Program Associate/Senior Program Associate, Crime and Justice Policy Lab (CJP)

Program Associate/Senior Program Associate, Crime and Justice Policy Lab (CJP)

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

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The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title
Program Associate/Senior Program Associate, Crime and Justice Policy Lab (CJP)

Job Profile Title
Coordinator C

Job Description Summary
The University of Pennsylvania's Crime and Justice Policy Lab (CJP) seeks a full-time Program Associate and Senior Program Associate to support and help lead technical assistance, implementation, and applied research activities in Baltimore and Maryland. The Program Associate position is ideal for early-career professionals eager to contribute to innovative efforts to reduce violence and reform the criminal justice system. The Program Associate will support the day-to-day execution of key public safety initiatives and contribute to the Lab's policy research and data-driven decision-making work. The role involves collaboration with internal team members, city agencies, nonprofit partners, and community stakeholders.

The Senior Program Associate position will support and help lead technical assistance, implementation, and applied research activities in Baltimore and Maryland. This position is ideal for an early-to-mid career professional with experience supporting cross-sector violence reduction and criminal justice reform strategies. The Senior Program Associate will work closely with CJP's leadership and partner organizations to execute and sustain evidence-informed public safety efforts. The role involves a mix of coordination, day-to-day implementation support, and data-informed decision-making.

Job Description

This position is in the Crime and Justice Policy Lab (CJP), a research group within the University of Pennsylvania Department of Criminology. The mission of CJP is to apply rigorous methods of scientific research to improve public safety in disadvantaged communities, centering those communities in the design and execution of policy ideas, and ensuring that research and government policy is being done with communities rather than to communities. The end goal for our work is that citizens in Philadelphia and other major cities are able to enjoy safety, and equitable treatment and outcomes in their day-to-day lives. CJP works primarily in Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, Oakland, and San Francisco, and with several federal government partners and international partners in Latin America and the Caribbean.

CJP projects often pursue a "triple bottom line"-our successful projects are ones that reduce violence that is affecting communities, reduce incarceration, and lessen the burden of policing on communities by generating fewer and more just interactions between police and community members. As many of our projects directly work with the criminal justice system to achieve these goals, we need to be comfortable both holding the priorities of the communities we serve at the center of our work, while also being able to work productively with police and other groups.

Background:

CJP has partnered with the Baltimore City Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, the State's Attorney's Office and the Police Department to provide technical assistance, analytical and direct management support on its Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS).

GVRS, also known as focused deterrence, is an evidence-based initiative designed to reduce serious violence. The strategy works by engaging directly with those most intimately involved in and affected by violence, leveraging an intentional collaboration between law enforcement, social services, and community members who collectively co-sign and deliver an anti-violence message to stop the shooting.

When implemented with fidelity, GVRS can achieve what few other strategies can: reducing homicides and non-fatal shootings, while simultaneously minimizing the criminal justice footprint and empowering communities in the co-production of public safety.

Baltimore's flagship gun violence reduction strategy, GVRS produced a 33% reduction in homicides and shootings in Baltimore's historically violent Western police district and is currently in the process of moving to scale.

Job Responsibilities/Duties:

A significant portion of the Program Associate's role will involve the following duties:

1. Project Management: Coordinate several aspects of CJP's ongoing violence prevention and justice reform projects in Baltimore and the state of Maryland. This includes working closely with government and community partners, law enforcement groups, and service providers. While the role will largely focus on assisting the technical assistance team with project implementation, the Program Associate will also help oversee tasks that ensure smooth operations-such as managing stakeholder meetings, handling logistics, and supporting programmatic reporting.

2. Technical Assistance: Assist in the provision of expert technical support to partners, in collaboration with other CJP staff and research collaborators. Responsibilities include helping partners troubleshoot implementation challenges, engaging in discussions on policy and research priorities with stakeholders, and monitoring implementation activities.

3. CJP Baltimore/Maryland Support: Support the overall management of CJP's work in Baltimore and statewide, working directly with the Director of Violence Reduction and other staff members. This includes tasks related to grant management, internal operations, and general organizational support. The Program Associate may be asked to complete time-sensitive tasks, organize events, or build and manage systems that support CJP's operational efficiency.

