Reentry and Workforce Support Associate

About Impact Justice

Impact Justice advances safety, justice, and opportunity through boundary-breaking work that honors and empowers people and is changing expectations about what we can accomplish together. We imagine, build, and scale innovations, leverage research and other knowledge to connect the desire for change with informed action, and work to shift the narrative so that decision-makers and the public understand what’s at stake and what’s possible.

About the Growing Justice program

Growing Justice is a first-of-its-kind reentry and workforce development program, blending vertical farming and classroom instruction with intensive reentry and job readiness support. Through partnerships with AmplifiedAg, Skout Strategy, and Agritecture, women at Camille G. Graham Correctional Institution (CGGCI) gain hands-on training, employment preparation, and wraparound support that positions them for success post-release.

Inspired by Impact Justice’s 2020 series Eating Behind Bars, which documented the unhealthy and degrading quality of prison food nationwide, Growing Justice also reimagines food justice inside correctional facilities. Beginning in the Fall of 2025, AmplifiedAg will establish a vertical farm on the grounds of CGGCI that will produce an estimated 48,000 pounds of nutrient-rich leafy greens each year for residents, while serving as a living classroom where participants build marketable skills and pathways to sustainable careers.

In addition to the South Carolina site at CGGCI, Growing Justice is also launching two additional sites in 2025: one at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, CA, and another inside Impact Justice’s office building in downtown Oakland, CA. Together, these sites expand the reach of Growing Justice, advancing food justice, workforce readiness, and reentry pathways nationwide.

Who You Are

You are passionate about supporting women impacted by incarceration and believe deeply in second chances. You bring experience in case management, reentry, social services, or workforce development, and you thrive on helping people set goals and achieve them. You balance empathy with accountability, and you know how to connect with diverse stakeholders, from program participants to correctional staff to community partners.

You are also:

• Skilled at building trust and motivating participants who are navigating complex barriers to reentry.
• Able to adapt quickly in dynamic environments and maintain professionalism within correctional settings and engage directly with program participants, while also collaborating with community organizations and external partners.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong documentation, case management, and follow-through skills.
• Tech-savvy and adaptable, able to use tools like Google Suite, Microsoft Office, and case management databases to stay on top of participant progress.
• A collaborative team player who values equity, inclusion, and accountability, and brings a solutions-oriented mindset to challenges.

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! We know that there are great candidates who may not possess all of the skills that we have described. We would like to hear from you even if you have most (but not all) of the skills listed. We welcome all applicants, including formerly incarcerated individuals, those with family members that have been incarcerated, and persons with direct criminal or juvenile legal system experience.

What You Will Do

The Reentry & Workforce Support Associate will play a vital role in ensuring that participants in the Growing Justice program receive individualized reentry planning, job readiness coaching, and holistic resource connection to help women thrive after incarceration. This is a participant-facing position with the majority of work taking place inside Camille G. Graham Correctional Institution, where the Reentry & Workforce Support Associate will meet directly with program participants, facilitate reentry planning, and support workshops. The role also includes external coordination, such as communicating with service providers or attending community meetings, to support participant referrals and continuity of care.

The anticipated start date for this position is January 2025. You will report to the Senior Program Manager. You will be the owner of individualized case management and workforce development support, and your core responsibilities will be:

• CASE MANAGEMENT & REENTRY PLANNING – You will build strong, supportive relationships with participants through regular one-on-one meetings and structured intake assessments. This includes developing individualized reentry plans centered on workforce goals, addressing key needs (housing, transportation, healthcare, family support), maintaining updated provider records, making referrals and warm handoffs to community organizations, and keeping accurate case notes in the case management system.
• WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT & CAREER READINESS – You will coach participants in exploring career pathways in controlled environment agriculture, food production, horticulture, and transferable industries. This includes delivering job readiness support such as resume building, mock interviews, and workplace professionalism, assisting employer partners with scheduling and interview prep, coordinating employer engagement inside the facility, and helping troubleshoot barriers that may affect employability.
• POST-RELEASE FOLLOW-UP & SUPPORT – You will provide individualized support to program graduates for up to 12 months post-release. This includes conducting check-ins, monitoring housing, employment, and reentry goals, making referrals that promote stability and retention, and collaborating with the Senior Program Manager to connect graduates with employers and supportive community resources.
• PROGRAM COORDINATION & REPORTING – You will assist with program workshops, employer visits, and events that enhance participant learning. This includes helping maintain a partner database, preparing participant resources and materials, tracking and reporting outcomes, and contributing recommendations to strengthen program improvement and innovation.

