Policy Manager, Data Centered Decision Making

Council Of State Governments; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 84,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

The Policy Manager at the Council of State Governments Justice Center leads project execution, provides subject-matter guidance, and supports strategic policy initiatives across state, local, and Tribal partners.

The role emphasizes relationship-building with government officials, data-informed decision making, and delivering high-quality policy products, with NYC metro area preferred (hybrid) and remote consideration. Salary is set with funding through June 2027 and extension possible.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years of relevant work experience and/or equivalent educational achievements.
• Strong interpersonal skills including self-awareness, sensitivity and valuing others.
• Ability to engage, lead, and manage project teams to successfully deliver on project goals/deliverables.
• Ability to solicit, facilitate and lead new project ideas from team members in support of the project's overall strategic direction with division leadership.
• Ability to identify and leverage other internal and external projects that advance their project priorities.
• Demonstrated success in developing strategic project plans that clarify project objectives, ensure alignment with organizational goals, applies the project's theory of change, and impacts the field.
• Demonstrated experience successfully managing large projects across multiple teams/divisions and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Project Leadership & Execution: Manage one or more projects, including planning, risk and contract management, collaboration with senior staff on funder updates and reports, timelines, deliverables, and staff coordination.
• Field Expertise & Technical Assistance: Conduct calls with sites to identify TA needs, support data analysis, and develop written products and presentations.
• Task Direction & Stakeholder Engagement: Provide direction and identify stakeholders and funders to advance opportunities.
• External Engagement & Relationship Building: Update external partners and engage new contacts as consultants or partners.
• Cross-Team Coordination & Organizational Contribution: Participate in project management processes and internal committees.
• Impact, Quality Assurance & Accountability: Ensure accuracy and quality, adherence to timelines, and evaluate project impact.

Skills

Project leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Data analysis

Policy writing

Job description

Who we are:

The Council of State Governments Justice Center helps leaders in every state design and implement solutions for complex justice system challenges and make communities safer and healthier. We deliver trusted data, practical strategies, and cross-systems collaboration to create second chances, reduce harm, and transform lives.

We're focused on four strategic priorities:

• Using data to drive action
• Strengthening crisis response and addressing violent crime
• Turning billions in new behavioral health resources into improved outcomes
• Growing the number of states committed to delivering reentry success by 2030

We have approximately 50 employees in states across the country who have decades of experience working in and with criminal, juvenile, and Tribal justice agencies. We have provided housing, mental health, and addiction services; served as educators and in workforce development agencies; and supported victims and survivors of crime. We have served governors, state legislators, and members of Congress on both sides of the political spectrum. What binds us together is a shared commitment to our mission; to one another; to a common set of values; and to the national, bipartisan advisory board that guides our work.

Learn more about careers at the CSG Justice Center.

How you'll fit in:

The Policy Manager provides project-level leadership, subject-matter guidance, and technical assistance in support of the Justice Center policy initiatives. Individuals in this role manage the day-to-day execution of one or more projects and contribute to the development of project strategy under the guidance of senior staff, and support the delivery of high-quality resources for policymakers, practitioners, and partners at the state, local, and Tribal levels. The Policy Manager brings strong subject-matter expertise and strengthens team culture through task direction and mentorship.

This role operates with meaningful independence and is responsible for advancing project goals by building relationships with government officials and practitioners across branches of government, including courts, corrections, behavioral health, law enforcement, executive agencies, and legislatures, ensuring effective day-to-day project management, and completing project activities at high degrees of accuracy, timeliness, and positive impact. The Policy Manager contributes to project-level planning, builds subject-matter credibility in their area of focus, and represents the organization externally through presentations, written products, and stakeholder engagement.

At this time, the CSG Justice Center is seeking qualified candidates with familiarity in the following areas: using justice data to inform decision making, coordinating implementation of criminal justice policy changes, and advancing justice systems change across multi-agency initiatives. This position will work on a range of projects that advance CSG Justice Center priorities related to reducing violent crime, improving behavioral health outcomes for people involved in justice systems, and scaling reentry programming and impacts to reduce recidivism. The role will focus on project management, stakeholder engagement, data analysis and interpretation, and helping partners use data to inform policy and implementation decisions. The ideal candidate is comfortable working across complex, multi-branch systems and supporting implementation efforts that bring together courts, corrections, behavioral health, law enforcement, executive agencies, legislators, and community partners.

