Executive Director-Prison's Oversight Board

City-of-Philadelphi; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 160,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Transportation: Free public transit

Parental benefits

Comprehensive health coverage

Wellness program

Paid vacation, sick leave, holidays

Retirement savings options

Student loan forgiveness programs

Tuition discounts

Job summary

City of Philadelphia is seeking an Executive Director for the Office of Prison Oversight to build and lead the new agency, setting policy, vision, and strategic direction while overseeing four correctional facilities.

You will conduct independent reviews, respond to sentinel events, and issue public reports with findings and recommendations; frequent travel to facilities and collaboration with boards and city partners are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, sociology, public health, law, public administration, or related field.
• Advanced degree preferred (J.D., M.P.A., M.S.W. or related).
• 8+ years of professional leadership experience.
• Experience in corrections oversight or reform initiatives is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership and set strategic goals for the Office of Prison Oversight.
• Lead recruitment, hiring, and training of staff.
• Oversee the annual budget (~$1.4M for FY26) and resource planning.
• Direct independent reviews and publish findings and recommendations.
• Engage with the Prison Oversight Board, PDP, Mayor's Office, and City Council.
• Conduct inspections and audit processes to ensure safety and compliance.

Skills

Executive leadership

Oversight & governance

Policy development

Stakeholder engagement

Public reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, sociology, public health, law, public administration, or related field

Advanced degree (J.D., M.P.A., M.S.W., or related) preferred

Job description

Executive Director-Prison's Oversight Board

• Full-time


• Compensation: USD 160000 - USD 180000 - yearly

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact- The work you do here matters to millions.


• Growth- Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it?


• Diversity & Inclusion- Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.


• Benefits- We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The Office of Prison Oversight is a newly established agency within the City of Philadelphia, created to strengthen accountability and transparency in the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP)within the Office of the Inspector General.

The Office is charged with promoting the safety, health, and well-being of incarcerated individuals through independent oversight, policy review, investigations, and public reporting. Working in close partnership with the Philadelphia Prison Community Oversight Board, the Office will conduct inspections, access prisonrecordsand data, engage directly with staff and incarcerated individuals, and provide recommendations to improve conditions and operations within Philadelphia’s correctional system.

PositionSummary

The Executive Directoris responsible forbuildingand leadingthe newlyestablishedPhiladelphia Office of Prison Oversight.This role developspolicy and practice, setsvision in consultation with the Prison Oversight Board, and leadsoversight of the City’s four correctional facilities.

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

Essential Functions

Provide visionary leadership,establishingstrategic goals andobjectivesaligned with the Office’s mission and the City’s priorities.

Collaborate with the Philadelphia Prison Community Oversight Board toidentifyand address emerging prison-related concerns.

Lead recruitment, hiring, and training of staff for the Office of Prison Oversight.

Manage the Office’s annual budget (approximately $1.4 million for FY26).

Develop andmaintainrelationships with the Prison Oversight Board, Department of Prisons, Office of the Mayor, and City Council.

Represent the Office at public meetings, forums, and conferences.

Conduct scheduled and unscheduled inspections of Philadelphia’scorrectional facilitiesto examine and document conditions and interview incarcerated individuals.

Respond to sentinel events, including investigating every death in custody.

Oversee the review of prison data, inmate grievances, and follow-up investigations.

Review and evaluate regulations, policies, and procedures of the Department of Prisons.

Identifysystemic issues and provide recommendations to the Department of Prisons and the Oversight Board.

Access department of Prisons staff and incarcerated individuals, facilities, databases, and documents, including grievances filed against the department.

Monitor compliance with statewide and nationwide best practices in corrections and oversight.

Establish andmaintaindata collection and reporting systems.

Prepare andsubmitperiodic reports to the Oversight Board and City Council summarizing Office activities.

Report 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.

Develop and implement community education programs to increase public understanding of prison conditions and oversight efforts.

And other duties as assigned.

RequiredCompetencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge

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 factorsimpactingincarcerated populations.

Skills

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,identifyroot 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.

Abilities

Ability to inspire and motivate staff, foster accountability, andestablisha 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.

Travelfrequentlytocorrectional facilities, often with short notice.

Work evenings and weekends asrequired.

Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, sociology, public health, law, public administration, or a related field.

Advanceddegree(J.D., M.P.A., M.S.W., or related) preferred.

Minimum of eight (8) years of professionalleadershipexperience in criminal justice, civil rights, public health, or related fields, withsignificant experiencein oversight or reform initiatives.

Salary Range:160,000-180,000

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program.Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.


• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 8weeks of paid parental leave.


• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.


• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan


• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays


• Generous retirement savings options are available


• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.


• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to [emailprotected] .

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