Senior Program Officer, Criminal Justice Grantmaking

The US criminal justice system’s approach to incarceration strips people of their human dignity, leaving lasting trauma on individuals, families, and communities. At Schusterman Family Philanthropies, we are committed to transforming the systems that drive mass incarceration and investing in solutions that help those impacted thrive. We are seeking a Senior Program Officer with expertise in the criminal legal system and the ability to think critically about the intersection of criminal justice with broader societal issues to lead the high-level strategy, planning, and management of our Reducing and Repairing Harm sub-portfolio. You’ll work on funding initiatives that support successful reentry, enhance economic mobility, and build the leadership capacity of formerly incarcerated individuals.

Reporting to the Senior Director, Criminal Justice Grantmaking, and in collaboration with the team, you will seek, develop, recommend, and manage grants that aim to build healthy and safe communities by ending mass incarceration, repairing the harm caused by a criminal legal system built on structural racism, and creating new pathways to justice and safety. This role requires a combination of strategic relationship-building, research, and operational expertise. You will act as both a funder and thought partner to grantees, engaging closely with them to understand their challenges, support their goals, and help them navigate opportunities amid shifts in the political climate. You will manage portfolio timelines and communications to ensure grantmaking processes run efficiently and are responsive to stakeholder needs. You will also conduct in-depth landscape analyses of the criminal justice space and research potential grantee partners to provide strategic recommendations on where to focus resources—identifying initiatives to prioritize and areas to step back from. Your ability to synthesize and present complex information clearly to your team, Schusterman leadership, and grantees will be essential to your success.

We value the experience and leadership of people who have been directly impacted by the systems we seek to change and strongly encourage individuals with lived experience with the criminal legal system to apply.

How You’ll Make an Impact

This work isn’t about making incremental changes to deeply broken systems—it’s about addressing the interwoven crises of housing insecurity, economic inequity, and racial injustice so that every individual has the chance to contribute, succeed, and lead in our communities. By shaping a strategic vision for this portfolio and cultivating a viable group of grantees to advance that strategy, you’ll ensure our investments:

• Transform how government approaches reentry, prioritizing what individuals need in order to thrive upon release, with an initial focus on core elements of well-being such as housing and financial stability.
• Scale effective efforts to address barriers to economic mobility.
• Build the leadership capacity of currently and formerly incarcerated people in efforts to transform the criminal legal system.

Work Environment, Salary, and Benefits

• The budgeted salary range for this role is $140K-$165K based on experience and Schusterman’s commitment to internal equity. We offer a strong benefits package to support employee health and well-being, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, and mental health support. Schusterman encourages ongoing professional development and supports activities aligned with one’s individual career growth plan.
• You’ll enjoy a hybrid schedule, collaborating closely with your team in our New York, NY office two days a week and may work remotely the rest of the week. Travel up to 25% is required to meet with grantees and attend meetings and conferences.
• We strive to create a work environment rooted in equity where all team members feel a sense of belonging, are treated fairly, and can use their voices to advance our mission effectively. We look for team members who embody our core values of Equity, Impact, Optimism, Humility, and Collaboration and are passionate about our mission. Learn more about our mission and values here.

Responsibilities

Portfolio Strategy and Management

• Deepen and refine the Reducing and Repairing Harm grantmaking strategy, including working with the team on learning and evaluation.
• Manage a substantial grants portfolio with grants management colleagues.
• Assist grantees in achieving their grant goals, meeting agreed-upon milestones and overcoming obstacles. Act as a thought partner to grantee staff.
• Help design and execute plans for additional grantee support, including capacity building, networking, convening, and leveraging other sources of funding.
• Lead the Reducing and Repairing Harm strategy internally by effectively articulating its vision, work, and impact to Schusterman leadership and responding adaptively to feedback or adjustments.

External Leadership

• Build and nurture relationships with field leaders, organizations, and peer funders to foster collaboration and learning, explore program development, and contribute to the field.
• Represent Schusterman and the Criminal Justice Grantmaking team externally at conferences, workshops, and other convenings.

Organizational and Team Development

• Together with the Criminal Justice Grantmaking team and the entire Schusterman staff, help shape and support a culture of collaboration, care for colleagues, commitment to racial and gender equity in grantmaking practices, high caliber work that drives high impact in the field, and taking risks and being bold.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of professional experience working within the non-profit sector, government and/or philanthropy in movement-based criminal justice policy or a related area. Experience working with reentry initiatives, fair housing, housing access, or leadership development for individuals impacted by the legal system is preferred.
• A bachelor’s degree is preferred, but we welcome alternative qualifications for candidates who demonstrate competency in key impact areas.
• Proven ability to creatively address complex challenges and think critically at a systems level, focusing on the intersection of criminal justice with broader societal issues.
• Familiarity with organizations that fit Schusterman’s funding priorities.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal skills.
• Experience applying a Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion lens to projects and programs.

About Schusterman Family Philanthropies

Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies strives for a future in which the United States and Israel live up to their ideals and achieve more just and inclusive societies. We work to advance racial, gender and economic equity in the US, as well as to foster a more joyful and diverse Jewish community. In Israel, we work toward a secure homeland for the Jewish people, a thriving democracy and an inclusive society that cares for its most vulnerable. We aim to drive and support long-term systemic change through investments in leaders, organizations, and US public policy.

Staffing Advisors is committed to reducing bias in every aspect of the hiring process. We have long recommended a competency-driven approach to hiring. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position description; we will consider people from a variety of backgrounds and career experiences.