Job Coach

Job Coach 

New Orleans, LA

The Opportunity

CEO is seeking a Job Coach who is responsible for helping program participants -- formerly incarcerated individuals -- stay focused and motivated while working on transitional job sites and in their efforts to obtain permanent employment. Job Coaches effectively lead large group workshops for our program participants -- formerly incarcerated men and women -- to prepare them for success in temporary and permanent employment. The workshops are comprised of our participants and take place in our local office up to four days a week. 

Who We Are

The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) provides employment services to people with recent criminal convictions. Across the United States, over 6,000 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 25,000 formerly incarcerated individuals have secured full-time employment since 1996. Since 2009, CEO has gained support to expand its programs through government, nonprofit, and private organizations including the GreenLight Fund, the Pew Charitable Trust, and the Nonprofit Finance Fund. In 2016, CEO embarked on a 5-year strategic plan to grow to serve 9,000 participants annually.

Who You Are

• You’re deeply dedicated to social justice and perhaps are already working in the re-entry space
• You're experienced in providing feedback and guidance to clients to encourage their growth and continued development of their knowledge and skills
• You come to CEO with at least 2 years of experience teaching or leading group presentations
• You’re passionate about making an impact on people's lives and interested in guiding them to achieve their career goals through a balance of accountability and empathy
• You are a people-person and love to inspire others to reach a goal and perform to the best of their ability
• You have strong customer service skills and take a human-centered approach when communicating with participants
• You have strong time management and prioritization skills
• You’re able to anticipate problems, evaluate them, and determine and implement solutions
• You’re computer savvy (demonstrated word processing skills, ability to use the Internet to research job opportunities, familiarity with Salesforce preferred)
• You come to CEO with 1-2 years of related experience

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities of the Job Coach include but are not limited to:

Direct Support

• Engaging participants in ongoing discussions about their employment goals
• Using motivational interviewing techniques as appropriate to help guide participants to goal achievement.
• Developing and producing a professional resume for each participant
• Maintaining weekly contact with participants to track their progress to interview readiness
• Facilitating group sessions and workshops to build employment readiness skills

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 Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to gather information and promote special projects

Administrative Support

• Regularly discussing each participant's job start ready progress with colleagues; problem solving with colleagues when needed
• Reviewing participants’ daily performance rating provided by their worksite supervisor
• Maintaining accurate client records in Salesforce; updating progress notes in Salesforce during and after each meeting with participants
• Maintaining contact with work crew site supervisors; exercising responsiveness to their concerns
• Recording and reporting monthly progress summaries for each participant, detailing steps taken to resolve challenges and the quality of overall participant participation
• Performing other tasks and responsibilities that will be assigned from time to time

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this position is $44100 annually. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package, including medical and dental coverage, paid parental leave, participation in a retirement plan, sick and vacation leave, paid holidays and more. We're a workplace that promotes continual learning and teamwork, offering lunch and learns, team outings, holiday gatherings and more for our staff. CEO is also dedicated to ongoing staff development 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.

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-racism 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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