Reentry Workforce Support Associate

Reentry Workforce Support Associate

Final date to receive applications: 22 July 2026

Department: Growing Justice

Employment Type: Part Time

Location: Oakland Office

Compensation: $33.80 / hour

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.

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 Amplified Ag, Skout Strategy, and Agritecture, participants at institutions in California and South Carolina 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 2025, Impact Justice partnered with Amplified Ag to establish a vertical farm on the grounds of Camille G. Graham Correctional Institution in Columbia (CGGCI), South Caroliana, producing 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 2026: 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.

You are passionate about supporting women impacted by incarceration and believe deeply in second chances. You bring experience in workforce development, job readiness training, employer engagement, or job placement, 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 employer partners.

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.

The anticipated start date for this position is in August 2026. You will report to the Director of Growing Justice. Your core responsibilities will be:

• Build strong, supportive relationships with participants through regular one‑on‑one meetings and structured intake assessments, using trauma‑informed and strengths‑based coaching practices that foster accountability, motivation, and personal growth.
• Develop and maintain individualized career development plans that align participant strengths and interests with realistic post‑release employment goals.
• Empower participants to identify strengths, set realistic, achievable career goals for release, and track progress toward long‑term economic stability.
• Coordinate with Growing Justice reentry staff to ensure career planning is integrated with broader reentry support around housing, transportation, healthcare, and family stability.
• Keep accurate case notes and update…