AIR seeks a Senior Technical Assistance (TA) Consultant for the Safety and Justice Portfolio to advance evidence and practice in youth justice, including reentry and cross‑system approaches within broader safety and justice systems. This position focuses on strengthening prevention, diversion, reentry, and system‑alignment strategies to improve outcomes for youth and young adults impacted by the justice system.

The Senior TA Consultant will lead and manage complex technical assistance initiatives; collaborate with internal and external partners across federal, state, and local agencies; and contribute to strategic visioning that strengthens youth justice systems and promotes equitable, community‑based outcomes. Responsibilities include designing and delivering technical assistance—such as facilitation, coaching, and development of practical, evidence‑informed resources.

This role requires experience supporting youth and/or adult reentry across the continuum of system involvement. The ideal candidate is committed to expanding AIR’s youth justice portfolio and advancing evidence‑informed, community‑centered approaches. We are especially interested in candidates with direct experience in youth justice and intersecting systems, including diversion and reentry, who bring strong project leadership, facilitation, and partnership‑building skills.

This position has the flexibility to work remotely within the United States (U.S.) or from one of AIR’s U.S. office locations. This does not include U.S. territories.

About AIR:

Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to address some of the most pressing challenges in the United States and globally. We generate evidence and apply data-driven solutions that expand opportunities and improve lives for all.

Responsibilities:

The responsibilities for the position include:

• Collaborate with clients to assess needs and co-design tailored technical assistance plans and strategies.
• Design, develop, and deliver TA and training in various formats (virtual, in-person, hybrid).
• Create TA materials such as toolkits, guides, fact sheets, and web-based resources.
• Facilitate meetings, communities of practice, and stakeholder engagement sessions.
• Lead projects and teams, including supervising and mentoring junior staff.
• Support the development of proposals and business development efforts.
• Use data to inform TA strategies and evaluate impact.
• Build and maintain relationships with partners and stakeholders across sectors.

Qualifications:

Education, Knowledge, and Experience

• Ph.D. with a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree with a minimum of 7 years; or Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 9 years of experience in a related field.
• Technical assistance experience delivering support to public agencies, nonprofits, or community‑based organizations in youth justice and intersecting systems, including diversion and reentry.
• Project leadership experience managing projects or tasks and leading cross‑functional teams.
• Prior experience working in a mission‑driven organization such as a nonprofit, philanthropic, or academic setting.
• Established networks in the youth justice field and a demonstrated ability to cultivate partnerships on behalf of AIR.

Skills

• Strong business development skills, including proposal writing.
• Ability to interpret and apply quantitative and qualitative data to inform technical assistance strategies.
• Skilled at working with diverse partners and audiences across multiple levels of government and community settings.
• Effective communication and facilitation across various group sizes and formats.
• Strong project management and team leadership capabilities.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively while managing multiple priorities.
• Willingness to travel (up to 25%).