THE OPPORTUNITY 

The National League of Cities is an organization based in Washington, D.C., comprised of city, town, and village leaders across the country focused on improving the quality of life for their current and future constituents. With over 100 years of dedication to local governments' strength, health, and advancement, NLC has gained the trust and support of more than 2,000 cities, towns, and villages nationwide. We are a dynamic and forward-thinking organization dedicated to supporting municipal leaders and driving positive change in communities across the nation.

POSITION OVERVIEW 

The Director of Public Safety and Justice Initiatives is a senior management role within the Center for Municipal Practice leading the development and implementation of technical assistance initiatives on public and community safety, violence prevention, criminal justice reform, and jail reduction. This role advocates for legislative and regulatory changes at the local, state, and federal level and works in collaboration with NLC’s research, data, and policy teams to inform evidence-based policymaking and program development that addresses the needs of cities. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES  

Program Strategy, Design, and Administration

• Create and sustain short- and long-term strategic plans for the Public Safety & Justice Initiatives portfolio in alignment with overall National League of Cities (NLC) and Center for Municipal Practice (CMP) goals, strategies, and initiatives.
• Design, create, lead, and support program opportunities in new directions in response to NLC member cities’ needs, the emergence of new evidence, and the direction of the Center’s Senior Executive and NLC leadership. Develop and implement programs in a manner that is sustainable for the organization.
• Ensure the high-quality performance of existing programs and initiatives. Monitor the consistency and continuity among programs, resolving discrepancies or conflicts between programs as required.
• Leverage past program successes and failures, industry best practices, and strengths offered by existing partnerships to guide the development of future initiatives. 
• Oversee the development of work plans and staff assignments to guide the implementation of programs and initiatives. Maintain a comprehensive work plan across the portfolio to provide visibility on overall program efforts.
• Contribute to and assist the Senior Executive with the overall management of CMP, including strategic planning and the leadership of cross-Center initiatives.

Partnerships

• Collaborate with the Senior Executive to identify and cultivate prospective partners to sustain, improve, and expand the portfolio.
• Identify and facilitate the formation of key partnerships with member cities, government officials, and other key experts and stakeholders to generate advocacy for organizational and programmatic goals.
• Meet with senior officials in NLC, state municipal leagues, member cities, and external partners to understand the current landscape of city needs and forge partnerships to help further program efforts. Identify opportunities to draw upon these partnerships to broaden the resources available to municipal leaders in member cities.
• Promote innovative solutions local elected officials are taking to explicitly address program issues, topics, and goals in their cities. 
• Establish opportunities that give members a national voice on the impacts of program topics and initiatives in their cities to showcase their efforts.
• Develop and lead internal partnerships with NLC in order to advance the portfolio, and CMP goals, strategies, and initiatives.

Grants, Sponsorships, and Funding

• Collaborate with the Senior Executive to identify and cultivate potential funders interested in topics and initiatives related to the Public Safety & Justice Initiatives portfolio and the Center for Municipal Practice. 
• Develop grant, sponsorship, and other funding proposals to sustain and expand services within or related to the portfolio. Solicit funding for proposals, identifying potential funders or sources for proposed programs and cultivating relationships with key representatives in those organizations.
• Manage the fulfillment of and compliance with grant and sponsorship agreements. Develop processes, procedures, and timelines that govern grant and sponsorship data delivery, financial reports, program narratives, and other information to funders as outlined in agreements.
• Manage relationships with program officers, fund administrators, and other staff at funders that provide program resources.
• Prepare, provide, and present executive summaries and detailed reports to the Senior Executive, NLC leadership, and funders for ongoing program oversight and direction.
• Oversee budget planning and fiscal management to ensure efficient allocation of resources for portfolio of work. 

