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This is an EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements:

Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
Language Incentive
Referral Bonus
Tuition Assistance Program

Description

This role works directly with the Mayor’s Office and serves as a senior advisor on all matters related to gun violence prevention. The position provides strategic guidance, policy development, and oversight of initiatives designed to reduce firearm-related harm and address root causes of community violence. The incumbent will work closely with the Mayor, CAO, DCAO for Human Services, and public safety leadership to craft and implement data-driven, community-informed strategies that contribute to a safer, more equitable city.

This position requires deep experience in violence prevention, criminal justice reform, or public health strategies related to firearm violence. The Senior Policy Advisor leads the coordination of citywide efforts in partnership with city departments, law enforcement, courts, and community stakeholders.

Supervision Exercised/Received:

Exercised: May supervise management, professional, and support staff within the Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
Received: Serves as a key liaison to the mayor on all matters relating to gun violence prevention. Reports directly to the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services.

Duties include but are not limited to

Strategic Planning and Policy Development

Develop and implement a comprehensive gun violence prevention strategy aligned with the mayor’s vision for public safety.
Lead cross-agency collaborations to integrate public health and community-centered violence prevention approaches.
Oversee the implementation of the collective impact model with a specific focus on gun violence reduction.
Collaborate with Human Service and public safety divisions to integrate gun violence prevention metrics into departmental goals.

Prevention and Intervention Programs

Design and support community-based violence intervention strategies, including group and gang violence intervention programs for youth and adults at highest risk.
Develop partnerships with courts to create gun offender diversion and education programs that prioritize rehabilitation over incarceration.
Use data and hotspot analysis in collaboration with RPD to identify trends, locations, and populations most impacted by gun violence.
Work with Code Enforcement to assess business practices that may contribute to community safety concerns.
Continue to enhance youth prevention activities and programs in coordination with Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Department.

Community Engagement and Public Education

Lead community outreach efforts to engage impacted neighborhoods and elevate community voices in violence prevention efforts.
Develop public education materials and awareness campaigns on firearm safety, community violence, and prevention resources in partnership with the Office of Strategic Communications (e.g., infographics, social media, dashboards).
Build trust and transparency through regular participation in city council meetings, town halls, and community safety forums.
Serve as a liaison between city leadership and the Richmond Police Department on public safety matters.

Data and Performance Monitoring

Oversee development of real-time data tools and dashboards that monitor gun violence trends, intervention impact, and community resource deployment.
Evaluate program outcomes and develop realistic performance indicators to track effectiveness and equity in violence prevention efforts.

Administrative Leadership and Representation

Manage grant-funded violence prevention initiatives, including those supported by Safer Communities funding. This includes grant application, monitoring and reporting.
Represent the City in intergovernmental, legal, and professional settings related to public safety and gun violence reduction.
Draft and review legislative and regulatory proposals related to firearm access, enforcement, and prevention.

Qualifications, Special Certifications and Licenses

Minimum Training and Experience:

Bachelor's degree in public policy, Criminal Justice, Public Health, or a related field.
Master’s Degree preferred.
Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience, including work in gun violence prevention, community safety, or criminal justice reform.
Demonstrated leadership experience in managing cross-sector teams or initiatives.

Licensing, Certifications, and/or Other Requirements:

None required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Deep understanding of evidence-based gun violence prevention strategies, including public health and criminal justice frameworks.
Ability to navigate and influence public policy and interagency collaboration.
Strong skills in data analysis, performance evaluation, and strategic planning.
Excellent community engagement and communication skills, particularly in communities impacted by violence.
Familiarity with trauma-informed practices and equity-centered program design.

Americans with Disabilities Act Requirements

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. The essential duties of this classification may require the ability to regularly talk; frequently finger, hear, see, and perform repetitive motions; and occasionally climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, feel, and grasp. The working conditions may include environmental hazards. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be sedentary, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.

* Internal use: HR Generalist to review.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The City of Richmond provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type 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.

The City of Richmond is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the City of Richmond will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the job application and/or the interview process, please contact Jessica McKenzie, Human Resources Manager by email at Jessica.McKenzie@RVA.GOV.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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