Program & Policy Associate, Youth Justice (California)

Title: Senior Program & Policy Manager, Youth Justice (California) 

National Center for Youth Law   

The National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) amplifies youth power, dismantles racism and other structural inequities, and builds just policies, practices, and culture in support of young people. Our efforts advance justice through research, community collaboration, impact litigation, and policy advocacy that fundamentally transforms our nation’s approach to education, health, immigration, foster care, and youth justice. Our vision is a world in which every young person thrives and has a full and fair opportunity to achieve the future they envision for themselves.   

Youth Justice Team  

The National Center for Youth Law's Youth Justice Team leads powerful, multi-faceted initiatives that include state and local advocacy to build equitable, trauma-informed, youth-centered youth justice systems that value community and prioritize young people's well-being. The Youth Justice Team’s transformative campaigns are driven by the voices and needs of young people directly impacted by the juvenile and criminal justice systems, and include policy advocacy, grassroots organizing, leadership development, and a range of strategies all aimed at reducing our reliance on the legal system and emphasize community-based, youth development opportunities and services for youth.  

Position 

This position provides leadership and support in developing and implementing advocacy and community capacity-building campaigns in collaboration with community and system stakeholders to reduce youth incarceration, expand effective community-based services, and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in the youth justice system. This position is also responsible for developing and leading California state policy and local gender justice campaigns in collaboration with the team and community partners.   

Essential Functions 

• Manage and lead 1-3 state-level youth justice policy campaigns in collaboration with team members, community partners, and represent the team in stakeholder meetings. 
• Manage and lead the team’s engagement in initiatives to end the incarceration of girls and gender expansive youth and expanding health-centered alternatives. 
• Manage the team’s strategic communications, including collaborations with the NCYL communications department.  
• Manage the team’s research and data analysis needs, including data collection, evaluation, and monitoring capcity-building projects, and serve as the liaison between external research and data partners.  
• Develop and co-lead trainings on policy implementation, alternatives to incarceration, best practices for youth, youth leadership, and movement building strategies. 
• Manage and maintain the team’s files, trainings, and resources on NCYL’s server.  
• Establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with policymakers, system administrators and community partners. 
• Serve as the liaison between the NCYL administration, programmatic teams, and external stakeholders. 
• Provide administrative and technical support to the Senior Director, including managing grant compliance and reporting.  
• Supervise policy clerks and undergraduate interns. 

Qualifications 

• Experience in public policy and/or legislative processes, including drafting legislation and leading successful legislative campaigns in California within the last five (5) years.  
• Understanding of California’s child-serving systems and bureaucracies, including juvenile justice, education and child welfare. 
• Experience in research, writing, and analytical and problem-solving skills, including analyzing data, drawing findings, and asking questions to refine conclusions. 
• Ability to manage complex projects with a multitude of community and system partners. 
• Ability to effectively distill and present complex information in a concise, understandable way to diverse audiences. 
• Ability to think critically about systemic inefficiencies and creatively envision and develop proposals for systems of change. 
• Excellent computer technical skills, including using Microsoft suite, SharePoint, and Canva.   

Physical Requirements  

Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer. This position requires some travel. 

Salary, Benefits, and Location  

This is a full-time, exempt position with a competitive salary of $111,585.00. A geographic salary differential may be applied if the candidate resides somewhere other than the San Francisco, Oakland, or Los Angeles metro areas. This means that the salary would be reduced if the candidate resides in an area where the cost of labor is less than that of the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Candidates must reside in, or be willing to relocate to, California. Relocation must be completed prior to the start date of the position. 

NCYL provides a robust benefits package including health, dental, vision, and life insurances, generous vacation and sick benefits, paid family leave, flexible spending account, employer contribution to a retirement plan, paid sabbatical, and short-term and long-term disability insurance.  

It is anticipated but not guaranteed that NCYL’s remote work approach will be in place through 2026. If this policy is revoked prior to 2026, staff will be given at least one year's notice before being recalled to a NCYL office. 

All positions at NCYL are at-will and paid for by grants and donations, thus employment with NCYL will be contingent upon continued receipt of funding. Nothing in the statement changes the at-will employment relationship. 

How to Apply 

Please submit a cover letter and resume at the link below. Please, no emails or calls. 

Apply at: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/2758968 

 Applicants who meet the above criteria with lived experiences within any of our practice areas, including Black, Indigenous, or other people of color, are strongly encouraged to apply.

It is the policy of NCYL to provide equal employment opportunities to all Applicants (including Employees) regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding, national origin, age, abilities/disabilities, neurotypicality, socioeconomic status, veteran status, marital status, prior convictions, or any other protected classifications under federal, state, or local law.