 Program Education, Outreach, and Events

• Strategize the deployment of training, technical assistance, and information sharing that deepen the capacity of city leaders to drive effective local action related to the portfolio. Respond to requests for assistance from NLC members, other municipal leaders, partners, and other interested organizations.
• Establish long-term plans to educate city leaders, members, and potential members on program and service offerings. 
• Oversee the development of resources for city leaders to grow their capability to address key topics related to the portfolio explicitly.
• Direct and support marketing and communications initiatives focused on fostering program goals, expanding NLC membership, and supporting the efforts of municipal officials in NLC member cities. 
• Direct the development of program-specific content for conferences, meetings, and other programmatic and organizational events. Make speeches and presentations to diverse audiences and otherwise represent NLC in public. 
• Build partnerships and strengthen existing collaborations with city leaders, foundations, corporate funders, and other stakeholders and partners.

 Program Research and Thought Leadership

• Provide thought leadership on the development of innovative solutions to portfolio-related problems confronting city leaders while uplifting innovative practices happening in cities nationwide.
• Identify new and emerging opportunities for exploration to shape the direction of future NLC programs.
• Direct efforts to conduct original research and collect best practice information to produce meaningful, actionable recommendations for city policymakers.
• Oversee the compilation of research and best practices to support the development of technical assistance, communications, and learning. 
• Publish and present key information at relevant conferences, and otherwise socialize key information with appropriate stakeholders.
• Serve as a resource on relevant issues to other NLC staff and departments.

 Program Evaluation

• Define and establish measures to evaluate the achievement of program strategy and goals. Use relevant data analytics and research to track and assess the impact of ongoing programs.
• Solicit and incorporate feedback from NLC members, program participants, partners, and other stakeholders to ensure programs and practices meet their needs. 
• Recommend changes to improve the effectiveness of programs based on program results, member city feedback, and changes in city needs/requirements.
• Collect data and review progress on the overall growth and success of the portfolio. Provide feedback and reports to the Senior Executive and NLC leadership regarding the success or failure of particular programs.

 Leadership

• Directly supervise all staff (or the managers of specific staff, as assigned) including defining individual work goals, expectations, priorities, and measures for success.
• Guide and direct the efforts of assigned staff members to plan and complete the necessary work supporting the portfolio, CMP, and NLC. 
• Serve as a mentor and coach for staff, providing knowledge and technical expertise in the portfolio. Plan and deliver professional development to staff based on their current work assignments and long-term career goals.
• Perform functions typically associated with managing and leading others, including performance management, recruitment and selection, and compensation and policy administration.

 Perform other duties and lead special projects as assigned. 

 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a related field plus ten years of experience managing and leading public safety, criminal justice reform initiatives or a master’s degree in a related field and 7-8 years' experience.
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining effective relationships with key stakeholders, including government officials, law enforcement agencies, community organizations, and advocacy groups.
• Experience in program development, planning, implementation, and/or contract administration, ideally focused on training, technical assistance, and/or information sharing.
• Grant management expertise including writing grant proposals, budget development, and monitoring program deliverables. 
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to assess complex policy issues and propose effective solutions.
• Ability to interact effectively with members, representatives of other organizations, elected officials, consultants, and all levels of NLC staff. 
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to leverage resources, share best practices, and achieve common goals in public safety and justice reform.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to articulate policy positions, engage stakeholders, and influence decision-makers.
• Experience leading and mentoring a team to achieve organizational objectives and foster professional growth. 
• Experience monitoring and evaluating program performance, outcomes, and impact to assess effectiveness and inform continuous improvement efforts.
• MS Office skills (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)

NLC COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & ACCESS 

NLC is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all persons and to prohibiting discrimination because of race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, status as a veteran, or any other protected status and/or conditions specified in federal and local civil rights law. 

NLC strives to cultivate a culture of inclusion for all employees that respects their strengths, views, and experiences. We believe our differences enable us to be a better team that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers results. 

NLC will take steps to ensure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations accordingly if a reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment. 

VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS 

This position requires proof of complete vaccination against COVID-19 prior to the first date of employment, subject to applicable law. If you are offered employment, this requirement must be met by your hire date unless a reasonable accommodation request is received and approved. 

WORK LOCATION 

 This hybrid position is based in Washington, DC, and requires three days on-site at our NLC headquarters. 

SALARY RANGE

$140k - $160k

OUR BENEFITS 

• Competitive benefits and retirement package 
• Generous paid time off and holidays 
• Hybrid work environment 
• Professional Development 

EOE/M/F/D/V