Senior Officer, Community Violence

The Government Performance Portfolio

Pew’s government performance work identifies and advances effective approaches to help solve complex challenges at all levels of government in the United States. 

The portfolio’s work can be traced back to our founders’ early efforts to improve the lives of Americans by supporting efforts that promoted health, civic engagement, and democratic ideals. Today, we conduct research on emerging topics, develop data-driven reports, and highlight innovative, non-partisan approaches in addressing complex problems at the federal, state, and local levels as well as the interplay that can occur between jurisdictions. Current initiatives focus on health, fiscal and economic policy, and safety and justice, and take into account significant trends such as evolving technologies, and the increasing racial and ethnic diversity in the United States population.

Our teams explore and advance effective, evidence-based policies using credible, timely, and accessible research, assessing public support for change, identifying approaches that have proved successful elsewhere, and bringing together diverse perspectives to find common ground. We work in collaboration with organizations that share our commitment to rigorous research, measurable results, and public service, and we focus on developing durable policy change. In addition, our teams use strategic outreach and dissemination to ensure that good information is widely communicated to decision-makers, media, influential stakeholders, and the public.

The Philadelphia Program

Through the Philadelphia program, Pew seeks to enhance civic life in its hometown. We partner with many local institutions in encouraging a thriving arts and cultural community, supporting the health and welfare of the region’s most vulnerable residents, informing discussion on important issues facing the city, and, more broadly, strengthening Philadelphia’s appeal to visitors and residents alike.

Reducing Community Violence in Philadelphia

Community violence is quickly returning to pre-pandemic levels in Philadelphia but continues to exact a horrible toll on individuals and families, particularly in neighborhoods of concentrated disadvantage. Pew aims to help our hometown achieve and sustain reductions in community violence by supporting the city’s governance, management, and cross-sector collaboration capacities (see this report for background).

Position Overview

The senior officer will support Philadelphia in its efforts to reduce homicides and non-fatal shootings. Reporting to the senior director of safety and justice, and working closely with the Pew Fund for Health and Human Services as well as our Philadelphia Research and Policy Initiative, the senior officer will coordinate research, policy consultation, grantmaking, and convening efforts to advance the project’s goal of strengthening the city’s capacity to design, implement, and sustain an effective, unified violence reduction strategy.

Located in Pew's Philadelphia office, this position will participate in Pew’s core in-office days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and will have flexibility to work from home the remainder of each week. 

Responsibilities

• Foster a work environment that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible and in line with Pew and the project’s related goals.
• Lead the execution of Pew’s strategy to reduce community violence, including oversight of policy and research consultants.
• Coordinate with the Pew Fund for Health and Human Services to support aligned, direct service grantmaking, and with Pew’s Philadelphia Research and Policy Initiative to support policymaker convenings and education, both within Philadelphia and with peer cities.  
• Serve externally as one of the project’s primary points of contact with government officials, philanthropic and other civic partners, and members of the news media.
• Develop and disseminate a variety of written documents and presentations conveying complex information to layperson, policymaker, media, and other stakeholder audiences, and work to develop effective public messaging, outreach materials, and communication strategies.
• Internally, oversee coordination with Pew’s program and operations units.
• Participate in activities that support program and Pew-wide objectives.

Requirements

• Track record of strong project management skills and experience producing measurable results.
• Savvy and politically astute. Aptitude to apply a non-partisan, evidence-based approach to projects that require support from a diverse set of stakeholder groups.
• Excellent analytic and problem-solving skills. Proficiency in synthesizing large amounts of information and focusing quickly on the essence of an issue or problem, determining whether it is ripe for intervention, and identifying the means to address it. 
• Skilled at informing and influencing internal and external audiences through written and oral communications.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Generally, ten years of applicable experience.

Key attributes and preferred experience

• Naturally develops and manages productive and collaborative relationships.
• Experience with public safety and criminal justice administration at the city level preferred.
• A history of resolving problems creatively and logically to drive results.
• Experience collaborating with stakeholders in government, nonprofits, academia, and philanthropy.

Travel

This position requires frequent travel within Philadelphia and occasional travel to meetings and conferences in Washington, D.C. and across the country.

Work Authorization

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the country for which they are seeking employment without visa sponsorship.

Salary Range

The salary range represents a reasonable estimate of the annual salary based on Pew’s commitment to provide equitable and market-competitive pay. The actual salary offered will take into consideration many factors including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills and experience, internal pay equity, and business need.

Total Rewards

We offer a competitive salary and benefit program, including: comprehensive, affordable health care through medical, dental, and vision coverage; financial security with life and disability insurance; opportunities to save using health savings and flexible spending accounts; retirement benefits to help prepare for the future; and work/life benefits to maintain a good balance.

The Pew Charitable Trusts is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Pew considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.