Senior Policy Analyst, Community Responder (Fully Remote)

Who we are:

The Council of State Governments Justice Center works across the country to develop research-driven strategies to increase public safety and strengthen communities. To further this mission, we work with partners inside and outside of government to reduce crime and incarceration among youth and adults in contact with the justice system. We bring people from diverse systems and perspectives together to improve policy and practice. And we transform data and research findings into meaningful insights for decision-makers.

We're focused on three strategic goals:

• Break the cycle of incarceration.
• Advance health, opportunity, and equity.
• Use data to improve safety and justice.

When you join the CSG Justice Center, you join an organization that is uniquely positioned to cultivate innovation and drive data-driven reform nationally. We have approximately 120 employees-expected to grow to about 150 by the end of this year-based in more than 20 states who have decades of experience working in and with criminal, juvenile, and Tribal justice agencies. We have provided housing, mental health, and addiction services; served as educators and in workforce development agencies; and supported victims and survivors of crime. We have served governors, state legislators, and members of Congress on both sides of the political spectrum. What binds us together is a shared commitment to our mission; to one another; to a common set of values; and to the national, bipartisan advisory board that guides our work.

Learn more about careers at the CSG Justice Center.

How you'll fit in:

The Behavioral Health Division works with jurisdictions nationally to improve outcomes for people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders who are at risk of justice system involvement or are already involved in the criminal justice system. This includes developing community responder programs to expand first responses to people in behavioral health crisis. We also provide training and technical assistance through the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) and Second Chance Act program, which work to engage, support, and guide state and local governments, as well as Tribal Nations, to improve responses for people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders who are involved in the criminal justice system.

The senior policy analyst will serve as an integral member of the CSG Justice Center's Behavioral Health Division and work on projects related to improving crisis response for people with behavioral health needs, housing insecurity, and social disturbances. This work will focus on including community responders, as well as mobile crisis and police-mental health collaborations. The senior policy analyst will work directly with behavioral health and criminal justice leaders, stakeholders, and grantees to assist in their efforts to help communities address challenges at the intersection of behavioral health, housing, and the criminal justice system by examining existing programs, policies, and practices and providing policy recommendations to behavioral health and criminal justice agencies. The senior policy analyst will coordinate with a team of expert consultants providing technical assistance; analyze relevant policy, research, and legislation; and coordinate and manage politically sensitive meetings with high-ranking local, state, and federal officials, advocates, and other experts across the country.

What you'll do:

Specific responsibilities of the senior policy analyst include the following:

• Contributing to the development of and facilitating jurisdiction training activities such as webinars and online learning communities; and
• Cultivating relationships across stakeholders involved with each jurisdiction's initiative;
• Update senior staff and provide recommendations and advisement to inform long-range strategies.
• Contribute to the development of long-range strategies to guide the CSG Justice Center's behavioral health work, particularly with a focus on crisis systems.
• Providing guidance and resources to help jurisdictions meet their program goals;
• Plan and participate in policy-focused meetings of high-ranking government officials, advocates, and national experts.
• Maintaining regular communication with jurisdictions;
• Participate actively in, and occasionally lead, staff discussions and strategic planning meetings.
• Work with a wide range of advisory groups focused on city and county government, law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, housing, criminal justice, and behavioral health technical assistance efforts.
• Research new funding opportunities, write sections of grant proposals occasionally, draft reports to funders, and serve as a resource to funding agencies.
• Independently monitor timelines, budgets, and deliverables to ensure that responsibilities to funders are met in assigned project areas.
• Provide technical assistance to jurisdictions that are expanding first response models to include alternatives to policing by
• Lead the conceptualization and development of written products, including policy briefs, research memos, and presentations, that concisely and clearly describe complex analyses and policy options to policymakers.
• Lead efforts to conceptualize and create technical assistance tools and products, including explanatory guides, planning tools and worksheets, data dashboards, analytic tools, and more.
• Ensure that senior staff and CSG Justice Center colleagues, consultants, or funders are aware of relevant project developments and that other work in the field is leveraged for the advancement of project goals.
• Identify themes and linkages across disparate initiatives within the CSG Justice Center's diverse portfolio and leverage opportunities to incubate and test new ideas and approaches.
• Identify and engage new contacts in the field to serve as formal or informal project consultants or partners.
• Documenting technical assistance contacts and activities in a timely manner.
• Contribute to the development of CSG Justice Center website content and strategize with staff and technical consultants on ways of using the website to promote policy goals.

What you'll bring:

• At least five years of relevant work experience or equivalent educational achievements that involved some of the following: training and technical assistance, research, or policy analysis; experience in criminal justice, mental health, and behavioral health
• Experience in collaborative planning efforts involving government, nonprofit, philanthropic, Tribal Nations, and private sector partners
• Knowledge of call triage processes for 911 and 988
• Ability to learn quickly; demonstrated ability to work effectively in multiple settings and sectors
• Experience using data to drive decision-making and collecting, matching, and analyzing administrative data from criminal justice and mental health systems
• Excellent research, writing, and editing skills and an analytical mind
• Demonstrated success managing relationships with funders and external partners
• Dedication to public service with an unfailing commitment to act with civility, be nonpartisan in performing CSG Justice Center duties, and be a responsible steward of member and donor funds
• Reliable and secure internet/data connection and flexibility for using a personal device for internet connectivity during business travel (a cost offset is provided by the CSG Justice Center)
• Demonstrated success in meeting project deadlines and funder deliverables
• Ability to interact effectively with diverse people in different contexts and foster equity and inclusion through self-awareness, cultural sensitivity, and valuing others
• Ability to draw connections between seemingly disparate programs or projects
• Understanding of and ability to apply trauma-informed care, racial equity, cultural humility, and gender-responsive lenses to programming and technical assistance support
• Experience with street outreach, harm reduction, and community engagement
• Experience with performance measurement, research and evaluation and data analysis, particularly related to mental illness, substance addiction, crisis response, and 911 and 988 call data
• Strong oral communication skills, including the ability to effectively distill and present complex information in a concise, accessible way
• Knowledge of supportive mental health, substance use, and criminal justice best practices and evidence-based strategies
• Understanding of local and state dynamics in the criminal justice, behavioral health, and crisis systems, as well as the interplay between them
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including maturity and an ability to work independently and in a team setting

How you apply:

If you're interested in helping us drive change across the country, upload the following elements with your application:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Writing sample
• At least three professional references

We will consider all paid and unpaid experience relative to this position, including internships, fellowships, and volunteer activities.

CSG believes that pay equity and pay transparency advance workplace fairness. Compensation will be equitable and based on experience and geography. The NYC-based salary range for this position is $69,300 - $108,200. The starting salary for this position outside of NYC may be as low as $68,500. Salary ranges are subject to change based on work location and market conditions.

Learn more about careers at the CSG Justice Center.

We welcome and value diversity in our staff, including race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, educational attainment, disability, protected veteran status, and personal experience with the criminal justice system.

CSG is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. CSG participates in E-Verify.