Volunteer Prison Advocacy Manager

Position Overview

The Prison Advocacy Manager is responsible for overseeing and coordinating Gender Freedom Society’s prison advocacy program, with a focus on protecting the rights, safety, and dignity of incarcerated transgender and gender-diverse individuals. This role leads the implementation of advocacy strategies related to correctional systems, including agency practices, administrative policies, and post-passage implementation of laws affecting incarcerated populations.

The Prison Advocacy Manager works closely with organizational leadership, policy teams, advocates, and external partners to identify systemic issues within correctional institutions and to develop coordinated responses. The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing sensitive advocacy work involving vulnerable populations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of the organization’s prison advocacy strategy, with a focus on correctional systems, agency practices, and post-passage policy implementation
• Oversee day-to-day operations of the prison advocacy program, including case tracking, documentation standards, and escalation procedures
• Coordinate advocacy efforts related to incarceration conditions, healthcare access, housing and classification, safety concerns, and retaliation issues
• Identify and analyze systemic patterns within correctional institutions and develop recommendations for advocacy or policy action
• Collaborate with policy research staff to ensure prison-related advocacy is informed by current legislation, administrative rules, and enforcement practices
• Maintain working relationships with external partners, including legal organizations, civil rights groups, and community advocates
• Support the development of advocacy materials, reports, and internal guidance related to prison systems
• Monitor and report on program outcomes, trends, and emerging issues within correctional environments
• Ensure advocacy efforts follow trauma-informed, ethical, and safety-conscious practices
• Supervise and mentor prison advocacy staff and volunteers
• Represent the organization in meetings, trainings, and coalition efforts related to incarceration and civil rights advocacy

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, social work, public policy, sociology, or a related field, or equivalent lived or professional experience

*We recognize lived experience as an incarcerated individual as a valid and meaningful substitute for formal education or other prior experience.

• 3+ years of experience in advocacy, corrections-related work, civil rights, or related fields
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated understanding of correctional systems, institutional processes, or administrative policy environments
• Ability to analyze complex systems and identify advocacy opportunities and risks
• Strong organizational, documentation, and case-management skills
• Experience supervising or coordinating staff or volunteers
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team environment
• Ability to handle sensitive and emotionally challenging subject matter with professionalism and care
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment