Executive Communications Liaison — Be the Bridge Between Inside and Outside

SkunkWorks began as a bold idea inside San Quentin what if incarceration could become a launchpad for change? Founded by incarcerated people and built in partnership with outside professionals, we’ve grown into a nationally recognized innovation lab inside prison walls. Our goal is simple but radical: transform the justice system by centering the leadership of the people most impacted by it. We design and test solutions inside—and then work to scale them beyond the walls. Our programs put incarcerated leadership into practice. We reclaim prison spaces with murals that restore dignity, run intensive leadership trainings that prepare incarcerated people to guide reform, and host monthly gaming events that bring more than 150 people together across divides. Each project is a live experiment in building a justice system that works better for everyone. We’ve been featured in CalMatters, the front page of the LA Times, and are backed by CDCR. But our biggest achievement? Building a movement where incarcerated people lead—and the world listens. Join the incarcerated‑led innovation lab partnering with the Governor's Office, eL Seed, FaithXLVII, and other partners to redefine how reform happens—bringing world‑class designers, artists, and technologists together inside prison walls to co‑create the future of justice. The Co‑Founder and Impact Team President directs strategy, builds partnerships, and drives the creative vision of the organization. The single biggest operational constraint is the communication barrier between inside and outside. The Opportunity This role puts you at the center of how SkunkWorks connects with the world. You'll be the real‑time bridge between Kai and the leaders in tech, policy, art, and media who want to partner with us—joining calls, setting context, and ensuring that every external conversation reflects the caliber and intentionality of the work happening inside. You won’t be speaking for Kai. You’ll be making it possible for Kai to speak for himself—translating the logistics of working with an incarcerated leader into something seamless for the people on the other end of the line. The conversations you’ll join aren’t routine. In any given week, you might be on a call with a university research team, a foundation program officer, an internationally exhibited artist, or a journalist from a national outlet—high‑stakes, high‑trust conversations that you will make happen. Who You’ll Work With You’ll join a volunteer‑powered creative team where every seat is held by someone operating at the top of their field—professionals whose careers span Netflix, Apple, TikTok, Crunchyroll, and other organizations shaping culture at scale. And at the center of it all, you’ll collaborate directly with the incarcerated innovators who are building something the world hasn’t seen before. Your Role Join 2–3 external calls per week with partners, funders, researchers, artists, media, and civic leaders. Set context at the top of calls: who SkunkWorks is, how the communication model works, and what the partner can expect from the engagement. Facilitate smooth conversation flow—bridging any logistical gaps created by the constraints of incarceration without letting those constraints define the interaction. Represent SkunkWorks with the professionalism and warmth that matches the caliber of the people we’re engaging. Time commitment: 4–6 hours per week across 2–3 calls. Afternoon availability preferred. Flexibility to join calls with as little as 36 hours’ notice is required. What You Bring Exceptional verbal communication skills and comfort in high‑level professional settings—able to hold a room with a university dean, a tech executive, or an artist with equal ease. Strong organizational instincts—you’ll track conversations, follow‑ups, and relationships across multiple threads. A flexible afternoon schedule and willingness to join calls on relatively short notice. Emotional intelligence and cultural sensitivity—you’ll navigate conversations that touch on incarceration, justice, creativity, and systemic change. Experience in executive support, external relations, partnership management, or stakeholder communications is a strong plus. The Impact Every partnership SkunkWorks has built—every artist collaboration, every research study, every piece of press coverage, every legislative relationship—started with a conversation. Each of those conversations required someone on the outside to make the connection possible. You'll be the reason a tech leader says yes to a site visit, the reason a researcher moves from interest to commitment, the reason an artist trusts us with their next project, and the reason a funder sees us not as a program to support, but as a movement to invest in. This is the most operationally critical volunteer role at SkunkWorks. The organization moves at the speed of these conversations—and you’ll be the one keeping them moving. #J-18808-Ljbffr San Quentin SkunkWorks