Arnold Ventures

Position Title/Short Description

Full Text of JOE Listing:

Vice President of Criminal Justice Research
Arnold Ventures is a philanthropy whose core objective is to maximize opportunity and minimize injustice. We are dedicated to tackling some of the most pressing problems in the United States. We invest in sustainable change, building it from the ground up based on research, deep thinking, and a strong foundation of evidence. We drive public conversation, craft policy, and inspire action through education and advocacy.

Position Overview
The AV Criminal Justice team aims to improve public safety and make the U.S. criminal justice system fairer and more effective. They work with experts from inside and outside of government and across disciplines to support rigorous, policy-relevant research on what works; develop policies based on research and evidence; and advance meaningful policy change at the federal, state, and local levels.

The VP of Criminal Justice Research will have a strong appreciation for the role that high quality research plays in guiding and determining what policy and practice solutions will create impact. They will be a crucial voice, elevating the importance and role of rigorous evidence and evaluation for external constituencies, including grantees, governments, the press, and the nonprofit community.

The role will be based in AV’s Washington, D.C., New York, or Houston, Texas offices and will report to the Executive Vice President of Criminal Justice.
Core Responsibilities
• Collaborate with the AV Board and EVP of Criminal Justice to develop and refine AV’s mission to advance policy priorities through our research investments and evidence-building strategies
• Review, critique, and draft summaries of relevant research literature to inform strategic priorities, research agendas, and the development of future investments
• Oversee the development and management of a new research RFP process
• Identify, research, and evaluate new, high-leverage philanthropic opportunities to support the generation of new, high-quality research evidence
• Manage research investments, track progress and impact, and draw lessons from these investments to inform strategic priorities and the development of future investments
• Ensure the successful implementation and integration of communications and advocacy strategies and activities within our research and evidence-building investments
• Present and make investment/ grant recommendations to the AV Board
• Provide thought partnership on research designs and methods, which will include working with grantees and partners to develop research plans, establish performance metrics, assist in troubleshooting and overcoming research project obstacles, and monitor progress and impact
• Develop and manage relationships with key stakeholders, such as national criminal justice organizations, universities, practitioners, other funders, experts, and new and existing grantees
• Lead and manage AV’s Criminal Justice research team in close partnership with the EVP of Criminal Justice
• Collaborate with AV staff to explore and develop cross-initiative investment opportunities
• Provide strategic direction and support to the Criminal Justice team
Required Qualifications
• PhD in a relevant field (e.g., public policy, economics, psychology, sociology, political science)
• 10 or more years of relevant work experience conducting and/or managing rigorous policy-relevant research
• Demonstrated expertise in a range of research methods, particularly randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental designs, and other causal methods
• Strong leadership and people management skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to summarize research designs and research findings and communicate key takeaways to diverse, nontechnical audiences

Our Culture and Core Values
Our culture seeks to inspire and empower our people to innovate and develop bold ideas that will help Arnold Ventures achieve lasting impact. Our culture, and the core values that support it, should create an environment that spurs our team to think outside the box, feel comfortable pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and signal confidence in our team’s ability to make change happen through our philanthropic efforts. Although not an exhaustive list, below you’ll find examples of Arnold Ventures’ work culture:

• We are adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity • We are intellectually curious, open-minded, objective, humble, collegial, and receptive to feedback • We are action-oriented with strong self-direction and self-motivation skills with the ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects • We interact confidently and collaboratively with team members and navigate relationships with external experts, government leaders, advocates, and individuals.

Arnold Ventures’ values reflect who we are as an organization, help us accelerate our strategic goals, strengthen our resolve, anchor us to our mission, and guide our decision-making. The successful candidate will also demonstrate the following core values that inspire the Arnold Ventures team to make a difference.

• Respect for Ourselves & Others
• Audacious Action
• Collaborative Engagement
• Depth of Thought
• Clear Communication

The salary range for this role will be $225,000 to $325,000 per year.
Arnold Ventures is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, marital status, or sexual orientation.