate outcomes to ensure that objectives are met and in line with the needs and mission of the organization. 

• Develop new and creative strategies and approaches to both engage with the work of the Independent Monitoring Team overseeing reforms to the Newark Police Division (of which the Institute is a member) and to inform the development of a campaign to advance community-based solutions to public safety concerns.  

• Advocate for the closure of youth prisons and investment in the creation of a community-based system of care.  

• Help execute programmatic functions and supervise and monitor implementation of the Institute’s strategic vision for criminal justice reform programs—including the integration of advocacy, legislative initiatives, policy goals, public education, targeted campaigns, and, if necessary, litigation. 

• Act as a public spokesperson for the Institute on racial and social justice issues, engage in public speaking, and participate in public education activities to articulate the Institute’s views on a broad range of racial and social justice issues to the public and various stakeholder constituencies. 

• Build strategic alliances with organizations and individuals to advance the Institute’s mission, engage on shared priorities, and exchange knowledge and information in support of the Institute’s programs and initiatives. 

• Coordinate with the Chief Operating Officer and staff team to develop and stay abreast of criminal justice operations, planning, budget, spending, and funder compliance. 

• Collaborate and coordinate with the Director of Development to advance the Institute’s fundraising priorities. 

• Write and edit legal and policy briefs, as well as program descriptions, in furtherance of program goals and funder communications. 

• Form and maintain relationships with Institute partners, including other legal service agencies, law firms, the cooperating attorney network, law students, community-based organizations, policy institutions, et al. 

• Assist the Law & Policy Director and others on the senior management team in fostering internal collaboration, creating professional growth opportunities at the Institute, and promoting a work environment that encourages independent judgment and values self-starters. 

• Work with the Communications and Marketing staff to integrate policy and legal advocacy with communications, including through public education materials, policy reports, white papers, talking points, op-eds, and press releases. 

• Work with the Community Engagement staff to incorporate community outreach and field organizing into program campaigns. 

• Supervise the daily activities and professional development of program staff including attorneys and student interns. This includes assigning cases, monitoring workloads, offering mentorship and guidance, conducting performance evaluations, and ensuring compliance with organizational policies and legal standards. Develop and manage special projects and initiatives, including litigation, when appropriate. 

• Act as a thought partner and collaborative teammate with other Institute Staff and model values of an inclusive and respectful workplace, fostering the same in the staff. 

Experience and Qualifications: 

The Institute is seeking an ambitious and dedicated Director, with experience challenging systemic racial discrimination through advocacy, to lead the Criminal Justice Reform Program. The successful candidate will have a strong track record in leadership and driving a vision within a complex and multi-faceted program. An ideal candidate will have personal experience in organizing and coalition building, as well as a track record of strategic development of long-term policy plans. Ideal candidates will be self-starters, be able to develop and advance bold visions and strategies and be excellent managers of their time in what can be a high-intensity setting.  

This position requires passion for racial justice, the highest integrity, sound judgment, and strong communication skills. Given the interconnected nature of the Institute’s work, an ideal candidate must also be able to effectively work in a highly collaborative team environment.  

The successful candidate will also have the following: 

• A J.D. is required, along with admission to the New Jersey bar or ability to waive in. A minimum of seven years of experience is strongly preferred.  

• Ideal candidates will have significant racial justice experience, either through personal connection and history or through work experience, with people harmed by structural racial discrimination. 

• An ability to develop and implement multi-faceted campaigns that include litigation, public education, advocacy, and media outreach. 

• Ability to work effectively with diverse coalitions and community groups, particularly of color, and to work across political ideology, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic circumstances, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and religion. 

• Passion for, and knowledge of, racial and social justice, and a familiarity with the work and mission of the Institute. 

• Experience supervising staff and leading teams. 

• Ability to listen, coach, shepherd, and support people to achieve shared goals. 

• Excellent research and writing skills; superior attention to detail; ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously; good problem-solving skills; and a positive, professional attitude with excellent judgment, flexibility, determination, and grace in a sometimes-high-pressure office. 

• Integrity, honesty and a balanced, non-partisan approach. 

• Exceptional written and oral communications skills. 

• The ability to work effectively in a collaborative context, both internally and externally. 

• Ability to lead, build, and participate in teams, including a willingness to communicate openly, listen well, and learn from others. 

• Excellent judgment and follow through. 

• Sophistication about public policy and an intellectual curiosity. 

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively with a team.

Compensation: 

This is a full-time, at-will position. Salary is commensurate with experience and includes excellent benefits, including health, dental/vision, a 401(k) plan with an employer contribution, Medical Expense Reimbursement Program, life insurance, and generous vacation, sick, and holiday leave. The Institute is a hybrid work environment, requiring all staff to work in-person at the office (or at an Institute event/commitment) two days a week.  

How to Apply: 

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and will be accepted until the position is filled. Please email your cover letter, resume, professional writing sample on which you are the primary author, and three professional references to recruitment@njisj.org. Please submit your application materials via Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF. Include all attachments in a single email stating, in the subject line, “Director of Criminal Justice Reform Program”. 

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The Institute is an equal opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. 

The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice seeks dedicated, highly qualified law and/or graduate students for summer and term internships. Term internships are part-time. Please submit inquiries or applications (comprised of a cover letter, resume, transcript (official or unofficial), three references, and a writing sample) to recruitment@njisj.org. Please indicate if you want to intern for course credit.

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