A significant portion of the Senior Program Associate's role will involve the following duties:

1. Project Management: Support and manage components of CJP's violence prevention and justice reform projects in Baltimore and the state of Maryland. This includes partnering closely with government and community leaders, law enforcement agencies, and service providers. The Senior Program Associate will help oversee the implementation of complex projects, facilitate partner meetings, manage timelines and deliverables, and contribute to project design and troubleshooting.

2. Technical Assistance: Work with the CJP team to provide technical assistance and strategic support to public sector and nonprofit partners. This includes helping interpret and apply research findings, advising partners on best practices, and developing tools and systems to support implementation. The Senior Program Associate will serve as a key liaison to local partners and help ensure work is delivered with quality, timeliness, and consistency.

3. CJP Baltimore/Maryland Support: Collaborate with the Director of Violence Reduction and other team members to support grant management, internal operations, and the broader coordination of CJP's work across Baltimore and the state. The Senior Program Associate will play a role in helping the Lab stay agile, organized, and responsive to shifting needs on the ground.

4. Research and Evaluation Support: Lead and support the integration of applied research and evaluation into technical assistance efforts. This includes contributing to the design and management of qualitative and quantitative data collection, cleaning and coding of data, synthesizing insights, and contributing to performance monitoring frameworks.

These full-time positions are based in Baltimore, eligible for full university benefits, and funded through June 30, 2027, with the possibility of extension based on funding availability.

These positions are contingent upon grant funding.

The incumbent will report to CJP's Director of Violence Reduction Policy and Programs and contribute to the overall management of CJP's Baltimore- and Maryland-based initiatives.

* For consideration, please submit a cover letter as well as a resume in the CV section of your application. You can upload multiple documents to the "Resume/CV" section.

Qualifications Program Associate:

Bachelor's degree and 2 to 3 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. A Bachelor's degree in a relevant social science field such as criminology, criminal justice, public policy, economics and knowledge and background related to public policy on violence prevention and/or criminal justice policy is preferred. A Master's degree in a related field is a plus. Minimum of 2 to 3 years of professional experience in program/project management, public policy, or program implementation. Prior work with government agencies, public safety entities, or community-based initiatives is a big plus.

Skills:

• Strong project management and organizational skills (attention to detail), with the ability to balance multiple priorities and workstreams.
  
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively across teams and organizations, with diplomacy and initiative.
  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing materials for diverse audiences.
  
• Adaptability in a dynamic environment, with a willingness to take on new challenges and roles as needed.
  
• Comfort communicating with both academic researchers and public sector stakeholders, including law enforcement and community organizations.
  
• Familiarity with criminal justice systems and community violence reduction strategies is a plus.
  
• Familiarity with basic research methods and comfort working with data.
  
• Ability to work discretely with sensitive and confidential data
  

Qualifications Senior Program Associate:

Bachelor's degree and 3 to 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. A Bachelor's degree in a relevant social science field such as criminology, criminal justice, public policy and/or economics. Knowledge and background related to public policy on violence prevention and/or criminal justice policy is preferred as is a graduate degree (e.g.Master's) degree in a related field. 3 to 5 years of relevant professional experience, including work in public sector, nonprofit, or research roles. Prior work with government agencies, public safety entities, or community-based initiatives is a big plus.

Skills:

• Strong project management and organizational skills (attention to detail), with the ability to balance multiple priorities and workstreams.
  
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively across teams and organizations, with diplomacy and initiative.
  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing materials for diverse audiences.
  
• Adaptability in a dynamic environment, with a willingness to take on new challenges and roles as needed.
  
• Creative, systems-oriented thinker who can approach problems with both analytical and relational tools.
  
• Comfort communicating with both academic researchers and public sector stakeholders, including law enforcement and community organizations.
  
• Familiarity with criminal justice systems and community violence reduction strategies is a plus.
  
• Experience with qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.
  
• Fluency with data analysis software (e.g. Excel, Stata, R) is a plus.
  
• Ability to work discretely with sensitive and confidential data
  

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School
School of Arts and Sciences

Pay Range
$64,500.00 - $85,000.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
  
• Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
  
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
  
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family-whatever your personal needs may be.
  
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, you won't have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
  
• Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
  
• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
  
• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on at Penn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you're right in the middle of the excitement-and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
  
• Discounts and Special Services : From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
  
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
  
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
  
• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.
  

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Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
To apply, visit