The Vivian D. Nixon Fellowship RESEARCH, NARRATIVE CHANGE & COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP FELLOW (2-Year Fixed-Term Position)
JLUSA Division: Strategic Partnerships Work Location: Fully remote in the U.S., with occasional paid U.S. travel required Job Type / FLSA: Full-time (40 hours/week), Exempt, 2-Year Appointment Salary Range: $75,000 - $78,000 per year commensurate with experience, paid semi-monthly Remote Work Stipend: $50 stipend paid twice per month for home office/internet
Overview The Vivian D. Nixon Fellowship honors the legacy of Reverend Vivian D. Nixon, a nationally respected leader, advocate, educator, and narrative change strategist whose work has helped transform public understanding of incarceration, justice, healing, and community leadership.
Rooted in the belief that those closest to the problem are closest to the solution, the Fellowship exists to cultivate directly impacted leaders as researchers, storytellers, strategists, and systems change practitioners. The Fellowship advances community-driven research, public leadership, and narrative transformation that centers the dignity, wisdom, and expertise of impacted communities.
Through applied learning, mentorship, cross-sector collaboration, and project-based research opportunities, Fellows will support initiatives connected to public health, economic mobility, safety, incarceration, behavioral health, reentry, systems transformation, and other issues impacting communities most affected by the criminal legal system.
The Fellowship is designed not only to support research initiatives at JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA), but also to build a long-term pipeline of directly impacted leaders prepared to shape public policy, institutional practice, narrative change, and community-centered research nationally.
The Fellow selected this year for a two-year fellowship period will be a core project member of JUSTResearch, JLUSA’s community-driven, multi-year collaboration with Yale University's SEICHE Center for Health and Justice to explore risk factors of heart health among individuals who are incarcerated as well as their family members and to identify potential interventions for improving health. The Fellow will also engage in other JLUSA research, capacity building projects, and strategic partnerships as assigned over the course of the Fellowship period.
Core Responsibilities 1. Community-Driven Research Practice - Support and participate in community-led research initiatives that center the experiences, perspectives, and leadership of directly impacted communities.
- Assist in the development of accessible research tools, including surveys, interview guides, focus group materials, and community engagement strategies.
- Conduct and support qualitative and quantitative data gathering activities, including interviews, listening sessions, focus groups, and community-based outreach.
- Utilize research platforms, digital tools, and data systems to organize, synthesize, and interpret findings across multiple projects and initiatives.
- Contribute to reports, publications, presentations, and research deliverables intended for community, institutional, policy, and academic audiences.
2. Narrative Change & Knowledge Translation - Translate complex research findings into accessible, public-facing materials that support community education, policy advocacy, and systems change.
- Assist in the development of toolkits, briefs, presentations, storytelling materials, workshops, and narrative-based educational resources.
- Support public learning opportunities, including webinars, trainings, convenings, and community dialogues that demystify research and strengthen community leadership.
- Help elevate narratives that challenge stigma, humanize impacted communities, and advance equity-centered public discourse.
3. Community Engagement & Collaborative Leadership - Support engagement with Community Advisory Boards (CABs), impacted leaders, institutional partners, advocacy organizations, researchers, and cross-sector stakeholders.
- Assist in coordinating collaborative projects and maintaining strong communication across community and institutional partnerships.
- Participate in planning meetings, strategic discussions, and learning environments connected to fellowship initiatives and organizational priorities.
- Help cultivate spaces where impacted voices are respected, valued, and integrated into decision-making processes.
4. Leadership Development & Professional Growth - Participate in structured professional development opportunities focused on research methods, narrative strategy, public leadership, facilitation, systems change, and community engagement.
- Work alongside mentors, advisors, researchers, and movement leaders to strengthen leadership capacity and long-term career development.
- Develop individualized learning goals aligned with the Fellow’s interests, strengths, and future aspirations.
- Engage in reflective practice, peer learning, and collaborative problem-solving throughout the Fellowship experience.
5. Ethical Practice & Organizational Stewardship - Uphold ethical research standards, community confidentiality practices, and institutional compliance requirements.
- Complete required research ethics and human subjects protection training as applicable to Fellowship assignments.
- Maintain organized documentation, records, and project tracking systems aligned with operational and grant requirements.
- Adhere to project plans, timelines, and action items to ensure deliverables are met, proactively flagging potential delays and brainstorming solutions.
- Represent JLUSA’s mission, values, and commitment to dignity, equity, and systems transformation in all Fellowship activities.
- Other duties as assigned by supervisor or management designee.
Qualifications & Core Competencies At JLUSA, we recognize that expertise comes in many forms. We deeply value the lived experience, leadership, and wisdom of individuals directly impacted by the criminal legal system and acknowledge that traditional academic pathways are not the only routes to developing the skills necessary for transformative leadership and community-centered research.
We encourage applications from candidates who demonstrate a combination of the following: - A strong understanding of the impacts of incarceration, systemic inequity, and the criminal legal system on individuals, families, and communities.
- Demonstrated commitment to community leadership, public service, advocacy, systems change, healing-centered work, or narrative transformation.
- Lived experience with the criminal legal system and/or significant experience working directly within impacted communities strongly valued.
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to engage authentically across community and institutional settings.
- Ability to communicate complex ideas in ways that are accessible, respectful, and community-centered.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, adaptability, and ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.
- Proficiency with standard digital communication and productivity tools required for remote work environments.
- Prior research, organizing, advocacy, public speaking, facilitation, or community engagement experience preferred but not required.
- Able to travel occasionally in the U.S. for work-based and approved professional development purposes.
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in public health, public policy, social sciences, health sciences, communications, behavioral health, education, or related fields preferred; equivalent lived, professional, organizing, or community-based experience will be fully considered
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of all specific duties and responsibilities of the position.
Benefits Summary - Health, Dental, & Vision Insurance: Eligible full-time employees and dependents may enroll with coverage starting the first of the month following 30 days of employment. JLUSA covers 100% of the premium cost for vision and core dental plans, and 80% of the premium for medical plans.
- Generous Paid Time Off: Accrual of up to 20 sick days and 15 paid vacation days in the first year. Paid time off for all federally observed holidays, Christmas Eve, the day after Thanksgiving, plus a fully paid two-week office closure around the Christmas and New Year holidays.
- Financial & Life Security: 100% employer-covered short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance (valued up to 1.5 times annual salary). Opportunity to participate in a 401(k) Tax-Deferred Savings Plan with an employer dollar-for-dollar match up to the first 4% of eligible compensation.
- Wellness & Tax-Favored Accounts: Access to confidential and professional assistance through a contracted Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Enrollment eligibility for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) covering healthcare, dependent care, and commuting costs.
About JustLeadershipUSA JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA), founded in 2014 by directly impacted leaders, is dedicated to reducing incarceration and strengthening pathways to justice, equity, economic mobility, and community wellbeing. JLUSA believes that those closest to the problem are closest to the solution and works to elevate directly impacted leadership across public policy, systems transformation, public health, and community change efforts.
How to Apply Interested candidates should visit our website at www.jlusa.org to learn more about JLUSA and must submit applications, and upload resume and cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for the postion, via our online Careers page. JLUSA will not accept emailed applications and is unable to respond to telephone inquiries about the position. Individuals selected for interviews will be contacted directly by email. |