Brave New Foundation (BNF) is looking for a political rock star to run our Beyond Bars campaign, which produces videos and engages social media to fight mass incarceration. Our goal is to heighten the sense of public urgency around reforming this country’s dysfunctional criminal justice system. We think it’s shameful the United States has the highest rate of imprisonment on earth, with even modest offenses (often drug crimes) resulting in harsh punishments. Beyond Bars promotes a greater emphasis on solutions like prevention and rehabilitation, which are more cost-effective and more humane.

As the campaign director, your role will be to supervise the Beyond Bars team and use your ample political skills to maximize the campaign’s impact. You will report directly to BNF President Robert Greenwald. Ideal candidates will be adept in the following areas:

• Strategy. You’ll set campaign priorities and goals, evaluate campaign impact, and determine timelines. That means seeing the world in a strategic way, with a clear vision of the campaign’s goals and how to reach them.

• Outreach. You’ll identify and mobilize groups from a range of ideological perspectives to use our content effectively. That will require experience cultivating relationships and establishing partnerships. You also must be well-versed in social media and enthusiastic about finding new ways to use it. No Luddites allowed.

• Messaging. You’ll frame the political message of Beyond Bars’ content, knowing exactly which values to invoke for different audiences. Strong writing skills will be essential given how often you’ll be blogging and writing reports. And you’ll need charisma and eloquence to represent Beyond Bars in media appearances and at events.

• Management. You’ll supervise three staffers and coordinate with other BNF staff as needed. You’ll also be the campaign liaison with the BNF president. All of this requires competence in managing people and balancing competing demands—not easy stuff.

• Creativity. You’ll generate a steady flow of ideas on how to move people to take action on mass incarceration. You don’t need expertise in producing videos, but you do need enough facility with storytelling and the creative process to oversee producers and editors and help them improve video concepts, scripts, and rough cuts.

• Progressive politics. Succeeding at this job will take deep familiarity with social justice advocacy and progressive policy goals. If you already know a lot about mass incarceration specifically, that’s a big plus. If not, you must be enthusiastic to learn.

To apply, email Jesse Lava at [email protected]. Please send a resume, cover letter, writing sample (under 1000 words), and list of three references. People who come from communities disproportionately affected by mass incarceration are strongly encouraged to apply. This is a full-time, exempt position based in Los Angeles, California.

Brave New Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and employs without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, religion, age, handicap or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. It is the policy of Brave New Foundation to maintain a work environment free from discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran/military status, marital status or other status protected by federal or state law, with regard to any term or condition of employment.