Ameelio has quickly established itself as the future of prison communication
and virtual learning. We were recently chosen as one of TIME’s 100 Most
Influential Companies and received a New York Times Good Tech Award. Ameelio
launched the nation’s first free prison video conferencing platform and is
currently operating 6 states – Iowa, Colorado, Maine, Rhode Island, Illinois,
and Indiana – and internationally in Pakistan.
As we prepare to expand, we're looking for a full-time hire to join our small
and nimble product team to help us in scaling the nation’s first free prison
communications platform.
_Note: We are a startup. The ideal candidate is comfortable with ambiguity and
strategy, bringing a sense of flexibility and urgency to the role as the
organization evolves._
**In Brief**
We’re seeking an experienced policy expert who can leverage their expertise to
research and collaborate on policy issues with legislative bodies and think
tanks, monitor legislation and regulatory issues, and attend conferences at
the intersection of prison technology and policy.
You’ll also work closely with Ameelio’s growing operations team to observe the
successful adoption of Ameelio’s communications and education services and
onboarding for new facilities, families, and correctional stakeholders.
**What we 're looking for**
* 7+ years of experience working on state-level legislative processes.
* Ability to conduct quick policy analyses and clearly synthesize the implications of those policies on Ameelio.
* Excellent writing and editing skills with strong attention to detail.
* Demonstrated project management skills.
* Effective communication skills, including ability to convey Ameelio’s exceptional technical attributes and value to non-technical audiences.
* Strong research skills to identify key decision-makers and relevant information about potential clients.
* Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, highly technical, environment. This will involve developing deep familiarity with Ameelio’s software platforms and how they are used in county jails and state prisons.
* Good judgment and impeccable ethics; desire to succeed in a demanding, innovative, entrepreneurial environment.
* Willingness to travel within the US.
**Responsibilities include**
* Cultivating and maintaining relationships with legislators and Congressional staff, Executive Branch and agency officials, and key state policymakers.
* Driving and coordinating external advocacy efforts in support of Ameelio’s strategic business objectives.
* Identifying and analyzing legislative and regulatory opportunities and risks and developing strategies to help Ameelio navigate Federal, State, and County policy debates.
* Counseling and advising business partners about government-led initiatives that could impact Ameelio’s growth and innovation.
* Represent the company in government meetings, hearings, and industry events.
* Helping to oversee external lobbyists and outside consultants who aid Ameelio in advocating for favorable policies related to prison communications and education and other issues critical to our success.
* Facilitating collaborative alliances between Ameelio and key partners, including policymakers, industry associations, and coalition partners.
**Why you 'll love us**
* A welcoming and collaborative environment with people who are dedicating their lives to fighting the commercialization of incarceration
* Experience working closely with users who rely on our products to stay in touch with their loved ones
* An environment for rapid experimentation and ownership
* Ownership of processes that deliver society-changing impact
* Contributing to the foundation and culture of a young and growing organization
* Experience working cross-functionally and exposure to a variety of business functions
* An incredibly high bar for the quality of your work
* Flexible and remote working environment
* Comprehensive health insurance coverage
* Paid annual company retreat
* Unlimited PTO policy
* Compensation: $80,000 - $100,000
**About Ameelio**
Ameelio is a nonprofit technology company that builds free technology to
accelerate the creation of a more humane and rehabilitative justice system.
Our tools will enable 27 million Americans to communicate with their
incarcerated loved ones for free, organizations to scale their social
services, and educators to empower incarcerated people through virtual
learning. We are a technological bridge that reconnects incarcerated people
with their families and vital resources — for free. Our tools will help
improve post-release outcomes, lower recidivism rates, and help America safely
reduce the size of its prison populations.
**External References**
* [TIME: 100 Most Influential Companies](https://time.com/collection/time100-companies-2023/6285210/ameelio/)
* [Bloomberg: Nonprofit aims to disrupt pricey prison telecom industry](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-08/nonprofit-aims-to-disrupt-pricey-prison-telecom-industry)
* [Fast Company: This app is making it free for incarcerated people to make video calls](https://www.fastcompany.com/90608032/this-app-is-making-it-free-for-incarcerated-people-to-make-video-calls)
* [Forbes: The Prison Communications Nonprofit Backed By Twitter’s Jack Dorsey And Former Google Chief Eric Schmidt](https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelauyeung/2020/09/21/the-prison-communications-nonprofit-backed-by-twitters-jack-dorsey-and-former-google-chief-eric-schmidt/?sh=351507d23b92)
* [Washington Post: Let inmates talk to their families for free](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/03/20/coronavirus-is-upending-society-here-are-ideas-mitigate-its-impact/?arc404=true#Orchingwa-Saruhashi-Schull)
* [Tech Crunch: Ameelio wants to take on for-profit, prison-calling rackets after starting with free letters to inmates](https://techcrunch.com/2020/05/14/ameelio-wants-to-take-on-for-profit-prison-calling-rackets-after-starting-with-free-letters-to-inmates/)
* [Fast Company: This app bypasses the absurdly high cost of making phone calls to prison by converting texts to snail mail](https://www.fastcompany.com/90514321/this-app-bypasses-the-absurdly-high-cost-of-making-phone-calls-to-prison-by-converting-texts-to-snail-mail?partner=rss&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss+fastcompany&utm_content=rss)
