Executive Director

Executive Director for Insight Prison Project (San Rafael)

The Insight Prison Project (IPP) is a community based non-profit
organization founded in 1997 and located in San Rafael, CA. IPP
envisions a vibrant and just society that inspires individual
transformation beyond the walls of both personal and institutional
incarceration. It is dedicated to reducing recidivism, preventing
re-victimization and serving public safety. IPP creates and conducts
effective rehabilitation programming inside the prison at San Quentin,
CA, and supports the actual reinstatement of rehabilitation as the
core operating principle within the California penal system.

Working in partnership with San Quentin State Prison, IPP conducts 19
weekly classes involving more than 250 prisoners. Classes focus on
preparing prisoners to become responsible and productive members of
the community when they leave prison.

The Insight approach of three IPP core programs uses the principles of
Restorative Justice, Violence Prevention and Mind Body Integration and
is designed to generate in participants a durable change of attitude
and behavior. This transformational re-education process combines
victim impact accountability, emotional competency and intelligence,
rational restructuring, and embodied integration. These elements bring
about a shift, transforming ingrained patterns of destructive behavior
into conscious, life-enhancing choices.

According to a report released by the National Council on Crime &
Delinquency (NCCD), prisoners who participated in IPP programs for
more than 6 months approach problems in more rational and effective
ways. This includes being less likely to: act impulsively, become
angry, and attempt to control their relationships through violence.

IPP's annual budget is approximately $600,000, with approximately 60%
from foundation grants and the balance from individual donors and
earned income.

The Opportunity

The Board of Directors is seeking an experienced Executive Director to
lead the staff, forge new, and maintain current community
relationships, develop and manage new and existing sources of income,
and ensure the quality and effectiveness of IPP's programs.

The Executive Director articulates the vision and mission of the
organization, serves as the public voice of the organization and chief
liaison to contributors, community organizations and government
agencies. Working closely with the Board of Directors and senior
management team, the Executive Director provides overall leadership
and strategic direction and ensures maximum programmatic effectiveness
and impact.

Primary Areas of Responsibility:

Vision, Strategy and Business Planning
• Engage the board, staff, volunteers, and other stakeholders in
refining and implementing IPP's vision and strategy.
• Ensure consistency among the vision, mission, values, strategic
plan, and day-to-day operations.
• Consistently analyze operations and evaluate programs to ensure
alignment with the organization's strategy.
• Regularly lead the organization through long and short-term
evaluation and planning cycles.

Program Development and Leadership
• Oversee thoughtful and comprehensive evaluation of all programs;
strive for continuous program improvement and provide overall
leadership for program planning, development and implementation, and
program operations.
• In collaboration with the Leadership Team, develop a plan for
expanding the reach and impact of programs as appropriate.
• Position the organization to be flexible in a changing environment
and to respond opportunistically while staying focused on its
long-term strategies.
• Support a highly competent and dynamic staff of 4 in overseeing
their respective programs and responsibilities.
• Lead long-range strategic planning in partnership with the Board of Directors.

Fund Development and Marketing
• Act as Insight Prison Project's spokesperson, ambassador and
advocate with a wide variety of constituents (legislators, policy
makers, advocacy organizations, funders, general media, etc.).
• Oversee the development, and ensure consistency and efficacy of
marketing, and distribution of effective communications and
educational materials.
• Create fund development strategies, and design and implement an
annual fundraising plan to increase income from donors over time.
• Provide advice, training, and guidance to staff and Board of

Directors to support their fundraising efforts.
• Meet budgeted fundraising goals for grants, events, and individual donations.

Financial and Organizational Management
• Prepare an annual budget and ensures that the organization operates
within budget guidelines and maintains sound financial practices.
• Ensure long-term organizational sustainability through diversified
income streams, financial controls, and increased reserves, endowment
development, and appropriate investment oversight.
• Work with all the Board committees to ensure a healthy organization.
• Analyze financial information and trends and provide recommendations
for changes as necessary and appropriate.
• Regularly assess and refine the organization's structure and
staffing to ensure maximum effectiveness and appropriate operational
capacity.
• Support a culture that balances programmatic urgency with
celebration of accomplishments and a long-term vision of success.
• Support appropriate delegation and prioritization to ensure maximum
results within existing resources.
• Work closely and directly with the Board, Board President, and
Committees to support ongoing Board evaluation, development,
succession planning, and diversification.
• Ensure sufficient and appropriate risk assessment and risk
management policies and practices.

Operations & Administration
• Provide oversight and guidance to operations staff and ensure
efficiency and economy of all administrative functions.
• Develop and oversee implementation of earned income strategies and
tactics, and ensure attainment of budgeted earned income goals.

About You
The ideal candidate will be a seasoned nonprofit manager with a deep
passion and experience in the field of social justice, and a
compelling interest in the Insight Prison Project mission. Along with
a sense of humor, s/he will bring high emotional intelligence and a
confident, compassionate, and charismatic demeanor. S/he will bring
the ability and political savvy to work within the correctional
system, as well as familiarity with the criminal justice system
including institutional, parole and probation systems.

As the "face" of the organization, the ideal candidate will know how
to tell IPP's story, and will look forward to growing the organization
through building foundation and corporate strategic partnerships and a
greater national presence.


Experience and Qualifications:
• Minimum BA, Masters preferred, in Public Health, Social Work, or
related field and 5+ years of experience in a leadership management
role in a health/social service organization or equivalent combination
of education and experience.
• 5+ years of experience in a management role in a nonprofit
organization with a budget of $600,000 or more.
• The proven experience and ability to sustain and increase donated
income from multiple sources over time.
• Experience working with, building, and developing the skills of a

Board of Directors.
• Experience in managing, motivating and leading volunteers.
• Demonstrated success in leading a non-profit through a period of growth.
• Proven ability to write for diverse audiences in a variety of online
and off-line media.
• The highest ethical standards.
• Skill and comfort using web-based technology for planning,
management, and communications.

Preferred but not required:
• Prior experience as an Executive Director

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team with people from
diverse ethnic, cultural, economic, and sexual orientation, and gender
identification communities.
• Ability to pay attention to details, and keep up-to-date on
paperwork requirements.
• Superior organizational skills with the ability to simultaneously
plan and execute multiple detail-heavy projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to take initiative, be a self-starter, be highly motivated,
and work independently.
• Ability to work diplomatically with others and strong commitment to
team and collaborative work.
• The ability to respond with adaptability and innovation to changes
in the political environment that influences the California Penal
System.

HOW TO APPLY
Leyna Bernstein Consulting, a Bay Area consulting firm specializing in
nonprofit executive search, is conducting this search on behalf of
Insight Prison Project.

Insight Prison Project values inclusivity and honors differences in
race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic level, and sexual orientation.

Candidates who will contribute to the diversity of our staff are
encouraged to apply.