Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Justice Program Manager

🎯 Role Definition

The Justice Program Manager is the strategic leader responsible for the design, implementation, and evaluation of our justice-focused programs. You will manage complex projects, foster critical partnerships with community organizations and government agencies, and drive our mission forward to create a more equitable and effective justice system. This position requires a blend of hands-on program management, strategic vision, and a deep commitment to social and racial justice. You will serve as a key subject matter expert, representing the organization and influencing change at both the systemic and community levels.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Justice Program Coordinator
Senior Policy Analyst
Supervising Paralegal or Attorney
Community Organizer

Advancement To:

Director of Programs
Senior Justice Program Manager
Director of Policy & Advocacy
Deputy Executive Director

Lateral Moves:

Government Affairs Manager
Senior Grant Manager
Director of Community Engagement

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement, and manage all aspects of justice-related programs, including defining project scopes, goals, timelines, and deliverables in collaboration with senior management and stakeholders.
Oversee the full lifecycle of grant-funded projects, from proposal development and grant writing to implementation, budget management, and timely submission of narrative and financial reports.
Cultivate and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including community-based organizations, government agencies, law enforcement, court personnel, and individuals with lived experience in the justice system.
Supervise, mentor, and support program staff, interns, and volunteers, fostering a collaborative and high-performance team environment focused on professional growth and mission achievement.
Lead the strategic planning process for justice initiatives, identifying emerging trends, needs, and opportunities for programmatic innovation and expansion.
Design and execute robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks to track program performance, measure impact against stated goals, and facilitate a cycle of continuous learning and improvement.
Analyze local, state, and federal policies impacting the criminal legal system and develop advocacy strategies to advance reform efforts in alignment with the organization's mission.
Manage program budgets with precision, including forecasting expenses, tracking spending against grant allocations, and ensuring fiscal responsibility and compliance.
Serve as a primary spokesperson and subject matter expert for the organization's justice programs at conferences, public forums, and media engagements.
Facilitate trainings, workshops, and convenings for community members, partner organizations, and system stakeholders to build capacity and advance shared goals.
Direct community outreach and engagement strategies to ensure programs are responsive to community needs and effectively reach target populations.
Draft and contribute to the creation of public-facing materials, including reports, white papers, fact sheets, and web content, to disseminate program findings and influence public discourse.
Negotiate and manage contracts with external consultants, vendors, and sub-awardee partners, ensuring compliance with organizational and funder requirements.
Identify and mitigate potential risks to program success, proactively developing contingency plans to address challenges as they arise.
Collaborate closely with the development team to identify new funding opportunities and cultivate relationships with foundations, individual donors, and government funders.
Ensure all program activities adhere to legal, ethical, and organizational standards, maintaining meticulous records and documentation.
Provide direct supervision and guidance to a team responsible for direct services, ensuring high-quality, trauma-informed care for program participants.
Champion principles of racial equity and inclusion throughout all program activities, from design and outreach to hiring and partnership development.
Oversee the collection, management, and analysis of both qualitative and quantitative program data to inform strategy, demonstrate impact, and support storytelling.
Coordinate logistics for large-scale program events, meetings, and site visits, ensuring professional execution and a positive stakeholder experience.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to inform new strategic initiatives.
Contribute to the organization's broader data strategy and roadmap, ensuring program data integrates with organizational goals.
Collaborate with communications and development units to translate program data and success stories into compelling narratives for fundraising and public relations.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies for cross-departmental projects that intersect with justice programs.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Program Management: Expertise in planning, executing, and closing complex, multi-stakeholder projects on time and within budget.
Grant Management & Writing: Proven ability to secure funding and manage the full grant lifecycle, including narrative and financial reporting.
Budgeting & Financial Acumen: Skill in developing, monitoring, and reporting on complex program budgets, often with restricted funds.
Policy Analysis & Advocacy: Deep understanding of the legislative and policy-making process and experience in developing advocacy campaigns.
Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E): Competency in designing and implementing M&E frameworks using both quantitative and qualitative methods to measure impact.
Subject Matter Expertise: In-depth knowledge of the U.S. criminal legal system, justice reform movements, and restorative/transformative justice principles.

Soft Skills

Stakeholder Engagement: Exceptional ability to build and maintain authentic, trusting relationships with diverse groups, from community members to high-level officials.
Strategic Leadership: The capacity to think critically, set a clear vision for program direction, and inspire a team to achieve ambitious goals.
Advanced Communication: Superior written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex issues clearly and persuasively to different audiences.
Team Supervision & Mentorship: A strong track record of managing and developing staff, fostering a supportive, equitable, and accountable team culture.
Cultural Competency: A sophisticated understanding of and commitment to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion, particularly in the context of the justice system.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field.

Preferred Education:

Master's Degree (e.g., MPA, MPP, MSW) or Juris Doctor (J.D.).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Criminal Justice / Criminology
Public Policy / Public Administration
Social Work
Law
Sociology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

5-7 years of progressive experience in program management, with at least 3 years in a supervisory role.

Preferred:

Demonstrated experience working directly within or in partnership with the criminal legal system, a non-profit social justice organization, or a relevant government agency. Lived experience with the justice system is highly valued. A proven history of managing government and foundation grants is strongly preferred.