Title: Office of Safer Communities Coordinator

State Role Title: Prog Admin Specialist II

Hiring Range: The starting salary range is $80,000 to $90,000.

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Dept of Criminal Justice Svcs

Location: Dept of Criminal Justice Serv.

Agency Website: www.dcjs.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES ADVERTISEMENT
ROLE TITLE: Program Administration Specialist II
Working Title: Office of Safer Communities Coordinator
Pay Band: 5
Position #: 00139

The Department of Criminal Justice Services is seeking a collaborative and innovative team player to serve as a full-time Office of Safer Communities (OSC) Coordinator in Richmond, Virginia. This position will play a vital role in strengthening DCJS’ support to Virginia communities’ violence prevention and intervention initiatives. The person hired in this capacity will travel to communities across the Commonwealth to provide strategic guidance and technical assistance to local Offices of Violence Prevention (OVPs), community-based organizations (CBOs), and regional partners. The position ensures alignment with DCJS priorities, supports the effective use of state and federal funding, and builds the capacity of localities to implement evidence-informed violence reduction strategies. The successful candidate must live in Virginia and be available to travel extensively throughout the Commonwealth, with approximately 60% of work time spent traveling. The selected individual must also be available to report to the office as needed. Public service offers the opportunity to do important rewarding work while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. If you want to be part of an agency that cares about our constituents, rigorously advocates and promotes opportunities for all Virginians, we’d love to have you join us.

What you will do:
Community Development and Engagement
• Provide individualized and group technical assistance to local OVPs and CBOs to strengthen organizational capacity, program implementation, data collection, and evaluation practices.
• Conduct assessments of CBOs' organizational readiness and infrastructure, identifying strengths, gaps, and training needs.
• Facilitate connections between Virginia stakeholders and relevant national agencies, training providers, and technical assistance partners.
• Public Safety Alignment
• Reinforce the critical importance of a balanced public safety system
• Promote collaboration and trust-building across sectors to advance statewide violence-reduction goals
• Serve as a liaison between local law enforcement agencies, OVPs, and community organizations to aid coordinated responses, information flow, and a shared understanding of needs and resources.
• Statewide Coordination and Engagement
• Coordinate support between state and federal partners to enhance local and regional capacity
• Lead outreach efforts across the Commonwealth, establishing strong relationships with local leaders, nonprofit organizations, regional collaboratives, and community members
• Represent DCJS and OSC at community and grantee-led events
• Promote alignment with DCJS goals, state plans, and evidence-based intervention frameworks.
• Program Monitoring and Reporting
• Develop, track, and report on capacity-building benchmarks, technical assistance activities, and community progress toward violence-reduction outcomes.
• Event and Initiative Development
• Design and implement regional and locality-specific convenings, workshops, and training events that support professional development and system coordination.
• Participate in the OSC community of practice and convening opportunities to facilitate learning communities and peer exchanges.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience working in community or nonprofit capacity building.
• Experience leading or participating in outreach efforts in the community, establishing strong relationships with local leaders, nonprofit organizations, and community members.
• Experience conducting assessments of nonprofit organizations’ capacity and infrastructure, identifying strengths, gaps, and training needs.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including law enforcement, government, nonprofits, community leaders, and residents.
• Excellent communication, project management, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to travel statewide.
• Ability to think strategically and cross culturally, and independently implement new initiatives and projects.
• Ability to articulate, both orally and in written form, clear and concise program objectives and goals and summarize achievements of programs in reports and other documents as requested.     
• Documented experience working as an active, contributing team member, as well as an independent and self-motivated employee.
• Demonstrated ability to meet critical deadlines, handle multiple assignments, changing priorities, and ensure timeliness and quality of completed assignments.

Additional Considerations

• Experience working in community violence intervention.
• Experience supporting local offices of violence prevention or similar municipal programs.
• Working knowledge of national community violence intervention networks and federal agencies such as OJJDP, CDC, or DOJ.
• Demonstrated experience with designing and facilitating training curricula or convenings.
• Experience managing grant-funded programs or producing data-informed progress reports.

Special Instructions

Interview candidates may be required to demonstrate the skills and abilities necessary for satisfactory performance of work. The candidate selected for the position must successfully complete a criminal background investigation and complete and submit a Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) which will be entered into the Federal E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization. The individual may also be responsible for submitting an annual Statement of Personal Economic Interest. In addition, the selected candidate who begins original employment or re-employment in this position must serve a 12-month probationary period effective from the date of employment. The starting salary range is $80,000 to $90,000 plus the state’s benefits package.

Applications for this position are only accepted electronically through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Electronic Recruitment System at https://www.jobs.virginia.gov/home. All applications should be submitted by 11:55 pm on June 23, 2026. The application and supplemental questions must be completed in a comprehensive manner and reference any pertinent knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as any previous experience that relates to the position. Fax, email, or mail applications will not be accepted. Résumés and cover letters may be attached to the online application.

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Contact us at (804) 225-4399 to notify us of any needs related to completing the job application. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service Alumni are encouraged to apply. The Department also encourages and invites veterans to apply.

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to your account at https://www.jobs.virginia.gov/home for the status of your application and this position.

Contact Information

Name: Nicole Harris

Phone: (804) 786-9469

Email: nicole.harris@dcjs.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.