Position Description

Director, Juvenile Justice

FULL TITLE: Director, Juvenile Justice

SUPERVISOR: Executive Vice President, Cross-Systems Consulting

PURPOSE: The Director, Juvenile Justice will serve as a key strategic thought partner responsible

for managing a portfolio of states and co-designing integrated solutions to advance equitable

youth opportunities and outcomes across youth-serving systems. To leverage the expertise of our

growing team, this person will have experience providing consultation to state systems leaders

across multiple youth serving sectors — education, behavioral and mental health, human services

and, workforce development — with a focus on juvenile justice. The person taking on this position

will also be a keen strategist, experienced in data analytics, providing consultation and thought

leadership in juvenile justice.

Organization & Background

Founded in 1998, the Forum for Youth Investment is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan “action tank”

committed to improving outcomes for youth (ages 5-24) in education, work, and life. The Forum

connects leaders to ideas, services and networks that can help them make more intentional

decisions that are good for young people, even in the face of limited resources. It helps leaders

who are trying to improve & align policies, plan & partner for impact, and/or strengthen programs

& adult practice across all the systems and settings where young people spend time. The Forum

is a thriving organization with a budget of $9 million and a staff of 40, headquartered in

Washington, DC. The Forum overall is funded by a mix of foundations, corporations, and a fee-

for-service contract base. Please visit www.forumfyi.org for more information about our work.

Position Responsibilities

Data Analysis and Consultation for State Systems Leaders

• Provide consultation on state-level systems change and transformation in juvenile

justice, using a positive youth development approach,

• Engage states in discovery phase, identifying and collecting research & data sources

for state landscape analyses and proving SWOT analyses.

• Partner across units to identify states’ needs, leveraging all organizational capabilities,

value offerings, and services, including policy development and alignment and youth

program quality improvement.

Strategic Planning and Implementation for State Systems Leaders

• Co-design strategic vision, goals, innovative solutions, and outcomes-based

frameworks for state system leaders within juvenile justice and across the youth

ecosystem

• Support states’ implementation of short- and long-term strategic plans in support of

achieving states’ goals.

• Support states’ implementation of short- and long-term strategic plans in support of

achieving states’ goals.

Knowledge Product Development & Dissemination

• Capture and disseminate insights from state engagements, highlighting insights,

lessons-learned and recommendations for systems improvement, transformation, and

innovation.

• Stay current on research and practice trends related to thriving youth ecosystems to

support the unit’s ability to offer practical, useful, and research-based strategies to the

field.

• Disseminate key ideas and innovations in state juvenile justice reform through the

development of knowledge products, including issue briefs, articles, blogs, and

presentations at national conferences. and other channels.

Business Development and Customer Experience

• Support client prospecting and intake to include activities such as attending relevant

networking events, conducting exploratory calls/meetings with interested clients

and partners, and designing scopes of work

• Oversee project management for state client deliverables, ensuring they are on time,

on budget, with the highest levels of quality and customer/stakeholder satisfaction.

• Using a continuous improvement framework, identify opportunities for meaningful

change and develop strategies to support a collaborative culture, shared

accountability, and efficiency.

• Collaborate effectively with other units and organizational functions, including Policy,

Strategic Communications, and Youth Program Quality to meet state customers’ needs.

Performance/Character Requirements

Characteristics of successful candidates include:

• Manages Self – You ask for feedback on impact of your behavior on others. You identify

• Leads Courageously – You consistently drive to successful outcomes and stay

• Communicates Effectively – You communicate (both in writing and verbally) clearly,

• Builds High-Performing Teams – You form and lead consulting teams capable of

• Makes Quality Decisions – You clearly state where you stand on issues, even if it is

• Demonstrates Business Acumen – You understand and create opportunities to

• Influences and Negotiates – You influence others by building coalitions or alliances

• Manages Vision and Purpose – You inspire commitment to a compelling vision and

• Thinks Strategically, Executes Skillfully – You can see the forest through the trees and

• Is Goal Oriented – We want someone who is a doer, with doggedness, a determination

way to make it happen.

• Demonstrates Creativity – While there are tried-and-true tactics in your toolbox, you

• Handles Ambiguity – You can effectively cope with change and lead others through it.

• Communicates Assertively – You express opinions directly, confidently, and accurately.

• Collaborates & Values Relationships – You can quickly gain the respect and trust of

• Takes Risk – The entrepreneurial spirit shines through in your willingness to experiment

• Models Diplomacy – You have worked in diverse settings and understand the cultural

• Exhibits Professional Acumen – You demonstrate confidence, experience, and poise

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field, such as public administration, criminal justice, youth

• Subject matter expertise in state juvenile justice reform is required for this position,

• 3 years’ experience in providing consultation to state systems leaders, across at least

• Experience evaluating and analyzing systems change, reforms, and program

• Experience collaborating with government entities at the state level to provide

• Willingness to travel, as needed

Working Environment

Flexibility is required to adapt to the dynamic work environment of a non-profit “action tank”

that has national clients and exposure. The climate is informal but mission driven. Excellence is

valued in every position. The Director is a remote position given the need to carry out

consulting engagements with state clients/partners. Travel (to be reimbursed by the Forum) is

expected for in-person team meetings and client/partner meetings (estimated 10-20% time).

Position & Compensation

The salary range, duties and responsibilities of this position meet the requirements of Section 13

(a) (1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act and therefore qualifies as an "exempt" position. The

starting salary for this position is targeted between $90,000 and $118,000 dependent upon

experience and qualifications, with a comprehensive benefits package. Please send resume

and cover letter with salary requirements to: jobs@forumfyi.org. Applications will be reviewed

on a rolling basis. If your application is selected for an interview, you will be contacted directly.

No telephone calls or inquiry emails, please.

**
The Forum for Youth Investment is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is
proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and drug-free workplace, and to comply with ADA
regulations as applicable. All applicants are considered for all positions without regard to
race, religion, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, national
origin, ancestry, physical/mental disability, severe/morbid obesity, medical condition,
military/veteran status, genetic information, marital status, ethnicity, alienage or any other
protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. We
encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. If you are a qualified candidate with a
disability, please email us at jobs@forumfyi.org if you require a reasonable accommodation
to complete your application.