Data Systems Specialist

About Just Reinvest NSW

Just Reinvest NSW is an Aboriginal-led organisation dedicated to reducing the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system. We advocate for justice reinvestment: redirecting resources from punitive criminal justice systems toward community-led initiatives that address root causes. Our work is grounded in collaboration with Aboriginal communities, ensuring solutions are driven by local priorities and cultural knowledge. By fostering opportunities for systemic change, we aim to create safer and more empowered communities across NSW.

The model has real runs on the board. Maranguka, JRNSW's flagship justice reinvestment site in Bourke, was the first community-led justice reinvestment initiative in Australia and has been recognised with a HESTA Community Organisation Award and an Australian Human Rights Commission Community Organisation Award. JRNSW now supports justice reinvestment sites in communities including Bourke, Moree, Mount Druitt and the NSW South Coast, working alongside a coalition of more than 20 partner organisations across government, philanthropy and community.

The Role

JRNSW is currently expanding its data function, and this role sets the technical foundation. Reporting to the Head of Data and Research, you will design and build the data architecture, pipelines, dashboards and other products that let a small team turn complex social, economic and justice data into evidence that communities and government can act on.

You will sit at the intersection of tools and people. As a technical generalist, you will have significant latitude to choose the architecture and design the solutions for how data works across the organisation, while remaining accountable to Indigenous Data Sovereignty principles and the communities the data is about.

Success looks like having creative ideas about how to make data useful and building tools that your colleagues actually use. Some days, that means maintaining the canonical files that ensure everyone reports the same number. Other days, it means building the RAG app that lets the advocacy team create the right messaging in an instant.

What You Will Do

• Design, build and maintain JRNSW's data architecture, pipelines and products largely from scratch.
• Build reproducible pipelines for data collection, cleaning, analysis and reporting, primarily in R.
• Turn complex justice data into products that Aboriginal community partners, government and funders can actually use.
• Set up JRNSW's data governance: documentation standards, version control, access protocols and security, aligned with the Five Safes Framework and Indigenous Data Sovereignty principles.
• Administer JRNSW's data and collaboration systems.
• Guide safe, sensible use of AI tools across the organisation, including data security and privacy considerations.
• Train and support colleagues and community partners to use JRNSW's data systems and dashboards with confidence.
• Provide occasional internal IT support, in collaboration with an external IT provider.

What You Will Bring

• Experience designing and building data systems, pipelines or databases from the ground up, not just maintaining someone else's.
• Strong R skills (required); Python, SQL or JavaScript are well regarded.
• Confidence with data visualisation tools such as Power BI, Tableau or Shiny.
• A solid grounding in data governance, privacy and ethical data practice.
• Familiarity with agentic coding tools (Claude Code, Codex or similar) is a plus. JRNSW is genuinely interested in using these tools well, not just talking about them.
• Exposure to deploying machine learning or LLMs in production is well regarded, though not required.
• The judgement to translate complex data into something a non-technical audience can actually use, and the communication and collaboration skills to collaborate with non-technical colleagues.
• A genuine interest in justice reinvestment, community-led decision-making and systems change. Community partners will notice if this is missing.
• A degree in data science, statistics, computer science, information systems, social sciences or a related field.

Why Join JRNSW

• Build something real. Own the architecture from day one, and see it used by community partners and government rather than left in a dashboard nobody opens.
• Work that means something. JRNSW's model is already reducing Aboriginal contact with the justice system in the communities it works with, and it needs stronger data infrastructure to keep proving it.
• A small, senior team. You will work closely with tight Research and Data team, with direct input into how the function is shaped and no layers of corporate hierarchy to navigate.
• Room to grow. As JRNSW's data function matures, so does this role, including mentoring junior colleagues and contractors as the team grows.
• Hybrid flexibility. Based in Redfern with hybrid working arrangements, in a relaxed office with good coffee nearby.
• NFP salary packaging. A competitive salary, plus not-for-profit salary packaging to increase your take-home pay.

Good to Know

• Some domestic travel to community partner sites across NSW should be expected. Seeing the work in community is part of the job and it’s also very enjoyable to see your work play out on the ground.

How to Apply

Click ‘Apply Now' to submit your Cover Letter and CV outlining your experience in policy analysis, research, or data analysis and your interest in justice reinvestment. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every single qualification. Not all strong candidates will meet every single qualification as listed. Research shows that people who identify as being from underrepresented groups are more prone to experiencing imposter syndrome and doubting the strength of their candidacy, so we urge you not to exclude yourself prematurely and to submit an application if you're interested in this work.