Reentry Program Manager / Senior Program Manager

About Growing Justice

Growing Justice was inspired by Impact Justice’s 2020 series Eating Behind Bars, which documents the unhealthy, degrading quality of food in prisons nationwide. In the summer of 2025, Growing Justice partner AmplifiedAg will establish a vertical farm on the grounds of the Camille Graham Correctional Center that will produce 48,000 lbs of nutrient-rich leafy greens for CGCC residents each year. Impact Justice will then use the vertical farm as the primary site for a robust agricultural workforce development program (“Growing Justice”). Impact Justice has partnered with Skout Strategy and Agritecture to create a five-month, 200-hour curriculum and training program specifically for use in prison that combines classroom education with hands-on learning opportunities as participants help to run the vertical farm.

The initial on-site Camille Graham Growing Justice team will consist of (3) full-time team members: a Program Manager / Trainer (responsible for job training), the Reentry Program Manager (responsible for job placement and reentry services), and a Reentry Coordinator (to assist the Reentry Program Manager: level and timing of this role to be determined with the Reentry Program Manager once needs are clear). The Program Manager / Trainer will train participants in cohorts of 18-20 over the course of five months. The Reentry Program Manager will match graduates with relevant, sustainable employment opportunities prior to their release, as well as provide thorough and localized referrals for reentry services (housing, transportation, legal services, etc.) to support a successful transition and ensure that employment can be sustained.

In addition to the site at CGCC in South Carolina, Growing Justice is in the process of launching 2 other sites in 2025: one at Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, CA, and one inside Impact Justice’s office building in downtown Oakland, CA.

Position Overview

The Reentry Program Manager / Reentry Senior Program Manager will play a critical role in ensuring the successful reintegration of program graduates into the workforce and their communities. In partnership with the South Carolina Department of Corrections’ reentry team and community-based organizations across the state, they will develop individualized reentry plans / referral lists that address employment, housing, healthcare, and other essential needs. This position will provide direct support to program graduates for up to 12 months post-release, facilitating connections to sustainable job opportunities and comprehensive reentry services. The Reentry Program Manager will proactively build and maintain a strong network of employers, service providers, and community-based organizations to ensure program participants have access to the resources they need for long-term stability and success.

The anticipated start date for this position is August, 2025. You will report to the VP of Impact/Innovations and will be required to work on-site at Camille Graham 3-4 days per week. This role will have 1-2 direct reports.

Who You Are

You are passionate about supporting people impacted by the criminal justice system and believe in second chances. You have experience working in reentry services, workforce development, case management, or related fields and understand the challenges individuals face after incarceration. You are a natural relationship-builder, skilled in connecting with diverse stakeholders, including employers, service providers, and correctional staff. You have excellent communication skills and can balance empathy with accountability to help individuals achieve long-term stability. You are highly organized, adaptable, and committed to ensuring every program graduate has the tools and resources they need to succeed.

You are also:

• Adaptable and comfortable working in an evolving program. You are proactive in identifying gaps in services and solutions to improve participant outcomes
• A highly-autonomous self-starter who thrives in changing, dynamic environments
• Able to juggle and implement multiple simultaneous project elements
• Comfortable interacting with individuals impacted by the criminal justice system, criminal justice system staff and officials, and external partners, consultants, or vendors
• An experienced project/program manager with previous experience collecting programmatic data, evaluating program success, and meeting KPIs
• Adept at time management with a proven ability to meet deadlines
• Comfortable working with remote partners, consultants, and staff
• Tech-savvy: comfortable with Google Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, Asana, and databases/case management systems
• A critical thinker with a high level of analytical/interpretive thinking and problem-solving skills
• Methodical, efficient, and able to synthesize and organize disparate information clearly

Big Pluses (but not requirements):

• You have personal experience within the social service system; including being system-impacted, formerly incarcerated, a former foster youth, or have loved ones who are systems-impacted

That said, we know there are great candidates who may not think they fit into what we’ve described above or who have important skills we haven’t thought of. If that is you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself! And if you’re a formerly incarcerated individual or someone who has a family member who is or has been incarcerated, or otherwise have direct experience with the criminal or juvenile justice systems, we will be particularly excited to hear from you.

