Freedom Reads is a first-of-its-kind organization that uses literature to confront the hopelessness and desperation that accompany time served in prison. The aim of the organization is to place millions of books into prisons by installing a 500-book, micro-library in every prison dormitory and housing unit in the United States. In the tradition of Freedom Schools and Freedom Riders, the libraries are named Freedom Libraries because of the organizational belief that freedom begins with a book. Founded in 2020 with a $5.25 million grant from the Mellon Foundation, Freedom Reads is the only organization in the country with a mission to provide a specially curated library to people in prison and in doing so radically transform the means by which literature can be accessed.

Since July 2022, Freedom Reads has opened 60 Freedom Libraries across seven states and 19 prisons. This unprecedented success includes opening libraries in notoriously violent prisons and jails such as the Louisiana State Prison and Rikers Island Jail. The organization has also transformed a cell into a library at MCI-Norfolk in Massachusetts, the prison where Malcolm X once served time. The libraries are in solitary confinement units and protective custody units and in women's prisons, men's prisons, and juvenile detention centers. Since its founding, Freedom Reads has distributed more than 100,000 books to incarcerated readers across 34 states and to more than two dozen prisons and juvenile detention centers. In 2023, the organization will open 200 libraries a year across several states and will have reached a quarter million incarcerated people.

Located in New Haven, Connecticut and supported by foundations and private donors, Freedom Reads currently has a $3 million annual budget and a growing network of full- and part-time staff and consultants. As Freedom Reads embarks on its next phase, it seeks a highly organized, talented, and experienced Director of Programs and Operations to help build this unique organization.

For more information on Freedom Reads, please visit https://freedomreads.org/.

THE POSITION

Freedom Reads is currently in a stage of accelerated growth and seeks an experienced organizational leader to serve as its Director of Programs and Operations. The Director of Programs and Operations will play an integral role in shaping and delivering on the strategic goals of the organization. The Director of Programs and Operations must be well positioned to provide the leadership, management, and discernment necessary to ensure that Freedom Reads has the proper programmatic implementation and people systems in place to effectively steer the organization towards operational and programmatic efficiency.

This is a full-time, in-person role. The Director of Programs and Operations will reside within commuting distance of the New Haven offices and fabrication partners.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the Founding President and CEO of Freedom Reads, the Director of Operations and Program will collaborate closely with the executive team and staff to implement the strategic plan. The Director of Operations and Programs will lead the programming team and advance operations across the organization, including the following responsibilities:

• Lead and supervise the programming staff.
• Collaborate with the CEO and executive team in setting and driving organizational vision, operational strategy, and hiring needs.
• With support of the CEO, develop and implement an organizational growth plan that ensures our ability to meet the demand for our Freedom Libraries and attendant programs.
• Work closely with the CEO and team to create, roll out, and implement plans for Freedom Reads Program and mission objectives.
• Manage central areas of Freedom Reads operations, including IT, HR, and insurance compliance.
• Oversee the implementation and overall success of all Freedom Reads Program Initiatives (Libraries, Acts, Ambassadors, etc).
• Collaborate the with CEO manage communications with the local Department of Corrections and facilitate the planning, scheduling, and opening of 200 libraries a year across several states via partnership with the local Department of Correction.
• Develop, implement, and manage a framework of impact and success metrics for all Freedom Reads Program Initiatives.
• Participate in the development and preparation of short-term and long-range plans and budgets based on organizational objectives and key results.
• Motivate, collaborate, and establish clear communication with all levels of the organization to guarantee a highly functioning and committed team dedicated to the success of Freedom Reads.

Freedom Reads is committed to the principles of justice and tries to build an environment where everyone is treated fairly and enjoys working together. The organization values new perspectives and does its best to make its positions accessible to people of any ethnic background, age, and sexual orientation, as well as women and other underrepresented communities – including communities most impacted by injustice.

Nominations and applications should be submitted to the attention of Justice Perez and at Justice@GEMtrainers.com.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

• Commitment to the organization's mission, values, principles, and practices is required as is demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity.
• Minimum seven years of progressively responsible experience in an operations leadership role required, including experience growing an organization from "start-up" to significant scale.
• Experience creating, implementing,  monitoring and evaluating key program initiatives
• Strong analytical and consultative skills, and willingness to understand and adapt to the unique environment of the criminal justice system.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to administer multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize workload, and effectively manage resources.
• Record as an effective team member and team builder, with experience leading, managing and directing a minimum of 5 staff members.
• Collaborative, organized, and detail-oriented leader and manager with relationship management experience, including excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Nimble, business-like mind focusing on creative solutions with a good eye for streamlining processes and finding efficiencies. Demonstrated track record of effective and prudent decision making.
• Versatile; a multidisciplinary and multi-constituency perspective with an ability to connect with people of diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Understanding of and experience working in systems associated with incarceration and the prison industrial complex is highly desirable.
• Bachelor's degree required. Advanced degree in literature; education; criminal justice, public policy, education, or related field preferred.
• Sound judgment, a high level of integrity, professionalism, a positive attitude, and a sense of humor.

About Freedom Reads

Freedom Reads is a first-of-its-kind organization that uses literature to confront the hopelessness and desperation that accompany time served in prison. The aim of the organization is to place millions of books into prisons by installing a 500-book, micro-library in every prison dormitory and housing unit in the United States. In the tradition of Freedom Schools and Freedom Riders, the libraries are named Freedom Libraries because of the organizational belief that freedom begins with a book. Founded in 2020 with a $5.25 million grant from the Mellon Foundation, Freedom Reads is the only organization in the country with a mission to provide a specially curated library to people in prison and in doing so radically transform the means by which literature can be accessed. Since July 2022, Freedom Reads has opened 60 Freedom Libraries across seven states and 19 prisons. This unprecedented success includes opening libraries in notoriously violent prisons and jails such as the Louisiana State Prison and Rikers Island Jail. The organization has also transformed a cell into a library at MCI-Norfolk in Massachusetts, the prison where Malcolm X once served time. The libraries are in solitar...y confinement units and protective custody units and in women's prisons, men's prisons, and juvenile detention centers. Since its founding, Freedom Reads has distributed more than 100,000 books to incarcerated readers across 34 states and to more than two dozen prisons and juvenile detention centers. In 2023, the organization will open 200 libraries a year across several states and will have reached a quarter million incarcerated people.

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Connections working at Freedom Reads