Vice President of Community Engagement - REFORM Alliance

POSITION DESCRIPTION

VP of Community Engagement

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Location: New York, NY

About REFORM Alliance:
REFORM is committed to transforming probation and parole throughout the United States by changing laws, systems, and culture. The organization is working to replace America’s criminal justice system with a restorative approach that is fair, accountable, and invested in rehabilitation. Our goal is for people to reenter society with dignity, create meaningful pathways to work, and equip them with the tools to succeed, all while making families and communities safer and stronger.

REFORM was founded in the wake of the #FreeMeek movement. The Board includes award-winning recording artist Meek Mill; Fanatics executive chairman Michael Rubin; Arnold Ventures co-founder Laura Arnold; entrepreneur and business mogul Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter; Kraft Group CEO and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft; Galaxy Digital CEO and founder Michael E. Novogratz; Vista Equity Partners founder, chairman, CEO Robert F. Smith; Brooklyn Nets co-owner, businesswoman, investor, and philanthropist Clara Wu Tsai; and CEO and President of Live Nation Entertainment Michael Rapino; and Co-founder and Executive Chairperson of Cincoro Tequila Emilia Fazzalari. Criminal justice advocate Jessica Jackson leads the organization as CEO.

Purpose:

The Vice President of Community Engagement (VP) is responsible for advancing REFORM's mission by cultivating and sustaining meaningful engagement with partners, grantees, and the broader community. The VP will lead efforts to build robust relationships and community partnerships that amplify REFORM’s impact and visibility. The VP will drive initiatives that promote social impact and criminal justice reform by aligning community engagement strategies with REFORM's policy priorities. This role is also pivotal in organizing community-driven efforts and building coalitions that unite stakeholders around common goals, ensuring the organization remains a powerful advocate for change within the communities it serves.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership:
  • Develop and implement comprehensive community engagement strategies that align with REFORM’s mission, goals, and policy priorities.
  • Lead and manage the community engagement team, providing strategic direction, mentorship, and support to ensure the effective execution of initiatives.
  • Collaborate closely with the Chief Policy Officer(CPO) to ensure community engagement efforts align with the organization's advocacy priorities and policy initiatives. This includes integrating policy goals into community strategies and ensuring that engagement activities support the broader legislative and REFORM objectives.
  • Work with senior leadership to integrate community engagement efforts across all organizational functions.
• Community and Partner Engagement:
  • Establish and nurture relationships with key community stakeholders, grantees, and partners to advance REFORM’s mission.
  • Serve as one of the primary representatives of REFORM in the community, actively participating in events, meetings, and forums to advocate for the organization’s initiatives and policy goals.
  • Develop and lead strategic campaigns and initiatives to enhance community awareness and support for REFORM’s advocacy priorities.
  • Organize and lead coalition-building efforts, bringing together diverse stakeholders to create unified fronts on critical social impact issues and foster collaborative partnerships to advance shared goals.
• Stakeholder Management:
  • Address and resolve stakeholder concerns and feedback in a timely and professional manner, ensuring REFORM’s values and objectives are upheld in all community interactions.
  • Advocate for the organization’s interests in community discussions and initiatives, ensuring that REFORM’s voice is represented and heard.
• Data-Driven Decision Making:
  • Analyze community engagement metrics and utilize data-driven insights to inform strategy development and decision-making processes.
  • Report on community engagement activities and outcomes to senior leadership, providing recommendations for continuous improvement.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Social Work, Communications, or a related field. A Master’s degree is preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in community engagement, external affairs, or a related field, with at least 5 years in a senior management or leadership role.
• Proven track record of developing and implementing successful community engagement strategies and partnerships, particularly within the social impact or criminal justice reform sectors.

Skills:

• Strong understanding of social impact, community engagement, and criminal justice reform advocacy.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, partnership development, and stakeholder management.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and team management skills.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and public speaking abilities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to leverage data to drive decisions.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Willingness to travel approximately 30-40% of the time, as needed.

Personal Attributes:

• The ability to think strategically and envision the long-term impact of community engagement on REFORM’s mission.
• A deep understanding and compassion for the communities and individuals REFORM serves, with a commitment to fostering inclusive and equitable relationships.
• The ability to navigate and adapt to challenges while maintaining focus on the organization’s goals and mission.
• A strong ethical compass with a commitment to transparency, honesty, and accountability in all interactions.
• An awareness and sensitivity to diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences, with the ability to engage effectively across a wide range of community groups.
• A genuine enthusiasm for social impact, advocacy, and community building, with a drive to inspire others to join in REFORM’s mission.
• A team-oriented mindset with a strong ability to work effectively with others across all levels of the organization and with external partners.

We believe in the magic, connection, and collaboration that in-office work brings to our team. Therefore, we gather in our New York City (midtown) office five (5) days a week. The role requires staff to live within commuting distance of New York City. 

Our current benefits* include:

• Competitive salaries in the market of similar non-profit organizations
• Comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other ancillary options.
• 20 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) during the first year of employment in addition to org-wide holidays (11), and winter shutdown during the last week of December
• 4% 401(k) match after 30 days of employment 
• Coverage of 100% of health insurance premiums for employees (health, vision & dental)
• $75.00 monthly cell phone reimbursement

About REFORM Alliance’s Culture:

At REFORM Alliance, we strive to move hearts and minds to create a more humane criminal justice system. This requires us to maintain a company culture that values employee individuality and community development. We are committed to fostering an environment that is inclusive, empowering, and globally minded. We firmly believe that diversity in gender, race, ethnicity, sexual identity, cultural background, religion, disability, and age produces ideas and perspectives that make our efforts stronger for people unjustly in the system and make our company a better place to work. Our leadership team is committed to embedding diversity and inclusion into everything we do and how we lead.

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