Executive Prison Advocate Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Executive Director is responsible for building and leading the newly established Philadelphia Office of Prison Oversight. This role develops policy and practice, sets vision in consultation with the Prison Oversight Board, and leads oversight of the City's four correctional facilities.

The Executive Director will direct independent reviews of the Philadelphia Department of Prisons, respond to sentinel events (including deaths in custody), and issue public reports with findings and recommendations.

Essential functions include providing visionary leadership, establishing strategic goals and objectives aligned with the Office's mission and the City's priorities; collaborating with the Philadelphia Prison Community Oversight Board to identify and address emerging prison-related concerns; leading recruitment, hiring, and training of staff for the Office of Prison Oversight; managing the Office's annual budget; developing and maintaining relationships with the Prison Oversight Board, Department of Prisons, Office of the Mayor, and City Council; representing the Office at public meetings, forums, and conferences; conducting scheduled and unscheduled inspections of Philadelphia's correctional facilities to examine and document conditions and interview incarcerated individuals; responding to sentinel events, including investigating every death in custody; overseeing the review of prison data, inmate grievances, and follow-up investigations; reviewing and evaluating regulations, policies, and procedures of the Department of Prisons; identifying systemic issues and providing recommendations to the Department of Prisons and the Oversight Board; accessing department of Prisons staff and incarcerated individuals, facilities, databases, and documents, including grievances filed against the department; monitoring compliance with statewide and nationwide best practices in corrections and oversight; establishing and maintaining data collection and reporting systems; preparing and submitting periodic reports to the Oversight Board and City Council summarizing Office activities; reporting on conditions of confinement including use of force, infrastructure, out-of-cell time, access to services, food and nutrition, due process, and access to programming; developing and implementing community education programs to increase public understanding of prison conditions and oversight efforts; and other duties as assigned.

Required competencies, knowledge, skills, and abilities include oversight, monitoring, or advocacy experience within the criminal justice or corrections system; comprehensive understanding of corrections operations and legal rights of incarcerated individuals; knowledge of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) and related regulations; legal standards for investigating complaints, conducting hearings, and issuing recommendations; awareness of cultural, racial, ethnic, and socio-economic factors impacting incarcerated populations; strong written and verbal communication skills for reports, testimony, and stakeholder engagement; ability to oversee investigations, audits, and policy reviews within scope, schedule, and budget; capacity to analyze complex issues, identify root causes, and propose effective solutions; ability to make impartial, timely, and well-informed judgments in sensitive contexts; strong skills in consensus-building and conflict resolution; ability to inspire and motivate staff, foster accountability, and establish a new organizational culture; demonstrated impartiality and independence in oversight work; manage multiple complex projects concurrently; analyze data to inform policy recommendations; learn and use data management systems and software applications; travel frequently to correctional facilities, often with short notice; and work evenings and weekends as required.

Qualifications include a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, sociology, public health, law, public administration, or a related field; advanced degree (J.D., M.P.A., M.S.W., or related) preferred; minimum of eight (8) years of professional leadership experience in criminal justice, civil rights, public health, or related fields, with significant experience in oversight or reform initiatives.