Funding:

This position is funded through June 2027 with the possibility of extension based on funding availability.

Location:

NYC metro area preferred (hybrid); remote candidates will also be considered.

What you'll do:

Specific duties and responsibilities of this role include, but are not limited to, the following:

Project Leadership & Execution

• Manage one or more projects, including planning, risk and contract management, collaboration with senior staff on funder updates and reports, timelines, deliverables, and staff coordination.
• Contribute significantly to the development and success of assigned projects.
• Solicit, facilitate, and lead new project ideas from team members in support of the project's overall strategic direction, in coordination with team leadership.
• Identify and leverage internal and external opportunities that advance project priorities.

Field Expertise & Technical Assistance

• Independently conduct calls with assigned sites to identify and address technical assistance needs, including implementation of best practices in areas of subject matter expertise and project sustainability, across the range of systems and partners involved in a given initiative.
• Collaborate effectively with Research/Data Science staff to support data analysis for local and state sites, including collaboration on effective data collection and dashboard design.
• Support states and cross-system partners in using data to inform decision making, coordinate implementation, and advance systems change.
• Develop written products, including policy briefs, research memos, and presentations, that clearly describe complex criminal justice analysis and policy options for policymakers.
• Develop communications, including presentations, tools, briefs, reports, and other forms of technical assistance.
• Represent the organization through project-related communications that advance understanding of policy issues.

Task Direction & Stakeholder Engagement

• Provide task direction and support to staff in service of project deliverables.
• Identify, cultivate, and steward key project stakeholders and funders to advance emerging opportunities and launch new programs.

External Engagement & Relationship Building

• Provide relevant project updates that support external relationship-building opportunities.
• Identify and engage new contacts in the field, serving as formal or informal project consultants or partners.
• Collaborate with partners to design or refine innovative initiatives that advance shared goals, including developing and managing contracts for consultants (in collaboration with Finance and Operations).

Cross-Team Coordination & Organizational Contribution

• Participate fully in organizational project management and stakeholder engagement processes, including using contact and project management software as directed.
• Contribute to organizational initiatives, internal committees, or working groups to strengthen processes, knowledge sharing, and systems.

Impact, Quality Assurance & Accountability

• Ensure accuracy and quality for written products, tools, and presentations produced in support of the project.
• Ensure project adherence to timelines, deliverables, documentation standards, and funder requirements.
• Support evaluation of project impact and contribute to refinements that enhance effectiveness.

What you'll bring:

• Strong interpersonal skills including self-awareness, sensitivity and valuing others.
• Ability to engage, lead, and manage project teams to successfully deliver on project goals/deliverables
• Ability to solicit, facilitate and lead new project ideas from team members in support of the project's overall strategic direction with division leadership
• Ability to identify and leverage other internal and external projects that advance their project priorities
• Demonstrated success in developing strategic project plans that clarify project objectives, ensure alignment with organizational goals, applies the project's theory of change, and impacts the field
• Demonstrated experience successfully managing large projects across multiple teams/divisions and external partners
• Minimum 6 years of relevant work experience and/or equivalent educational achievements
• Reliable and secure internet/data connection and flexibility for using a personal device for internet connectivity during business travel. A cost offset is provided by CSG

Compensation will be based on experience and geography. The salary range for this position is $84,400.00 - $125,000.00. Salary ranges are subject to change based on work location and market conditions.

Our organization offers flexibility in work arrangements, allowing for remote work or a hybrid model. Candidates residing in the NYC metropolitan area will be considered for hybrid model employment.

To learn more about careers at the CSG Justice Center, and about our comprehensive benefit offerings, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, PSLF eligibility and more, please visit our website here.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer (veterans/people with disabilities). CSG participates in E-Verify.