Summary: ICOY seeks an active collaborator and strategic thinker to join our team as the Inside Program Director to support the REAL Youth Initiative. This role will work alongside fellow REAL Co-Directors to manage and facilitate ongoing workshops inside Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) facilities. In addition to directing REAL inside programming, the Inside Program Director will continue to follow up and support young people who have been participating in our inside programs upon their release from IDJJ facilities. They will also assist with administrative management of the REAL Youth Initiative. This is a hybrid position, which includes remote and in-person activities.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Facilitate biweekly in-person programming at three IDJJ facilities (IYC-St. Charles, IYC-Warrenville, and IYC-Chicago)
- Drive to and from IDJJ facilities on biweekly basis
- Place food orders either for delivery to the prison or pickup beforehand
- Write new curriculum for educational programming and edit/synthesize existing curriculum
- Print curriculum materials before each workshop
- Communicate with prison staff to schedule biweekly program times and make sure there is gate clearance for program materials
- Be available for regular phone calls from incarcerated program participants throughout work week
- Track program participation and evaluate learning of developed curriculum
- Collaborate with co-directors and incarcerated young people to develop individualized reentry plans as young people in the inside program near their release date
- Submit biweekly reports to IDJJ about delivered programs
- Monthly video call with ASPs from each facility
- Maintaining connection with young people transferred to adult prisons through GTL, Securus, and scheduling of occasional in-person visits
Administrative
- Continue to follow up and support young people following their release from IDJJ
- Assist with administrative management of the organization. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
o Help organize public events
o Budget management
o Grant writing support
- Support fellowship programming and work with co-directors to harmonize inside and outside educational programming
Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience
The successful candidate will have:
- 3-5 years of relevant experience facilitating abolitionist programming inside prisons, writing curriculum for educational programming, communicating with prison staff, and conducting engaging programs for directly impacted young people.
- An understanding of racial and ethnic disparities and equity issues at a practical and systemic level.
- Exceptional outcome-based project management skills
- Outstanding written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work autonomously and as a member of a team.
- Experience collaborating with a wide variety of stakeholders and partners.
- Flexibility and an ability to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
- Ability and willingness to travel, work flexible hours, possess a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation and auto insurance as required by ICOY.
- Knowledge of computers and technology: proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint and audio/visual and conference calling technology like zoom.
- Background check required for position, but not a determining factor.
Compensation:
$62,400 - $78,000, commensurate with experience. ICOY offers competitive benefits, including health, dental, and disability insurance, sick and vacation time, and a retirement plan with employer matching contributions.
Location:
This position is located at ICOY’s Chicago office located in the loop. However, this position is open to IL state-wide candidates. Travel may be required of this position to provide training, consultation, and participation in meetings as required. We are working a hybrid model that requires us in office twice a week.
Start Date:
06/01/2024
Application Instructions:
Please submit a resume, cover letter, and a 1–2page curriculum sample to thagan@icoyouth.org or dburke@icoyouth.org
ICOY is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, personal appearance, family responsibility, political affiliation or any other status protected by applicable law. Women, transgender people, veterans, and people of color are encouraged to apply.