Life Skills Educator/Outreach Specialist

Life Skills Educator
Buffalo, NY
In- Person 
Anticipated deadline to submit application: Aug 1, 2025. Position may close early if application limit is met. Apply promptly for full consideration.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an engaging, adaptable, and inspirational Life Skills Educator (LSE) to lead large group workshops for our program participants that prepare them for success in temporary and permanent employment. The workshops are comprised of our participants and take place in our Buffalo office four days a week. The Life Skills Educator will also support the Site Director with administrative and operational duties to ensure the smooth and seamless operation of the site.

As part of our mission, we strongly encourage individuals who have lived experience of incarceration or involvement in the justice system to apply for this role.

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 have a valid driver's license with a good driving record
• You come to CEO experience in teaching or leading group presentations
• You consider yourself to be a 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 program content 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 and diligent as you hold yourself accountable to deadlines, even in the face of adversity
• 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

What You’ll Be Responsible For

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
• Transport participants to classroom training center for apprenticeship training as needed / up to 5 hours per week
• 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 Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to gather information and promote special projects

Outreach

• Developing and deepening relationships with probation officers and community based organizations, providing them with information about our work and building their commitment to referring a strong pipeline of participants for our programs
• Meeting with probation officers, facilitating program referrals for prospective clients, leading presentations about our service offerings, and sharing feedback with about client progress at CEO
• Making referrals for participants when needed
• Working off-site at the probation office throughout the week

Administrative

• Inputting participants contact and progress information into our case management system (Salesforce)
• Monitoring and documenting class attendance
• Performing other tasks and responsibilities that will be assigned from time to time

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this position is $44,100. 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

Center for Employment Opportunities believes that everyone deserves the chance to shape a stronger future for themselves, their families, and their communities. People who are justice involved are highly encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels. CEO is committed to the CROWN Act, and creating an open space where our employees can present as their true authentic selves.

All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, gender, gender identity, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, caregiver status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact.

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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