Life Skills Educator/Outreach Specialist

Life Skills Educator/Outreach Specialist 
Denver, CO

The Opportunity

We are seeking an engaging, adaptable, and inspirational Life Skills Educator (LSE) to recruit participants into the program and lead group workshops for our new program participants -- formerly incarcerated men and women -- that prepare them for success in temporary and permanent employment.  The workshops are comprised of 5-15 participants and take place in our Denver office.  The Life Skills Educator will also support the Denver Site Director with administrative and operational duties to ensure the smooth and seamless operation of the site.

Who We Are

The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) provides employment services to people recently released from incarceration. Across the United States, 8,000-9,000 people participate in CEO each year, transitioning to employment that supports themselves, their families, and their communities.

What began as a demonstration project of the Vera Institute of Justice in the 1970s to address employment barriers facing the formerly incarcerated following release in New York City has grown into the leading reentry employment organization in the country, where over 30,000 formerly incarcerated individuals have secured full-time employment since 1996.

Who You Are      

• You're deeply dedicated to social justice and perhaps are already working in the re-entry field
• You come to CEO with at least 2 years of experience teaching, facilitation,  or leading group presentations
• You consider yourself to be a passionate people person with the ability to lift morale and present content in a way that's exciting and engaging to participants
• You're inspirational and passionate about helping individuals become the best version of themselves
• You're able to learn and convey curricula quickly and accurately using your excellent communication skills and flexibility to change up your style to ensure participant understanding
• You're comfortable with providing the feedback and support necessary to facilitate the development of participant knowledge and skills.
• You take other perspectives into account when analyzing problems
• You're self-motivated, diligent, resilient, and demonstrate stamina and vigor as you hold yourself accountable to deadlines and outcomes, even in the face of adversity or setbacks
• You're highly organized with top notch time management skills and the ability to juggle multiple priorities seamlessly or ask for support with prioritization when needed
• You're very comfortable learning new technologies that an organization adopts/implements 
• You're bilingual in English/Spanish (preferred not required)

Key responsibilities 

Key responsibilities of the LSE include but are not limited to:

Life Skills Education 

• Presenting well-prepared, organized, and clear content that follows CEO's course syllabus to participants enthusiastically and with deep care
• Guiding and coaching participants in key preparatory activities tied to employment, including writing professional resumes, networking, and mock interviewing 
• Helping participants become job-start ready by promoting their development and effective utilization of communication and self-presentation skills 
• Engaging participants in ongoing discussions about their employment goals
• Offering support, encouragement. and constructive feedback to all participants
• Keeping abreast of current practices and events that could impact participants; making suggestions about new material to incorporate into the curriculum 
• Ensuring that participants' experiences are strong and adhere to best practices 
• Keeping Parole Officers in the loop regarding individual participant progress
• Collaborating with other internal departments and the Colorado  Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation  to gather information and promote special projects

Outreach/Recruitment

• Working with referral partners to introduce the CEO program to potential participants
• Presenting the CEO program to potential participants in a variety of settings including parole/probation orientations, transition classes in corrections facilities, community organizations and in drop in appointments
• Communicating with referral partners effectively to maintain and grow relationships

Administrative 

• Inputting participants into our case management system (Salesforce)
• Monitoring and recording class attendance
• Maintaining accurate and complete employment files for new enrollees of the program.
• Consistently and accurately documenting all participant contact and progress in our case management system
• Performing other tasks and responsibilities that will be assigned from time to time

Compensation and Benefits  

The salary for this position is $46,288. In an effort to be both equitable and transparent, CEO's compensation philosophy considers a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, experience, internal equity, and home office location in making a final determination on our salary offer.

We recognize that salary is a part of the overall compensation package and also provide a comprehensive benefits package, including medical and dental coverage, as well as professional development opportunities and training, including regular training opportunities in Motivational Interviewing (MI). MI is one evidence-based skill that reentry and human service professionals can utilize when supporting participants to achieve their goals.

We also offer paid parental leave, participation in a retirement plan, sick and vacation leave, paid holidays and more. We are a workplace that promotes continual learning and teamwork, offering lunch and learns, team outings, holiday gatherings and more for our staff.

More About Us

The Center for Employment Opportunities believes that everyone deserves the chance to shape a stronger future for themselves, their families, and their communities. Our commitment to being an anti-racist organization that is inclusive across all identities and experiences drives us forward every day. We exist to create greater opportunities for people who face multiple barriers to personal and professional success, and we're passionate about being agents of change who promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and access to opportunities for all.

People who are justice involved, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ+ , and people with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels. CEO's commitment to DEI aligns with the CROWN Act, creating an open space where our employees can present as their true authentic selves. We are an equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, color, citizenship, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran or reservist status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

Please note that due to the volume of resumes received, we are unable to contact each applicant regarding the status of each position or reply to candidates' inquiries via phone or email.

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