Assistant Director of Network Reentry Capacity Building

The Innocence Project works to free the innocent, prevent wrongful convictions, and create fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice for everyone. Our work is guided by science and grounded in anti-racism. Since our inception, the Innocence Project has used DNA and other scientific advancements to prove wrongful conviction. To date, we have helped to free or exonerate more than 250 people who, collectively, spent more than 3,600 years behind bars. Our efforts have led to the passage of more than 200 transformative state laws and federal reforms. Today, the Innocence Project continues to fight for freedom, drive structural change, and advance the innocence movement. To learn more, please visit www.innocenceproject.org.

The Innocence Network is an affiliation of over 70 independent nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and public defender's offices that is dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people and reforming the criminal justice system to avoid future injustice. The Innocence Network member organizations vary in the size, budget, and number of cases they can investigate, and most primarily represent clients in the state in which they work.

The Network Support Unit (NSU), a department within the Innocence Project, works to strengthen the Innocence Network and its member organizations to achieve breakthrough results in addressing and preventing wrongful conviction.

The Assistant Director will join the Network Support Unit to bring expertise in trauma-informed care, organizational development, and systems-level thinking, with a strong commitment to centering directly impacted people in all aspects of their work. They will create and maintain resources, cultivate and build partnerships with national organizations and strengthen support for freed and exonerated individuals.

The Assistant Director will report to and carry out strategic work under the guidance of the Director, Innocence Network Support and work collaboratively with the staff at the Innocence Project and the Innocence Network.

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor visas and we are not an e-verify employer.

The duties of this position require approximately 40 hours of work per week to be performed virtually/in-office and roughly 20% travel. We currently have a hybrid in-office model, with all employees in the office three days per week and the remainder of the week remotely. Wednesday is our organization's "anchor day" where all staff works in the office. The number of required in-office days is subject to change.

The Innocence Project seeks a candidate who has the experience and insight to bolster capacity for post-release support in the Innocence Network by developing and maintaining best practices, building strategic partnerships, and supporting Innocence Network organizations to enhance and strengthen the services they provide for freed and exonerated people. The ideal candidate is also a proactive, collaborative thought partner and peer in this work, with the ability to work independently while navigating complexity with clarity and care. Please note: this position does not involve providing direct support or services to freed clients.

In addition, all Innocence Project employees must embrace, respect and value the rich diversity of perspectives and lived experience of our staff. We recognize and appreciate that our work is better for having varied participants and thought partners. The ideal candidate is someone who thrives in this type of environment.

Network Member Organization Capacity and Resource Building

• Develop and maintain strong, trusting relationships with staff across all roles within Network Member Organizations (NMOs); for organizations without formal client support roles, proactively engage to ensure staff feel connected, supported, and confident to engage, recognizing that impact may vary by context.
• Help break down the needs of clients and triage the reentry program needs of Network Member Organizations (NMOs)
• Vet, develop, and maintain a resource library of recommended service providers for use by NMOs
• Develop and facilitate programming for the freed/exonerated community and NMO staff on topics related to cultural competence, trauma-informed practices, restorative justice, storytelling, etc.
• Develop and maintain best practices guides and resources that are informed by the needs of and support Network Member Organizations (NMOs). Topics may include:
• foundational guidance for client support
• resources for building-up client support programs
• resources to support NMO staff who are providing post-release support
• client-centered and trauma-informed best practices guide for hiring and supervising directly impacted staff

Strategy & Knowledge Development

• Stay informed on emerging research, resources, and data related to client support, trauma, and reentry; regularly synthesize and share relevant insights across the Network
• Conduct ongoing landscape analyses of different models of post-release support to identify best practices and, in collaboration with the Director, Innocence Network Support Unit, recommend structures adaptable to Network organizations

