Senior Copywriter — Craft Voice of -Led Justice Lab

Senior Copywriter — Craft the Voice of an Inside-Led Justice Lab

Be among the first 25 applicants.

Skunk Works began as a bold idea inside San Quentin: what if incarceration could become a launchpad for change? Founded by incarcerated people and built in partnership with outside professionals, we’ve grown into a nationally recognized innovation lab inside prison walls.

Our goal is simple but radical: transform the justice system by centering the leadership of the people most impacted by it. We design and test solutions inside—and then work to scale them beyond the walls
.

Our programs put incarcerated leadership into practice. We reclaim prison spaces with murals that restore dignity, run intensive leadership trainings that prepare incarcerated people to guide reform, and host monthly gaming events that bring more than 150 people together across divides. Each project is a live experiment in building a justice system that works better for everyone.

We’ve been featured in Cal Matters, the front page of the LA Times, and are backed by CDCR. But our biggest achievement?
Building a movement where incarcerated people lead—and the world listens
.

Join the incarcerated-led innovation lab partnering with the Governor’s Office, eL Seed, FaithXLVII, UC researchers, and other visionaries to coordinate the systems, people, and projects shaping the future of justice reform.

We’re looking for a senior-level copywriter who can help turn complex, on-the-ground innovation into sharp, memorable writing for national audiences.

• You’ll take the lead on high-impact writing across multiple channels. Your work may include:
• Developing early op-eds and thought pieces with incarcerated writers, senior communications advisors, and our brand agency — pieces aimed at outlets like the New York Times, The New Yorker, and other national publications.
• Writing and refining copy for our website redesign in partnership with the design, UX, and branding teams.
• Supporting our graphic design team with crisp copy for campaigns, collateral, and digital assets.
• Collaborating with our policy and law partners to create clear, accessible language for briefs, legislative work, and public-facing explanations.
• Turning transcripts, interviews, and raw story material into strong narrative.
• Building messaging guides and reusable phrases that keep our voice consistent across the organization.

This is creative work, but also strategic — shaping language that helps the public understand inside-led reform.

You’ll be part of a small but extremely high-performing communications ecosystem, working closely with:

• Incarcerated leaders at San Quentin who are at the front of this work.
• Senior communications professionals who advise on narrative strategy.
• Our brand communications agency, supporting design and messaging alignment.
• The Skunk Works graphic design team, integrating text and visual storytelling.
• A policy law firm working on legislative and reform initiatives.
• Cross-functional partners building media, art, tech, and culture projects.

The mix is unusual — and that’s the point. You’ll help bring coherence to a team that spans prison, professional creative worlds, and national reform spaces.

This role is for someone with a strong track record, not someone starting out.

• 5+ years of copywriting, editorial, communications, or related experience.
• A portfolio that shows clarity, range, and the ability to write for strategy.
• Experience collaborating with designers and comms teams.
• Comfort writing for both public audiences and professional stakeholders.
• Ability to translate complex or sensitive material into accessible, powerful language.
• Skilled at working asynchronously and meeting deadlines.
• Familiarity with  or willingness to learn quickly.
• Experience with op-eds, campaigns, nonprofit communications, or journalism is a plus.

This is a project-based volunteer role. Most of our senior writers contribute around 4–6 hours per week, with flexibility built around the rhythm of the project you join.

You can support a specific initiative — op-eds, the website redesign, a campaign — or continue long-term.