Criminal Justice Research Analyst

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.

We are seeking a Criminal Justice Research Analyst to support the research team across its various portfolios to help identify and analyze opportunities for high-impact philanthropic projects in the field of criminal justice. This position will be located in our Houston, New York or Washington, D.C. office and will report to the Director of Criminal Justice Research. 

Core Responsibilities

• Provide analytical and operational support for the Arnold Ventures research team, including active collaboration with senior team members on grants management, performance tracking, and oversight.
• Research, develop, evaluate, and track potential research projects.
• Compose, fact-check, and edit team strategies, presentations, letters, website content, and other written materials.
• Create data visualizations and presentations that effectively communicate research/​analysis findings, as well as the team’s objectives and strategies.
• Coordinate and actively contribute to meetings and site visits with government officials, researchers, foundation officials, program providers, and other stakeholders.
• Conduct ad-hoc research/​analysis of organizations, programs, policies, local governments, leaders, academic papers, open-source justice data, and the state of the field in particular policy and practice areas to help team members develop research initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in a relevant field such as economics, sociology, political science, psychology, criminal justice, criminology, public policy, or other social sciences
• 1 – 2 years of relevant work experience including part-time work or internships; preferably in positions conducting policy-relevant research and evaluation projects, policy reform, and/​or project management
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to summarize and communicate key takeaways to diverse, nontechnical audiences.
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to analyze problems, assess potential solutions, and articulate tradeoffs

The salary range for this position will be $75,000-$90,000.

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 can interact confidently and collaboratively with team members and navigate relationships with external experts, government leaders, advocates, and other stakeholders.

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

Arnold Ventures is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, military/​veteran status, or any basis prohibited by applicable law.

Acknowledging the importance of diverse perspectives, Arnold Ventures is committed to employing individuals from a variety of backgrounds and with a variety of experiences. Members of historically marginalized communities and candidates who have been impacted by the systems we are seeking to change are strongly encouraged to apply.