Our Work
We are an architecture and real estate development social enterprise creating spaces that embody justice, healing, and self-determination. By designing with communities most impacted by incarceration and disinvestment, we build infrastructure that supports community ownership, redistributes power, and lays the foundation for a world rooted in care, not punishment.
To achieve this mission our team is composed of architects, designers, real estate developers and community members working together to create solutionary spaces and places that bring dignity, well-being and care to the communities we serve.
The Role
Community Engagement Manager

• Oakland, CA — Hybrid (3+ days/week on-site)
• $95,000 to $115,000
• Reports to the Studio Design Director
  

You will represent DJDS in community spaces across the country representing diverse cultures, lived experiences, and shared practices within politically complex contexts. Showing up authentically, building and sustaining trust, and knowing when to bring in local support are the core of this work.
We are looking for someone with 7 or more years of experience in community-engaged design or participatory practice, who is comfortable in front-facing roles grounded in justice and care-based approaches.
What You'll Lead

• Design and lead community-centered engagement strategies across architecture and real estate development projects.
• Build and maintain engagement tools, toolkits, and methods tailored to different audiences and geographies.
• Collect, code, and analyze community input, then translate those findings into real design guidance.
• Represent DJDS at public events, conferences, and community convenings.
• Manage Workshops for the Movement, DJDS's capacity-building training series that equips organizers and movement leaders with tools and language around architecture and real estate, including developing content, facilitation materials, and managing partner relationships and in person facilitation.
• Train and support Designers on Deck, a DJDS program that embeds local community members in the engagement process so that outreach is informed by people with direct cultural and geographic knowledge of the communities being served.
• Shape engagement strategy in project proposals and scopes of work.
• Track outcomes through event calendars, data summaries, and reports.
• Know when DJDS needs local support and bring in the right people when it does.
  

Where You'll Collaborate

• Partner with the Communications team on public storytelling and engagement-related content.
• Collaborate with design, real estate, and research teams to integrate community insights into project development.
• Support fundraising and advancement efforts, including conferences and thought leadership opportunities.
• Work with new employees to integrate facilitation and engagement practices into their onboarding experience.
• Collaborate with the leadership team to develop metrics around community engagement for storytelling and impact purposes.
• Support and contribute to internal facilitation training and workshops.
• Support and contribute to internal cultural competency and awareness training.
  

Who You Are

• 7 or more years of experience in community-engaged design, participatory planning, community organizing, public art, or a related field.
• Able to maneuver between communities and code switch with authenticity and awareness.
• A strong facilitator with great interpersonal skills, comfort in public speaking, navigating conflict, and holding space for difficult conversations.
• Proven ability to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams. At DJDS we are designers, researchers, real estate developers, and communications staff, you have either worked around similar fields or willingness to dive in and learn with us.
• Experience developing training materials, engagement tools, and facilitation frameworks.
• Skilled in qualitative data collection, coding, analysis, and storytelling.
• Committed to centering asset-based approaches and human-first language in your work.
• Intentional about inclusive and accessible engagement, aware of access needs and how to meet people where they are.
• Deep cultural competency and a commitment to equity, restorative practices, and restorative justice.
• Strong writing and presentation skills for diverse audiences.
• An appreciation for aesthetic design and creative processes.
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, Miro, and Microsoft Office/Google suite.
• Self-aware about when to ask for help, when to bring in local expertise, and when to step back.
• Experience That is Helpful but Not Required
• 7 or more years of experience in community-engaged design, participatory planning, community organizing, public art, or a related field.
• Academic background in architecture, urban studies, communications, or a related design field.
• Certifications or training in community-engaged or justice-oriented practices (e.g., Public Participation Professional, Public Interest Design, Human-Centered Strategy, Restorative Justice Facilitation).
• Studies or degrees connected to social systems and equity (e.g., Social Work, Public Administration, Social Justice, Human Rights).
• Creative skills such as graphic design, sketching, or illustration.
• Spanish fluency.
• Familiarity with architectural processes and design phases.
  

Benefits
This full-time, salaried position includes:

• 100% employer-covered medical, dental, and vision for employees and their children under 26, with optional coverage for domestic partners, long-term disability, and life insurance.
• Generous paid time off: vacation (tiered by tenure), sick leave, bereavement, jury duty, and 16 total holidays (12 standard + 4 flexible personal days).
• Up to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave, supported by California state benefits and DJDS supplemental pay.
• Sabbatical eligibility after 7 years of service: 12 weeks paid leave plus a reduced-load continuation period.
  

How to Apply
To apply, please submit a resume. All applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.
Ready to Apply?
If this role resonates with you, we encourage you to apply—even if your experience doesn't match every requirement. We value curiosity, lived experience, and a deep commitment to community.
We're building a team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve, and we're excited to learn more about what you bring to the work.