Courthouse Programs Manager

For over two decades, Discovering Justice has been bringing students and communities together to examine the workings of the justice system, explore the ideals of justice, and prepare them to engage as active citizens. We believe in the power of the next generation to sustain our democracy. We value the belief that the justice system can and should work for everyone.

Discovering Justice runs after-school programs for middle school students through our Mock Trial and Mock Appeal Programs, provides in-school curricula for Grades K-3 and professional development for elementary grade educators, and brings students and community members of all ages into the Moakley Courthouse in Boston for adult tours, field trips for Grades 1-12, court visits for college and law schools, and educational events for all ages.

• Charismatic public speaker and engaging storyteller
• Passionate about working with students ages 6-17 and adults
• Passionate about making civic education accessible to students and the community
• Committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion through culturally aware and responsive program design and facilitation
• Innovative, flexible, team-player who can balance multiple projects and responsibilities
• Outgoing and able to build strong interpersonal relationships
• Excellent writing skills to communicate with partners and the public
• Well-organized and familiar with Google Suite and creating online tools and materials; video editing skills are a plus
• Creative thinker to curate speaker events and field trip opportunities, integrating contemporary issues into the organization’s programs
• Background in the humanities and passion for U.S. History, current events, and workings of the justice system is a plus

The Courthouse Programs Manager will be supervised by the Education Program Director.

• Experience in the educational field working with young and older students
• Experience with public speaking
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with groups of all ages
• A demonstrated commitment to social justice

As the Courthouse Programs Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing and facilitating the field trips, tours, and events at the Moakley Courthouse.

Field Trip Responsibilities:

• Facilitate engaging 90-minute field trips for classes of First Graders to High School students to deepen their understanding of the justice system and practice critical civic skills
• Update and develop engaging, innovative courthouse field trips for students Grades 1-12
• Manage logistics and operations for in-person and virtual field trip requests including tours, courtroom activities, visits with judges, and trial/proceeding observations
• Develop partnerships with schools/universities and teachers/professors to build programs and promote field trips/court visits
• Coordinate and host court visits for college and law school students
• Build and maintain partnerships with court staff as well as judges in the U.S. District Court and the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

Tours Program Responsibilities:

• Deliver engaging in-person tours to groups of 5-40 individuals at a time
• Steward the organization’s online Moakley tour
• Curate new and engaging in-person tour material, with new stories, connections, and insights
• Develop partnerships to build the program and promote tours to bring thousands of community members into the courthouse a year
• Recruit, train, and steward Volunteer Tour Docents

Courthouse Events Responsibilities:

• Develop, coordinate, and manage public civics-related events for students and adults in-person at the Moakley, hybrid, and online
• Work in partnership with the District Court and other organizations to plan, host, and align events around relevant themes and current affairs
• Develop partnerships to build programs and promote events to diverse audiences

Administrative and Organizational Responsibilities:

• Point of contact for Moakley Courthouse staff and offices
• Regularly collect data (ex: surveys, observations) to monitor and evaluate programs
• Assist in organization-wide events such as the annual gala and Mock Trial and Mock Appeal culminating events
• Assist in staff-wide individual donor outreach and solicitation
• Identify and implement earned income practices to raise revenue
• Ensure Courthouse Program communications adhere to and promote DEI principles, reflecting a commitment to cultural diversity in all operations
• Collect data and strategic feedback to assess, report, and enhance the organization’s public recognition and engagement with its programs
• Hire and supervise a fellow each semester, emphasizing mentorship and professional development. This fellow supports the operations and facilitation of the programs

We value a diverse workforce and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where we strive to embed equity and inclusion into everything we do.

• Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. Even if you do not meet every qualification, we would love to still hear from you and encourage you to apply.

• We strongly encourage applications from members of marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous, and people of color; women; and the LGBTQIA+ and disabled communities.

• Discovering Justice prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Each day overseeing field trips, tours, and events at the Courthouse for Discovering Justice is dynamic and fulfilling. In the morning, you may welcome and lead a Second Grade field trip group through the courthouse. First, you will meet the group at security to help students and teachers get through comfortably. After a short tour of the courthouse, you will bring the class to the courtroom and lead a simulation of a trial that engages all learners. Students will practice being attorneys and arguing a case. Then, in the afternoon you may lead an adult tour of 12 visitors from a neighborhood group from Dorchester who are interested in the history of Boston. At the end of the tour, you take the group to Judge Young’s chambers. He talks to them about the workings of the justice system and the challenges he faces in his job. When you return to your desk you meet with Courthouse Staff to develop a recruitment plan for an exciting panel event at the Courthouse on the issue of restorative justice. Before you finish your day, you check your email to respond to folks who have sent in a request for a field trip or tour in the coming month and make a phone call to a teacher to tailor a field trip for her high schoolers visiting the following month.

• Your Manager: You report to the Education Program Director, Laura Brenner.
• Your Team: You will work closely with all members of our lean nine-person staff. You will work closely with a fellow and other Program Managers to collaborate on events or for field trip recruitment. You will work with the Executive Director to develop courthouse events as well. You will regularly partner with the U.S. District Court to make sure all programming goes smoothly.
• Your Reports: Semester-long Courthouse Fellow who will report directly to you.

1. Salary $55,500-$65,000
2. Social Mission:
   • Training the next generation with the skills, knowledge, and dispositions to steward our democracy.
   • Connecting local and statewide communities with the legal community (especially the Moakley) to promote understanding and change. 
3. Professional Development: $500 annually for training, conferences, and/or coaching after a 90-day introductory period.
4. Health Benefits: 75% coverage on medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums; an FSA plan; and 75% reimbursement on medical insurance deductibles through the Health Reimbursement Arrangement.
5. Life Insurance: Provided.
6. Disability Insurance: Short and long-term coverage.
7. Retirement Plan: 5% salary contribution to a TIAA-CREF 403(b) account.
8. Leave: 15 vacation days (accruing at 1.25 days/month), 2 personal days, and 10 sick days (accruing at 0.83 days/month).

Holidays: Paid leave for major holidays, including an extended break between Christmas and New Year's.

• Initial Phone Interview
• Follow up in office interview with a prepared task
• Final Round in office interview

How long does this take? We want someone to come on board by the mid to late February.

Will I get notified? Yes

Our office is situated inside the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse in the Seaport District of Boston. The location allows us to work closely with federal judges and other members of the Courthouse community to make the Courthouse a vibrant civic space. The Courthouse Program Manager typically works in person at the Courthouse three to four days a week at the Moakley and one to two days remote.