"Senior Program Manager, Crime and Justice Policy Lab (CJP)"

Job Description Summary

The University of Pennsylvania's Crime and Justice Policy Lab (CJP) seeks a Senior Program Manager to support the disciplined scale-up and institutionalization of Baltimore's Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS). This role provides targeted technical support, operational problem-solving, and structured follow-through with government partners - alternating support primarily between the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) and the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) - to reinforce management routines, sustained follow-through and coordinated, consistent execution during the scale-up of GVRS and other key public-safety reform efforts.

In addition to GVRS, the role supports related violence-reduction initiatives, including management and performance structures, capacity-building efforts, and pilots or adjacent workstreams tied to broader public-safety reform. The position also contributes to a citywide GVRS evaluation effort by reinforcing reliable data routines, documentation of decisions and progress, and shared standards for implementation fidelity to support alignment around evaluation needs, while strengthening Baltimore's governance and performance systems for sustained violence-reduction management.

The Senior Program Manager serves as a strategic deputy to CJP's Director of Violence Reduction Policy and Programs, providing high-level support to reinforce focus, follow-through, and strong, reliable management practices for priority violence-reduction and institutional reform initiatives. The ideal candidate brings rigor, structure, and a bias toward action. The role incorporates applied research practices - documenting implementation fidelity, synthesizing field observations, and translating research insights into operational decisions - to strengthen institutional learning, strategy execution, and evaluation alignment.

This position is based in Baltimore.

Job Description

This position is based in the Crime and Justice Policy Lab (CJP), a research group within the University of Pennsylvania Department of Criminology. The mission of CJP is to apply rigorous methods of scientific research to improve public safety in disadvantaged communities, centering those communities in the design and execution of policy ideas, and ensuring that research and government policy is being done with communities rather than to communities. The end goal for our work is that citizens in Philadelphia and other major cities are able to enjoy safety, and equitable treatment and outcomes in their day-to-day lives. CJP works primarily in Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, Oakland, and San Francisco, and with several federal government partners and international partners in Latin America and the Caribbean.

CJP projects often pursue a "triple bottom line"-our successful projects are ones that reduce violence that is affecting communities, reduce incarceration, and lessen the burden of policing on communities by generating fewer and more just interactions between police and community members. As many of our projects directly work with the criminal justice system to achieve these goals, we need to be comfortable both holding the priorities of the communities we serve at the center of our work, while also being able to work productively with police and other groups.

Background

CJP partners with the Baltimore Police Department, the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, and the State's Attorney's Office to provide strategic technical assistance and analytical support for Baltimore's Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS).

GVRS - a focused-deterrence approach - reduces serious violence by engaging directly with the small number of individuals at highest risk for shooting or being shot. The strategy centers on disciplined collaboration among government, service and community partners to deliver a clear, credible message: the violence must stop, and support is available for those ready to change course.

When implemented with fidelity, GVRS accomplishes what few approaches can: it drives down homicides and non-fatal shootings, reduces unnecessary criminal-justice contact, and elevates community leadership in the co-production of public safety.

GVRS has become the engine of Baltimore's public-safety turnaround. Following a 33% reduction in homicides and shootings in the historically high-violence Western District, the city is now on track for its third consecutive year of historic, double-digit declines in homicides and non-fatal shootings - the strongest multi-year progress Baltimore has seen in decades - as the strategy continues to scale citywide.

Duties/Job Responsibilities

The Senior Program Manager provides collaborative, strategic, and performance-focused guidance to senior government leaders, strengthening management routines, consistent follow-through, and execution across GVRS and related public-safety workstreams. The role advances structured implementation and scale by coordinating priority workstreams, surfacing and jointly addressing operational barriers, and aligning partners around shared goals and a clear, practical path forward. The Senior Program Manager develops briefings, tracking tools, timelines, and other materials that enhance decision-making, transparency, and accountability.

The position contributes to the citywide GVRS evaluation by reinforcing reliable data routines, documentation, and shared standards for implementation fidelity, and by synthesizing insights for internal and external audiences. The role incorporates applied research practices-including field documentation, fidelity observations, hypothesis development, and synthesis of qualitative and quantitative learning-to translate research evidence into operational decisions and to institutionalize continuous-improvement and learning practices. Additional duties are performed as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelors degree and 5 to 7 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Master's degree in public policy, public administration, criminology, or a related field is preferred. 7+ years of relevant professional experience in government, public policy, public safety, or organizational / operational roles is preferred.

• Demonstrated experience supporting senior leaders in government or complex organizations
• Proven ability to drive structured execution, project discipline, and follow-through in dynamic environments
• Strong analytical, writing, and synthesis skills - able to translate complex ideas into clear plans, memos, and decision support
• Experience supporting reform, change management, or performance management efforts in a public-sector context
• Comfort navigating political and operational environments, exercising discretion and judgment
• Ability to work independently, prioritize across competing demands, and maintain momentum under tight timelines
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to build trust and work productively with diverse stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Working on violence-reduction, criminal justice reform, or community safety initiatives
• Developing or institutionalizing performance-management or inter-agency coordination systems in a government setting.
• Providing technical assistance or advisory support to government officials or community-based organizations
• Translating applied research into operational recommendations or continuous-improvement practices.

Personal Attributes

• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Low-ego, collaborative, and mission-driven
• Able to navigate ambiguity and solve problems proactively
• Skilled at moving work forward in complex institutional systems
• Trusted relationship-builder capable of working with senior leaders and frontline staff

This position is contingent upon grant funding and is based in Baltimore.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Arts and Sciences

Pay Range

$79,500.00 - $120,000.00 Annual Rate