Pathways to Research and Advocacy Fellow

Description

Title:                   Pathways to Research and Advocacy Fellow (PtRA Fellow)

Unit:                   Center for Research, Inquiry and Social Justice (CRIS-J)

Reports to:         Senior Director of Research

Status:                 Full Time; Temporary; Non-Exempt

Salary:                $27.48 per hour

Timeframe:       12 months

Hours:               35 hours per week; Monday – Friday; 9am-5pm

Location:          On-site, Long Island City and Harlem, New York

The Organization:

The Fortune Society’s mission is to support successful reentry from incarceration and promote alternatives to incarceration, strengthening the fabric of our communities. We do this by believing in the power of individuals to change, building lives through service programs shaped by the needs and experiences of the Fortune community, and leveraging research and advocacy to help realize more just collective futures.

Purpose of the Position:

The Pathways to Research and Advocacy (PtRA) Fellow will provide essential administrative and logistical support to Fortune’s Center for Research, Inquiry, and Social Justice (CRIS-J) and David Rothenberg Center for Public Policy (DRCPP). This role is critical in ensuring the smooth day-to-day operations of both centers by managing a range of administrative tasks, including calendar management, scheduling meetings, coordinating events, tracking timelines, processing paperwork, and facilitating communication with internal departments. The Fellow will be responsible for taking meeting notes, organizing documents, maintaining publication lists, managing data entry, and helping to keep projects on schedule by tracking deadlines and deliverables. Additionally, they will play a key role in coordinating logistics for events, including preparing materials, securing space, and managing setup and breakdown.

While this is an administrative role, it is also an opportunity for someone who is interested in growing their research and advocacy skills in a highly collaborative environment. The selected candidate will gain exposure to research coordination and policy advocacy work while supporting the operational needs of both centers. Over time, they will have the opportunity to learn how research and advocacy intersect with nonprofit operations and contribute to the broader mission of CRIS-J and DRCPP.

We are looking for a highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive individual who takes initiative, communicates compassionately and effectively, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and can balance multiple tasks efficiently. This is an ideal position for someone who values structure and organization while also being open to learning and growing within Fortune’s research and advocacy landscape.

Core Competencies:

Mission, Culture, and Fit – The selected candidate must embody the values and mission of The Fortune Society. This includes meeting our participants where they are in the reentry process, demonstrating our values through compassion and understanding, and affirming that no one should be measured solely by their past mistakes.

Organizational and Project Management Skills – The PtRA Fellow should be detail-oriented, able to manage multiple deadlines, and proactively track project timelines. They should be comfortable managing schedules and logistics for multiple teams while ensuring smooth coordination between departments.

Communication and Collaboration – Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential for this role. The PtRA Fellow must be able to effectively coordinate with internal teams and external partners, take clear and concise meeting notes, and facilitate communication across CRIS-J and DRCPP.

Adaptability and Initiative – The ideal candidate is a proactive problem solver who can anticipate needs, troubleshoot issues, and contribute to the evolving work of both centers.

Principle Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide administrative and logistical support to both CRIS-J and DRCPP, including calendar management, meeting coordination, and tracking project deadlines.
• Process and manage administrative paperwork, including check requests, consultant contracts, and other necessary documentation to ensure smooth operations across CRIS-J and DRCPP.
• Coordinate with Finance, HR, and other internal departments to track and follow up on outstanding paperwork as needed.
• Assist in organizing events, including advocacy campaigns, policy discussions, and research dissemination efforts.
• Maintain and update publication lists for CRIS-J, ensuring that research outputs are properly documented and shared.
• Take meeting notes and track action items to ensure follow-through on key tasks.
• Lead the management of event logistics, including setting up spaces, transporting materials, and ensuring all necessary items are in place for smooth event execution.
• Support research and advocacy initiatives by assisting with background research and policy tracking as needed.
• Contribute to the long-term development of CRIS-J and DRCPP by learning about the centers’ missions and assisting in their growth.

Qualifications

• Strong administrative and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Interest in social justice, research, and/or policy advocacy.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Experience with administrative or logistical support preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook) and comfort with learning new systems.

Travel Requirements – Travel to Fortune Society offices, as well as travel for research and advocacy related events within and outside of NYC.

Physical Demands (if applicable) - To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The position requires the ability to lift and carry materials for events and meetings, including signage, printed materials, and food. The responsibilities and requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensing, experience and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

The Fortune Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of conviction history, race, religion/creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, victim of domestic violence status or marital status.

Salary : $27