Community Programs Specialist

Founded in 1982, the Center for Work Education and Employment (CWEE) is one of Denver’s leading workforce and anti-poverty organizations. CWEE provides personal and professional support to address each career seeker’s unique challenges and to facilitate a supportive path to long-term

employment success. CWEE’s mission is to foster personal and professional transformation for low income families through confidence building, customized skills training, and career advancement. CWEE believes that regardless of personal situations and other barriers to employment, when an appropriate level of education and support is provided, individuals can and will succeed. The values that drive CWEE’s mission of helping individuals succeed also drive CWEE’s approach to

organizational management and employee development. CWEE embraces a culture of organizational learning and continuous quality improvement while centering trauma-informed care and wellness at all levels of the organization.

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION

The Community Programs Specialist is first and foremost a facilitator of adult learning. This role leads workshops that help adults build the skills needed to succeed in GED preparation and career readiness programs offered at CWEE. Unlike a traditional classroom or college environment, these learners bring lived experiences, systemic barriers, and different entry points to education. The Specialist creates learning spaces that are inclusive, trauma-informed, and respectful. Alongside facilitation, the Specialist supports a caseload of participants through one-on-one coaching. This includes helping people manage barriers like childcare, housing, food access, or technology, so they can stay engaged in their education and career goals. The role also requires strong organization: keeping accurate records, tracking progress, and working closely with CWEE’s Education and Employment teams to connect participants with resources that support their success.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Adult Learning Facilitation (Primary Focus, ~55-60%)

• Plan and facilitate group-based digital literacy workshops, typically with 10 to 15 participants,
• that directly support success in GED preparation and career readiness programming offered
• separately at CWEE.
• Teach participants the digital skills needed in today’s personal and professional
• environments, such as Google Workspace, Microsoft Word, email, online safety, and digital
• platforms used in learning and employment.
• Design lessons and practice activities that help participants apply digital skills to real-life
• situations (e.g., submitting online assignments, filling out job applications, budgeting, or
• accessing community resources).
• Use culturally responsive, and trauma-informed learning practices to create safe and
• respectful classroom environments.
• Apply effective classroom management strategies that support group learning while
• preserving dignity and inclusion for all participants.
• Integrate life skills and holistic supports into curriculum, including topics that promote overall
• family well-being such as food access and nutrition resources.
• Continuously assess learning outcomes, provide feedback, and adjust facilitation strategies
• to ensure participants are making measurable progress.

Participant Coaching and Program Advising (~25-30%)

• Maintain accurate electronic records and physical files as case manager of record, in
• compliance with contractual obligations, for a caseload that typically averages 10
• participants.
• Conduct enrollments to determine participant needs and motivation for engagement
• Assist in identifying short- and long-term goals, potential barriers, and employment
• motivations; responsible for participant progress in the program.
• Respond to emergent needs in a timely manner, quickly shifting focus in support of
• participant.
• Engage in honest conversations and feedback with participants through routinely scheduled
• check-ins.
• Provide resources and supportive services, utilize a coaching approach that seeks to build
• executive functioning skills and develop resource navigation skills.

Communication and Collaboration (~15-20%)

• Participate in regularly scheduled staffing meetings across teams to discuss participant
• progress.
• Participate in regular supervision meetings with Manager of Community Programs and
• Manager of Education and Employment for cross-team support.
• Collaborate with the Education and Employment teams to align digital literacy workshops
• with GED prep and career readiness programming, making sure participants have the skills
• to succeed in those courses.
• Use effective and timely communication with supervisors, colleagues, and external partners.
• Actively participate in projects and working committees internal and external to CWEE.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• Proven ability to balance facilitation, supportive case management, and documentation while
• meeting deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience leading group-based learning for adults, especially those with
• limited or interrupted formal education.
• Ability to create respectful, inclusive, and trauma-informed learning environments that align
• with CWEE’s values.
• Skilled in teaching digital tools (Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, email, online safety,
• basic navigation) at multiple levels of learner ability.
• Ability to help participants address barriers such as childcare, housing, transportation,
• technology access, or food insecurity in ways that reinforce learning success.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including active listening, clear facilitation, and collaborative
• teamwork.
• Comfort with data entry, record keeping, and compliance requirements related to participant
• progress and program outcomes.
• Background in adult education, workforce development, or community-based training
• programs.
• Experience adapting curriculum or lesson plans for diverse learners.
• Familiarity with motivational interviewing, coaching models, or trauma-informed approaches.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills preferred.
• Familiarity with holistic support models (e.g., connecting participants to health, nutrition, or
• family well-being resources).
• Comfort with digital learning platforms and remote facilitation.
• Strong writing skills for case notes, reports, and participant communications.
• Research and data analysis skills to support program improvement.

PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Commitment to CWEE’s mission of advancing equity and supporting long-term self-sufficiency for families.
• Able to guide group learning with confidence, while making space for every learner to
• contribute.
• Approaches facilitation with cultural humility and respect, creating space for participants’
• voices and experiences to guide learning.
• Flexibility and adaptability in managing shifting group dynamics, unexpected disruptions, or
• emergent participant needs.
• Comfort engaging in difficult conversations with respect and timeliness. Team-oriented mindset with a focus on accountability, collaboration, and shared learning.
• Proactive and organized, with the ability to manage multiple tasks without losing sight of
• participant experience.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• CWEE operates in a hybrid workplace model that balances the responsibilities of being a direct
• service organization with the benefits of a flexible work environment; the functions of this role
• require onsite presence at CWEE’s offices located in Denver, Colorado.

CWEE is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all qualified applicants. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to careers@cwee.org. Applicants of any and all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. CWEE is also dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you’re excited about this role and your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with the requirements in the job description, we encourage you to still apply. You might be the right candidate for this or other roles within the organization. A criminal background check of 7 years is required and CWEE will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law.