Community and Stakeholder Engagement

• Facilitate regular convenings of client support staff and freed/exonerated individuals - building on existing gatherings such as regional summits - to deepen collaboration, share best practices, and strengthen community and peer support across the Network
• Support content development at the Innocence Network Conference for freed/exonerated attendees and advise the planning team on trauma-informed event planning practices;
• Monitor areas where freed/exonerated individuals are not yet served by Network Member Organizations (NMOs) and identify opportunities to expand or enhance support services
• Engage regularly with the Innocence Network governance bodies to ensure strategic alignment and strengthen coordination across the Network

External Partnership Engagement

• Support and grow the impact of existing external partnerships with national and local organizations to expand post-release resources for freed and exonerated people
• Provide ongoing education for external partners on the unique needs and challenges of the freed and exonerated community, to potentially include workshops, webinars, toolkits, etc.

• Social Work degree required, plus at least 7 years prior experience working with and building programs for people who have experienced trauma and/or who have been impacted by the criminal legal system;
• Or at least 9 years of a combination of reentry, lived, and/or other professional experience and background relevant to the role working with and building programs for people who have experienced trauma and/or who have been impacted by the criminal legal system
• Individuals with lived experience of incarceration are strongly encouraged to apply
• Forensic social workers are strongly encouraged to apply
• Demonstrated experience in group facilitation methods with the ability to facilitate inclusive, participatory, and effective group processes with individuals from varied backgrounds
• Experience working with cross-functional teams or community partners to co-create research and insights that reflect multiple perspectives and lived experiences, informing strategy and decision-making
• Strong research and analytical skills, with experience evaluating and comparing program models to recommend strategic, effective, and scalable approaches
• Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.

• Demonstrated cultural competence and humility, incorporating the experiences of others to inform the work
• Proven courage and willingness to speak up and advocate for change
• Ability to be responsive and willing to problem solve and pivot
• Demonstrated strength in building trust-based, collaborative relationships with a broad array of stakeholders
• Proven ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment
• Comfort with ambiguity and a demonstrated capacity to navigate uncertainty
• Ability to multi-task and enjoy the varied nature of the work
• Ability to remain calm under pressure
• Proven capacity to balance proactive planning with responsive action
• Enthusiasm for the work of the Innocence Project and Innocence Network and for social justice, including a demonstrated commitment to public interest
• Shared commitment to the Innocence Project's values of accountability, collaboration, empathy + compassion, equity, person-centeredness, quality focus, and self-awareness

The salary for this position is highly competitive and the Innocence Project offers an excellent benefits package, including fully-paid individual health, dental and vision insurance, Flexible Spending Account, 401k plan with 6% company-match, paid disability and family care leave, adoption and fertility expense reimbursements, and company-paid transportation benefits.

The Innocence Project considers the diversity of its workforce to be vital to our organization's success in meeting its mission. We strongly encourage applicants from all cultures, races, educational backgrounds, life experiences, socio-economic classes, sexual orientations, age, gender, and physical abilities to apply. Individuals with personal connections to the criminal legal system are strongly encouraged to apply.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, it is our policy not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, familial status, marital status, predisposing genetic characteristics, actual or perceived domestic violence victim status, unemployment status, caregiver status, or any other category protected by law.

Upon submission of your application you will be requested to complete an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) survey. This survey is part of our commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. The information you provide is voluntary and confidential. Completing the survey helps us track our progress in creating a fair and equitable environment. This data is used for reporting purposes only. Please note, the identities presented in the survey reflect federal language required by law. The Innocence Project acknowledges that not all identities are included and any reference to gender explicitly refers to biological sex. We recognize these terms are limited and we strive to humanize our internal practices. Your completion of the survey is greatly appreciated.

To apply, please click 'Apply for this Job' below. Upload a resume titled with your name in this format (last name_first name_resume). In the space provided, add a cover letter expressing your interest in the role and the organization's work. Only applications with cover letters will be considered complete applications. Information submitted through this secure site is kept confidential.

$104,125 - $122,500 per year. Salary commensurate with experience.