Director (TPP)

The Transformational Prison Project; Newton (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Transformational Prison Project (TPP) seeks a new Director to propel the organization into its next growth phase, shaping programming, operations and strategic direction. The Director will report to the fiscal sponsor, Community Works West, and work with partners, staff, volunteers and regional authorities.

Responsibilities include leading program development, budgeting, fundraising and stakeholder engagement to advance restorative justice initiatives and ensure sustainability for the

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years of progressive leadership experience in a nonprofit or related field.
• Experience with programs dedicated to trauma and working with individuals who have experienced incarceration.
• Ability to compellingly articulate TPP’s message to a broad range of constituents and the general public; strong oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage programmatic operations and ensure stakeholder expectations are met; oversee fundraising, community relations and advocacy.
• Serve as an effective partner to the fiscal sponsor and collaborate with partners and volunteers.
• Lead, develop and mentor the TPP team and refine staff roles and responsibilities.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising

Nonprofit management

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic planning

Job description

“In my mind, it was me against everyone. But when I decided to start the restoration process, it was the first time I ever sat down and could actually think deeply about the pain I’d caused and what led to me doing what I did.”

– Louis, Formerly Incarcerated Participant

Background

The Transformational Prison Project (TPP) provides spaces where those who have been victims of violent crime—and those who have committed them—can come together and engage in dialogue, to build understanding and empathy and move toward a place of healing. TPP understands that no matter what a person’s position is within the criminal justice system, everybody is vulnerable to trauma, and it believes in creating a system that’s reparative and healing rather than punitive. The organization’s genesis lies in the experiences of a small group of men serving life sentences who began exploring what restorative justice means. These incarcerated men made clear in practice that restorative justice was a healing and transformative process that could benefit many other incarcerated men and women, just as it has in other parts of the country and throughout the world.

Since its founding in 2013, TPP has become a leader in restorative justice programming. TPP’s reflective restorative justice programming aims to increase accountability for individual actions, past and present. This is achieved over the course of deep contemplation and self-discovery that involves developing increased empathy for self and others. Its core programming is comprised of:

• Restorative Justice Reading Groups that introduce the concept of restorative justice through reading, group discussion and individual reflection.
• Victim Offender Education Groups that foster empathy and responsibility through mutually compassionate conversations between survivors and the men and women in prison.
• Yoga Mindfulness Restorative Justice Groups which is a reflective process to support the continuation of dealing with the trauma, accountability and healing among participants

Position

TPP’s new Director will be tasked with taking the organization into its next phase of growth, building its

programming, operations and overall strategy. The Director will report to TPP’s fiscal sponsor, Community Works West, and will work in collaboration with TPP’s community partners, staff, volunteers and regional authorities.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Management:

• Lead and manage programmatic operations and ensure that the expectations of stakeholders (funders, partners, constituents, clients and community) are met; ensure ongoing quality of fundraising, community relations and advocacy efforts.
• Serve as an effective partner to TPP’s fiscal sponsor, Community Works West.
• Lead, develop and mentor the professional TPP team, maintaining an environment of inclusivity, collaboration and community among the staff; develop and refine staff roles and responsibilities.
• Communicate a compelling vision based on the organization’s mission.
• Facilitate relationships with multiple stakeholders related to TPP’s work, including government officials and community groups.
• With strategic guidance from Community Works West, develop an Advisory Board to support, advise and enrich TPP.

Program Development:

• Collaborate with TPP staff to implement and continually improve the organization’s programming; serve as the primary point of contact for each program/group location; build and maintain relationships with correctional officials.
• In collaboration with TPP staff, identify opportunities for new programs; oversee the implementation of new initiatives.
• Train and support facilitators: design and oversee the facilitation of all program training, including all volunteers; ensure supervision/check-in meetings.
• Bring a creative problem-solving approach to program management while ensuring that the necessary planning is undertaken for smooth programmatic operations; determine program staffing needs and recruit as needed.
• Manage program evaluation efforts; establish goals to be shared and utilized organization-wide for tracking results, successes and opportunities for adjustment.
• Ensure that programs and services contribute to and reflect the organization’s mission, core values and priorities.
• Develop near- and long‑term strategic priorities to advance and ensure long‑term program delivery and sustainability in line with TPP’s mission and core values.
• Monitor emerging community needs, network trends and changes in legislation; recommend appropriate changes in strategy as needed.

Fundraising and Development:

• Serve as an ambassador for TPP, developing relationships with funders and other stakeholders.
• Report to funders on program progress; monitor public and private sector fundraising opportunities to ensure funding for existing and planned programs.

Community Relations:

• Establish and maintain relationships with agency partners in order to assure a full spectrum of services to clients (those who have been harmed, and those who have harmed); serve as a leader and coalition-builder for service provision.
• Build relationships with key constituents, including policy makers, government leaders, and community groups.
• Work closely with Community Works West and TPP’s bookkeeper to ensure the financial viability and sustainability of all programming and operations.
• Develop and monitor annual program budgets.

Qualifications

• Belief in and commitment to the mission and values of The Transformational Prison Project.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive leadership experience in a nonprofit or related field.
• Lived experience, high emotional intelligence, patience and humility.
• Experience with programs dedicated to trauma and experience working with individuals who have experienced incarceration.
• An ability to manage and motivate a team, and collaborate with a large group of volunteers.
• Successful relationship-builder with a track record of developing new partnerships and attracting new funding and community partnerships.
• Ability to compellingly articulate TPP’s message to a broad range of constituents and the general public; strong oral and written communication skills, capacity to manage website.
• Financial acumen, experience overseeing budgets.
• An ability to be a champion for TPP’s work and fundraising efforts.

The Transformational Prison Project is an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a culturally diverse work environment that reflects the make-up of the communities we serve. People with diverse personal experiences are urged to apply, especially people of color, bi‑lingual English‑Spanish speakers, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, and women.

This position description is based upon material provided by the Transformational Prison Project, an equal opportunity employer.