ABOUT THE POSITION
The Mediation Center of Dutchess County, a community dispute resolution center in Poughkeepsie, NY, is seeking a Restorative Justice Program Coordinator (RJPC). This position is full-time (35 hours/week) with the expectation of working Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm. Please note that, on occasion, the Coordinator will need to come in earlier, based on the needs of school partners.
The Restorative Justice Programs Coordinator serves as the crucial link between the general public, community partners, local businesses, public schools, and MCDC staff. The primary focus and day-to-day service of this position will take place in public schools. This means the RJPC must be comfortable and proficient in appropriately communicating with young people and the administrative and/or executive staff of school systems.
The Coordinator will also provide accurate, detailed, and timely administrative support for the Restorative Justice programs’ offerings, including but not limited to outreach, trainings, and public circles. This position supports our community in resolving a variety of disputes through Restorative Practices, mentoring implementation, and direct case work. The RJPC approaches their work with curiosity, listens deeply, and communicates with a high level of professionalism.
This position comes with numerous opportunities for growth within the agency, including training and education in Restorative Practices and other conflict resolution methods, as well as access to additional development opportunities across the NY statewide professional network.
ABOUT MCDC
We are an established volunteer-driven nonprofit providing alternative dispute resolution services to individuals, families, and groups. Our mediation programs practice exclusively in the Transformative Mediation model. Our Restorative Justice programs offer a relational approach to culture-building and conflict resolution. Special priority is given to working with youth in educational settings, where restorative practices help foster accountability and creative problem-solving, while strengthening community.
We seek team members who demonstrate an aptitude for clear communication, professional integrity, and a willingness to center community voices over individual recognition. Understanding that many qualified candidates may not have direct experience with restorative practices, we place equal value on effective customer service, youth service, and group facilitation. Previous training in Restorative Practices preferred, but training is available based on demonstrated skills and experience. We are mission-driven, not profit-driven; read more at .
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Program Duties (60%)
- Regular direct services, including but not limited to in-person engagement with schools and community partners;
- Appropriately communicate and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, including youth, educators, and community-based organizations;
- Lead community outreach, relationship development, and educational efforts related to Restorative Practices and services;
- Facilitating Circles (Tier 1, 2, 3, aka Community, Responsive, Re-entry);
- Assists in coordinating program functions, including, but not limited to, trainings, case management, and outreaches.
Administrative Duties (40%)
- Inputs all required information into databases (case, donor, mailing, etc.) in accordance with program requirements and ensures accuracy on a rolling basis;
- Grant support, including data entry, outcome analysis, and reporting;
- Assist other staff with various projects and other duties in support of the Agency’s Mission, as assigned.
Our Best Candidate
- Has extensive experience working with young people.
- Maintains the highest standards of professionalism and integrity while building relationships with people of varied backgrounds and levels of authority;
- Integrative approach to working authentically and effectively with diverse populations;
- Demonstrates both comfort and discernment in public speaking, with an emphasis on facilitation, dialogue, and amplifying diverse community voices;
- Is bilingual (fluency in Spanish), which is highly desirable;
- Comfortable answering the phone and interacting directly with the public;
- Can draw on a restorative background to apply critical thinking skills in complex and sensitive situations;
- Demonstrates sound judgment in their conduct, decision-making, and problem-solving;
- Demonstrates a polished, professional style of communication internally and externally
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Criminal Justice, Sociology, or related field preferred. Certifications in Restorative Justice Philosophy are most welcome.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), Google Workplace (Sheets, Docs, Gmail, etc.), Adobe Acrobat, Zoom, etc; and
- Current driver’s license, insurance, and transportation are necessary qualifications as significant travel is required throughout the county for service delivery (mileage reimbursement provided).
The Path to Success
While we welcome the unique talents and ambitions of applicants, these are the milestones we expect to see for successful onboarding:
- Within the first month
- Have a well-developed understanding of the Mediation Center of Dutchess County’s mission, vision and values
- Immersed in the principles of restorative practices, as engaged at MCDC, including development of a working agreement document
- Within three months
- Complete IndentiGo background check and fingerprinting for access in schools
- Facilitating circles (with supervision and support) for students
- Developed the foundation for trust-based relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Have taken ownership of administrative tasks, including accurate recording of programs
- Within six months
- Have taken the lead on fostering school partnerships, with continued oversight of the Director of Restorative Justice Programs
- Have prospected and assessed potential collaborators for outreach
What We Offer:
· Engaging challenges with a high degree of autonomy and working within a supportive team;
· Opportunities for skill development as a Restorative facilitator with the support of an organizational team and professional network;
· Flexible scheduling;
· Comprehensive benefits package including 13 paid holidays, prorated PTO, health/dental/vision coverage, Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Dependent Care Account (DCA), EAP, tuition assistance; and
· Competitive salary within the small nonprofit sector.
Application and Hiring Process:
Application Instructions: Please submit your resume along with a cover letter detailing interest in this position, your experience with Restorative Practices, and how your values and experience align with our needs. If you do not meet all the listed requirements, please address this in your cover letter and explain why you believe you would be a good fit for the role.
All resumes and cover letters should be submitted to with the subject line “First Name Last Name, Restorative Justice Programs Coordinator”. Please, no phone calls or unsolicited contact.
The application deadline is June 30th, 2026. Phone interviews will take place during the week of July 6th. Candidates chosen for a second round will be asked to join for in-person interviews in our Poughkeepsie office on Friday, July 17th. Finalists will be contacted for a list of references, and those reference calls will be conducted during the week of July 20th.
The Mediation Center of Dutchess County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications are considered on the basis of skills, experience, and qualifications without regard to race, age, creed, color, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military background, disability, or any other legally protected status. All employment related decisions are made in accordance with this policy.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $27.50 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
