Careers

About:

The Women’s Prison Association (WPA) was founded in 1845 in New York City by Quaker abolitionist and prison reformer Abigail Hopper Gibbons. Established in response to the overcrowded and inhumane conditions in New York jails, WPA sought to support incarcerated women, who at the time were often considered “unredeemable.” It was the first organization dedicated to the rights and rehabilitation of system-involved women.

Today, decarceration is our North Star. Based in New York City, WPA strives to make the incarceration of women obsolete. We operate on a gender-responsive, trauma-informed model of support that provides the essential services justice-impacted women need to remain in their communities, heal, and thrive.

WPA is at an exciting and pivotal moment in its evolution. In 2025, WPA adopted a transformative 3-year strategic plan centered around three impact goals:

• Create a comprehensive, high-quality service model, prioritizing housing support and essential care for justice-impacted women.
• Weave an effective, robust community support network so that justice-impacted women receive the opportunities, services, and gender-responsive care they need.
• Shift public opinion and justice system practices and policies so that community-based support, and not incarceration, is the default response to contact with the criminal legal system.

As the organization advances, this role will contribute to WPA's continued growth and stability.

Position Description:

The Director of Community-Based Care (CBC) provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all community-based services within the organization. This role ensures the effective coordination and delivery of trauma-informed care management, supporting participant stabilization, access to essential resources, and successful reintegration into the community. The Director drives consistency, accountability, and participantcentered outcomes that promote long-term stability and opportunity.

The Director of CBC is responsible for program quality, staff supervision, cross-program coordination, and partnership development with community organizations. The position plays a key role in aligning communitybased services with the organization’s broader care management model and ensuring that participants transitioning from programs such as Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) or Prison/Jail-Based Services (PJBS) receive comprehensive, coordinated support in the community.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Program Leadership and Oversight

• Provide leadership and oversight for all Community-Based Care and related services.
• Ensure effective implementation of care management practices that support participant stabilization and long-term success.
• Develop and implement program goals, service delivery strategies, and performance benchmarks.
• Monitor program performance and ensure services meet contractual and organizational requirements.

Participant Services and Care Management

• Oversee the development and implementation of individualized service plans for participants.
• Ensure participants are connected to critical supports including housing, behavioral health services, public benefits, and employment opportunities.
• Support coordination between community-based services and other organizational programs such as ATI, SAP, and PJBS.

Program Integration and Coordination

• Work closely with other program leaders to facilitate smooth transitions for participants moving between programs.
• Participate in cross-program case reviews and collaborative planning efforts.
• Support the implementation of shared intake and assessment processes.

Partnership Development

• Build and maintain relationships with community-based organizations, housing providers, behavioral health agencies, workforce partners, and government entities.
• Strengthen referral networks to expand access to services for program participants.
• Represent WPA in community-based settings, including meetings with partners, government agencies, and service providers, and conduct site visits to program locations.

Data, Reporting, and Quality Assurance

• Monitor program data and outcomes to evaluate service effectiveness.
• Ensure accurate documentation, reporting, and compliance with funder requirements.
• Work with the care management to support quality assurance and continuous improvement efforts.

Strategic Planning

• Identify opportunities to enhance community-based services and improve participant outcomes.
• Contribute to program development, funding opportunities, and organizational strategic planning.

Staff Supervision and Development

• Supervise program managers, care managers, peer specialists, and other program staff.
• Ensure appropriate caseload distribution and supportive supervision of frontline staff.
• Recruit, hire, and onboard staff aligned with WPA’s mission.
• Supervise and support staff through regular check-ins, evaluations, and coaching.
• Manage staff performance by setting expectations, providing feedback, and addressing challenges.
• Foster a positive, inclusive team culture that supports professional growth, retention, and staff satisfaction.
• Participate in required training sessions and ongoing professional development.
• Perform other duties or special projects assigned by supervisor or leadership.

Qualifications:

Education/Certification Requirements

•  Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Criminal Justice, or a related field preferred.

Experience Required

• 3+ years’ experience supervising, mentoring, and supporting staff.
• 5-7 years’ experience in human services, community-based programming or reentry services.
• Strong knowledge of trauma-informed practices, case management models, and community resource systems.
• Experience working with justice-involved populations, survivors, or individuals facing housing and economic instability preferred.

Competencies

•  Strong leadership, performance management, and supervisory skills to build and sustain a supportive, accountable, and high-performing team environment.
• Ability to manage complex programs and multiple priorities, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and high-quality service delivery.
• Excellent partnership and relationship-building skills with the ability to engage internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate competing demands and drive effective outcomes.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to prepare clear, professional, and data-informed reports.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including active listening, conflict resolution, and the ability to foster collaboration across teams.
• Ability to analyze data and use insights to inform program performance, decision-making, and continuous improvement.
• Professionalism and discretion in handling sensitive information.
• Demonstrated ability to operate with initiative, adaptability, and accountability in a dynamic environment.
• Awareness of the racial, gender, and socioeconomic dynamics impacting underserved communities, with familiarity supporting women impacted by incarceration and related systems.
• Commitment to equity, trauma-informed practice, and participant-centered care.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and related applications.
• Commitment to confidentiality, cultural humility, and professional integrity.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, particularly in high-pressure or crisis situations.
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, with a passion for social justice.
• Alignment with WPA’s vision to make incarceration obsolete by supporting women in their communities.

Compensation, Perks & Benefits*:

Annual Salary: $95,000, commensurate with education and experience.

WPA offers a competitive benefits package including health insurance, employer-paid dental insurance, generous paid time off, paid leave, as well as:

Health & Wellness

• Health & Vision insurance
• Employer-paid dental coverage
• 100% premium paid Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Paid family and medical leave
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Companywide Wellness Challenges

Time Off & Flexibility

• 12 paid holidays, including a paid holiday week between Christmas and New Year’s
• Floating holidays and Personal days
• Hybrid work options for various roles

Financial Benefits

• 403(b) retirement plan
• Tax-deferred commuting benefits via ThrivePass
• 529 college savings plan
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• “Aspiring Professionals” Scholarship Program

Growth & Development

• WPA University ~ Learning Management System (LMS) for on-demand learning
• Internal & External training opportunities
• CUNY sponsored scholarship to HSCAS for employee education

Extra Perks

• Access to the “Alcott HR Marketplace” employee discount program
• Milestone Celebrations & Awards

*Benefits eligibility may vary based on the number of hours worked.  

WPA strongly values diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All hires to our team are based on qualifications, merit, and organizational needs. We recruit, employ, train, and promote regardless of systems involvement and race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, genetic characteristic, or any other protected status. Faithful to our mission, all of our employees share in these commitments as a guide to engage one another with dignity and respect. Individuals with criminal justice involvement are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please email your resume, cover letter, and salary requirements to jobs@wpaonline.org. You must include "Director of Community-Based Care" in the subject line of your email.