Education / Experience Level

Successful candidates typically have at least a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (such as social work, psychology, human services, or a related discipline) and/or at least four years of closely related professional experience. Candidates should also bring a minimum of three years of experience supporting program work through independently planning and managing deliverables, facilitating training or workshops, and/or contributing to writing and analysis activities.

Required Qualifications

1. At least 4 years of experience in reentry services, case management, workforce readiness, or related social services (or equivalent professional experience).
2. Experience working within the criminal and/or juvenile justice system with a strong understanding and familiarity with reentry processes and resources in South Carolina (or ability to quickly learn and build knowledge).
3. Proven ability to coach and prepare individuals for employment, including resume development, interview preparation, and workplace skills.
4. Comfort and professionalism working inside a correctional facility, directly engaging with participants in custody.
5. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust while maintaining boundaries.

Additional qualifications include:

1. A critical understanding of and deep commitment to fostering a more humane, responsive, and restorative system of justice in our nation.
2. Ability to work effectively with diverse communities and individuals across race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, age, class, and criminal justice experience.
3. Skilled at maintaining detailed case notes, using databases, and tracking outcomes.
4. Organized and adaptable, able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
5. Proficiency with Google Suite, Microsoft Office, and case management systems; comfortable adapting to new technologies.
6. Comfort working with remote teams and staff, maintaining communication and accountability across locations.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Familiarity with South Carolina’s reentry and workforce development landscape, including existing service providers, employers, and community-based resources.
2. Experience facilitating group workshops or training (especially job readiness, life skills, or reentry-related content) in correctional or community settings.
3. Experience building or maintaining partnerships with employers or community organizations to expand opportunities for participants.

Growing Justice is a new innovation, and we are committed to building a strong foundation for the program’s longevity and success. This position is supported by external grant funding through July 2026. Employment is contingent on continued funding availability and may end if the grant is not renewed or funding is discontinued.

This is a part-time, salaried position with the possibility of conversion to full-time contingent upon grant funding.

The part-time compensation range for this role is $32,796 to $36,076. Consistent with our compensation philosophy, our starting salaries are established to represent strong compensation in the marketplace and to maintain internal equity. The starting salary for this position is $32,796, with annual increases defined by the current collective bargaining agreement. This role will be 20 hours per week. It is a bargaining unit position with Impact Justice United represented by OPEIU International. 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 part-time, salaried position. The candidate should be located in South Carolina and will work under a hybrid schedule with regular, in-person engagement at Camille G. Graham Correctional Institution in Columbia, SC. Periodic deviations to the regular hybrid schedule may be required due to program needs.

We are not considering remote staff for this position.

If this sounds like a good fit for you, instead of a traditional cover letter, please submit your resume along with responses to these three prompts:

1. Why are you interested in working with Impact Justice and the Growing Justice program?
2. What experience do you bring in case management, reentry services, or workforce readiness?
3. How do you build trust and accountability when supporting participants facing barriers?

We plan on making decisions on a rolling basis, so the earlier you apply the better.

Hiring Process

Elements of the Impact Justice hiring process may include phone screen interviews, candidate exercises (written or presentations), Zoom interviews, in-person interviews, and reference checks. Candidates are welcome to ask for alternative arrangements in the process if needed (for example, conducting an interview via phone rather than Zoom), Impact Justice will do our best to accommodate reasonable requests. Please communicate any alternative arrangements requested to the hiring manager.

Equal Opportunity Employment

Impact Justice provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants without regard to race/ethnicity, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, national origin, age, criminal history, or disability.