The mission of the Utah Prison Education Project: Committed to social transformation, UPEP advances educational justice through on-site higher education, empirical research, and advocacy.

The Utah Prison Education Project (UPEP) is seeking a diligent and experienced individual who will lead the effort alongside the director to envision, plan, and coordinate educational programming. This role is ideal for someone with organizational skills and program implementation. The education manager provides program oversight and coordination on both the men’s and women’s designated units at the Utah State Correctional Facility (USCF). In addition, the manager will help support the program’s development by establishing and cultivating strategic community partnerships vital for sustained growth and success of the project. This position is largely on-site at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City. Safe and reliable transportation to the prison is required. Unfortunately, there are no public transportation options available. Virtual and on-campus work is included.

Anticipated start date: 8/1/2025

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Responsibilities

1. Oversee on-site educational programming

• Process security clearances for individuals going inside. This also includes processing clearances for materials and resources needed for students.
• Provide resource room hours and educational support.
• Assess student needs. Fulfill student requests for class materials.
• Visit class sessions on both sides to evaluate and assess instructors and students’ needs.
• Ensure the success of students by bringing in university resources inside the prison.

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2. Strategic planning of educational programming by semester and academic year

• Collect dates and times of educational programming to create semester calendars of programming on the compound.
• Hold meetings with program leadership to arrange and schedule programming accordingly.
• Ensure textbooks, notebooks, pens, and other school materials are ordered to prepare for the start of classes.

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3. Train and coordinate volunteers

• Conduct semi-annual orientation presentations to inform new instructors and volunteers on how to go in and out of the prison, engage meaningfully with students, and protect the program.
• Assign volunteers to specific courses based on classroom need and availability of the volunteer.
• Maintain communication with volunteers and instructors via email and WhatsApp. Read and respond to volunteers’ weekly reports on WhatsApp.

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4. Maintain positive relationships with Correctional Education Team

•  Correspond regularly with members of the corrections education team via email.
•  Attend bi-weekly virtual meetings with corrections education team.
•  Interact with members of this team at the prison when needed.
•  Attend events held by the Department of Corrections when invited.

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5. Coordination with potential and current instructors

•  Hold meetings with instructors to plan the logistics of their course
•  Take note of the dates/time they want to teach, course proposal, syllabi, class materials needed, etc.
•  Check in with instructors regularly to know how the class is going, and inquire if they need anything from program leadership

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6.  Contribute to building and maintaining community partnerships

• We currently have partnerships with Brigham Young University, Utah Humanities, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Cool Hands Series, Sundance, etc.
• Explore ways of building partnerships that will lead to providing more support for students inside

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7. Organize program and student documents

•  File documents and information accordingly in respective folders using Box
•  Maintain record-keeping of students and their progress in the program

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8. Oversee correspondence from community members

•  Respond to emails from prospective instructors and volunteers
•  Answer email inquiries from community members

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9. Support and supervise Graduate Assistant

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Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a related field plus two years of related experience or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience). Demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills also required.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Preferences

Masters in education or related field preferred.

We encourage applications from directly impacted individuals.

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