What You Will Do

Employment Placement & Career Support:

• Develop relationships with South Carolina agribusinesses, workforce development programs (e.g. the SC Department of Employment and Development), and industry partners (e.g. Palmetto Agribusiness Council) to build a pipeline of employers and job opportunities. Work to thoroughly understand the South Carolina agribusiness landscape.
• Effectively promote the program to employers and secure their commitment to hiring program graduates.
• Provide resume development, interview preparation, and career counseling to graduates (in partnership with SCDC internal teams and other existing resources).
• Create a framework for effective job placement: how and when participants are introduced to employers, application / interview process, prep for first day of work, etc.
• Match program graduates with relevant and sustainable employment opportunities and meet employment KPIs.
• Regularly check in with employers to evaluate employee performance, address any challenges, and identify opportunities to enhance training and reentry plans for future participants.

Case Management & Reentry Support:

• Get to know each cohort of participants and their unique needs, including their work experience, skills, and passions, their post-release destination, and any additional support they may require, such as housing, transportation, or childcare.
• In partnership with existing SCDC resources; develop, monitor, and adjust individualized reentry plans that address housing, employment, healthcare, and transportation needs.
• Build a robust network of regional reentry services and offer guidance on housing, healthcare, transportation, and social services as needed for each participant.
• Be laser-focused on results and what the program needs to continuously improve its quality of training and quantity of individuals served.
• Participate in public speaking opportunities, including media interviews, podcasts, and other events as they arise.
• Effectively navigate challenges in program implementation. Flag major issues to the VP of Impact/Innovations as they arise; make and implement recommendations for improvements.
• Provide guidance and coordination to case managers and reentry staff, ensuring consistency in service delivery and adherence to best practices.

Program Evaluation & Reporting:

• Maintain accurate records of participant progress and employment outcomes.
• Gather qualitative and quantitative data from participants, employers, and reentry partners to evaluate program effectiveness and make improvements.
• Track and provide ongoing support to participants for up to 12 months post-release. Ensure employment and recidivism KPIs are met.
• Provide reports and updates to Impact Justice leadership, stakeholders, and grant managers.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, workforce development, or a related field (or equivalent work experience)
• Experience working within the criminal/juvenile justice system and intimately familiar with the reentry process and South Carolina reentry landscape
• At least 6 years experience in increasingly responsible roles requiring advanced communication skills, project planning including budgeting, timeline development, delegation and coordination of work and tracking of deliverables
• Strong understanding of barriers faced by formerly incarcerated individuals and knowledge of community resources
• A critical understanding of and deep commitment to fostering a more humane, responsive, and restorative system of justice in our nation
• Ability to work with diverse communities and individuals- across, race, ethnicity, sexual preference, ability, age, gender identity, class, criminal justice experience, etc.
• Comfort working with remote teams and staff
• Experience in people management, including supervising case managers, coordinating reentry services, and overseeing program operations
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Collaborative nature and proven track record of teamwork and generous leadership
• Strong critical thinking skills, resourcefulness, and ability to problem-solve
• Coaching skills based on an ethos of social justice, racial justice, community, and mutuality

Candidates may qualify for this position at either the Program Manager or Senior Program Manager level depending on prior qualifying experience. Differentiation between positions may include years of experience leading and managing teams at the senior level, and/or years of experience developing innovative strategies and programs. The compensation for the Program Manager position is $79-90k. The Senior Program Manager compensation range is $90-110k.

The benefits that come with working at Impact Justice include medical, dental, and FSA plans, significant vacation and wellness leave, and immediate vesting in our 401K with a generous match. This is a full-time, salaried position. The candidate should be located near Columbia, SC or willing to relocate and be able to work on-site.

Due to the hands-on nature of the role, we are not considering remote staff for this position.

COVID-19 Vaccination is a condition of employment for all employees (office-based and remote). We require employees to be fully vaccinated and up to date per the CDC guidance.