Life Skills Educator

Location: Buffalo, New York (In-Person) | Application Deadline: Monday, October 26, 2026 at 12:00 PM EST (may close early if application limit is met)

About the Role

The Life Skills Educator (LSE) leads large‑group workshops (10–20 participants) four days a week at our local office, preparing program participants for success in temporary and permanent employment. Depending on site needs, the LSE may also be assigned Intake and/or Outreach functions. This is an in‑person role; staff are expected to report to a CEO site. As part of our mission, we strongly encourage individuals with lived experience of incarceration or justice‑system involvement to apply.

Who We Are

The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) provides employment services to people recently released from incarceration. Each year, 8,000–9,000 people participate in CEO, transitioning to employment that supports themselves, their families, and their communities. Founded as a Vera Institute of Justice demonstration project in the 1970s, CEO has grown into the nation’s leading reentry employment organization, helping over 30,000 formerly incarcerated individuals secure full‑time employment since 1996.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience teaching or leading group presentations
• Demonstrated commitment to CEO’s mission and interest in a fast‑growing, results‑oriented nonprofit environment
• Passion for helping individuals become their best selves
• Deep interest in re‑entry or criminal‑justice reform
• Ability to lift morale and present content in an exciting, engaging way
• Ability to analyze various points of view and data to form context‑appropriate perspectives
• Ability to learn and convey curricula quickly and accurately, with excellent communication skills and flexibility to adapt teaching style for participant understanding
• Comfort providing feedback and support to facilitate participant skill development
• Self‑motivated, diligent, resilient, with stamina and accountability to deadlines and outcomes, even amid adversity
• Highly organized with top‑notch time‑management skills; able to juggle multiple priorities or ask for prioritization support
• Comfort learning new technologies adopted by the organization
• Valid Driver’s License

Responsibilities

• Transport participants to classroom training center for apprenticeship training as needed (up to 5 hours per week)
• Present well‑prepared, organized, engaging, and clear content that follows CEO’s course syllabus
• Prepare participants for CEO’s program model by ensuring they have sufficient documentation and are aware of all policies and safety practices
• Guide and coach participants in key preparatory activities tied to employment, including writing professional resumes, networking, and mock interviewing
• Help participants become job‑start ready by promoting development and effective use of communication and self‑presentation skills
• Engage participants in ongoing discussions about employment goals, offering support, encouragement, and constructive feedback
• Stay current on practices and events that could impact participants; suggest new material for the curriculum
• Keep parole officers informed regarding participant progress
• Use motivational interviewing techniques as appropriate to guide participants to goal achievement
• Monitor and record class attendance
• Consistently and accurately document all participant contact and progress in the case‑management system
• Escort participants to nearby agencies to apply for documents when needed
• Support Site Lead with administrative and operational duties to ensure smooth site operation
• Perform other tasks and responsibilities assigned from time to time

Site‑Assigned Responsibilities

Based on site needs, an LSE may be assigned one or both of the following functions in addition to the core responsibilities above.

Outreach and Relationship Building

• Cultivate relationships with probation/parole officers and community organizations to drive participant referrals
• Work off‑site at supervision offices to deliver presentations about CEO’s services, facilitate referrals, and share participant progress updates
• Connect participants to external resources as needed
• Document all outreach activities, contacts, and outcomes in Salesforce

Outreach Function Requirements: Must be able to travel throughout the city where the site is located; comfortable conducting outreach and skilled in relationship building, able to understand priorities of individuals or groups and craft persuasive written or verbal communication accordingly.

Intake and Onboarding

• Welcome walk‑ins, explain document requirements, collect intake materials, and deliver brief CEO program overviews
• Review all intake documents—including I‑9s—for CEO and federal compliance, returning documents accurately to participants
• Input participant details promptly and accurately into Salesforce
• Retrieve parole documentation and liaise seamlessly with participants, referral sources, and internal departments
• Manage and respond to requests for letters of reasonable assurance, agency inquiries (e.g., OCSE, SSA), and employment verifications
• Return documents with 100% accuracy to the correct participants

Intake Function Requirements: Strong attention to detail; adheres to CEO structures and processes, ensuring work product is consistent, accurate, and thoroughly documented. Demonstrates respect, fairness, patience, and efficiency with participants, referral partners, and outside agencies.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $47,800. CEO’s compensation philosophy considers experience, internal equity, and home‑office location in making a final salary offer. In addition to salary, CEO provides a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical and dental coverage
• Professional development opportunities and training, including regular Motivational Interviewing (MI) training
• Paid parental leave
• Participation in a retirement plan
• Sick and vacation leave
• Paid holidays
• Workplace culture promoting continual learning and teamwork (lunch‑and‑learns, team outings, holiday gatherings, etc.)

More About Us

Center for Employment Opportunities believes 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 employees can present as their true authentic selves. All qualified applicants will be considered 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 educational background and justice‑system contact.