Chief Program Officer, Exoneration Strategy & Support

About the Organization

The Innocence Project is dedicated to freeing innocent people, stopping wrongful convictions, and advancing justice systems that are fair, humane, and equitable. Its work is rooted in science and guided by an anti-racism framework. Since its founding, the organization has relied on DNA evidence and other scientific developments to help overturn wrongful convictions. To date, it has contributed to the release or exoneration of more than 250 people who together spent over 3,600 years in prison. Its advocacy has also helped secure more than 200 state and federal reforms. The organization continues to pursue freedom, drive systemic change, and strengthen the innocence movement.

Role Summary

The Chief Program Officer, Exoneration Strategy & Support provides leadership, supervision, and operational oversight across four core program areas: Post-conviction Litigation, Special Litigation, Social Work, and Intake & Case Evaluation. These teams handle pro bono representation for wrongfully convicted people, including complex high-profile post-conviction matters, trauma-informed support for clients returning to the community, and review of roughly 2,000 representation requests each year. The role serves as a strategic partner to these experienced teams, ensuring alignment, accountability, motivation, and strong execution.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, this leader also contributes to organization-wide strategy, decision-making, and health. The position reports to the Executive Director and works closely with senior leaders across the organization to strengthen vision, cohesion, integration, and impact.

Key Duties

• Lead the department in a way that keeps staff aligned, motivated, and high performing.
• Contribute to strategic planning, organizational decision-making, and resource allocation across the institution.
• Track departmental progress and outcomes and report regularly to the Board, senior leadership, and staff.
• Model and reinforce a workplace culture grounded in inclusion, respect, and the organization’s values.
• Partner with the Senior Leadership Team to execute the Innocence Project’s strategic vision for its substantive program areas.
• Serve as a public representative of the organization alongside senior leaders and program staff.
• Work closely with the Chief Program Officer for Policy, Research, and Prevention to ensure case insights inform policy, research, and strategic litigation.
• Strengthen coordination among strategic litigation, post-conviction litigation, and special litigation teams.
• Build and sustain strategic relationships that support the mission and facilitate exchange of information and knowledge.
• Maintain strong subject-matter expertise across Exoneration Programs, including Post-conviction Litigation, Intake, Special Litigation, and Social Work.
• Guide program directors on emerging legal issues, amicus opportunities, and trends in wrongful conviction litigation.
• Oversee intake efficiency and monitor developments across the network.
• Support social work leadership as they respond to evolving research and trends in support for wrongfully convicted people.
• Ensure litigation teams coordinate effectively to improve communication, operations, and outcomes.
• Manage budgets with program directors and steward organizational resources responsibly.
• Develop and sustain pro bono legal partnerships and related resources.
• Encourage collaboration across programs and create structures that improve communication and coordination.
• Set goals with program directors, review progress, evaluate outcomes, resolve problems, and assess resource needs.
• Coach directors and support their supervision of high-performing staff.
• Design and improve team processes that increase clarity, efficiency, effectiveness, and morale.

Qualifications and Experience

• At least 15 years of professional experience, including a minimum of 5 years leading teams with complex coordination needs.
• Juris Doctor degree is required.
• Must be a current member in good standing of the New York bar, or able to qualify for admission to the New York bar by motion under Section 520.10 within 6 months of the start date.
• Broad knowledge of criminal justice, including familiarity with the organization’s program areas.
• Experience with social work, records collection, and related litigation support processes, or a strong understanding of them.
• Clear commitment to criminal justice, racial justice, and social justice, along with alignment to the organization’s mission and values.
• Proven ability to work effectively with donors, pro bono law firms, and government officials.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Approximately 40 hours per week, performed in a hybrid model with in-office and remote work.
• Current office arrangement requires employees to be in the office three days per week, with the rest of the week remote.
• Wednesday is the organization’s anchor day, when all staff are expected in the office.
• The required number of in-office days may change.

Leadership Competencies

• Inspires a positive, inclusive environment that encourages initiative and strong team performance.
• Builds talent through clear expectations, regular one-on-ones, performance reviews, feedback, development support, recruitment, and onboarding.
• Aligns departmental goals with organizational priorities and translates strategy into practical action plans.
• Delegates effectively, communicates transparently, and removes barriers to team success.
• Addresses challenges early and helps resolve issues constructively.
• Leads in a way that reflects accountability, collaboration, equity, empathy, compassion, person-centeredness, quality, and self-awareness.

Core Attributes

• Open, consultative management style with a strong focus on team cohesion and belonging.
• Deep commitment to internal and external equity work.
• Strong listening, coaching, and communication skills.
• Ability to juggle multiple priorities and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective cross-functional and external communication skills.
• Strong research and writing ability.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Strong judgment and problem-solving skills.
• Adaptability, poise, and a sense of humor.
• Genuine enthusiasm for the organization’s social justice mission and public interest work.

Compensation and Benefits

The organization offers a competitive salary and a robust benefits package. Benefits include fully paid individual medical, dental, and vision coverage; a Flexible Spending Account; a 401(k) plan with a 6% employer match; paid disability and family care leave; reimbursement for adoption and fertility expenses; and employer-paid transportation benefits.

Equal Opportunity and Work Eligibility

Candidates eligible to work in the United States are encouraged to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available, and the employer is not an E-Verify employer.

This role requires approximately 40 hours per week and is designed for a hybrid environment with both virtual and on-site work.