Career Instructor

HOURS: FULL-TIME (40 HOURS / WEEK)

REPORTS TO: DIRECTOR OF CAREER SERVICES CENTER

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: N/A

LOCATION: Bronx

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION

Youth Justice Network (formerly known as Friends of Island Academy) was founded in 1990 on the school floors of Rikers Island to anchor, support and develop capacity among young people newly released from jail in New York City. Our mission is to break cycles of incarceration and build an equitable justice system by providing young people with individualized advocacy, mentorship, and opportunities to grow, thrive, and lead. Youth Justice Network builds on connections developed with young people whose lives have intersected with the justice system, and leverages those relationships to provide post-release, neighborhood-based supportive services. Young people become members of Youth Justice Network for the long-term and develop personal milestones and goals in the arenas of health and well-being, education, employment, youth leadership and community participation.

POSITION BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION

Under a recently funded initiative, Youth Justice Network will provide workforce development and wraparound services to underemployed or unemployed participants, ages 18 to 40, involved in the criminal justice system or impacted by community violence.

The goal is to provide pathways to employment and economic mobility for people who reside in communities where community violence is most prevalent, including neighborhoods identified as priority areas by the Gun Violence Prevention Taskforce. YJN will offer pathways to job readiness, training for sustainable and emerging industries, internships, and supported job placement.

The Career Instructor is responsible for developing and facilitating career readiness, job training, and professional development workshops for justice-impacted adults. This role combines teaching, coaching, employer engagement, and curriculum development to equip participants with the skills, opportunities, and confidence necessary to secure and sustain meaningful employment. The Career Instructor will also cultivate relationships with employers to expand access to training pipelines, internships, and job opportunities for participants.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver engaging career readiness workshops, including topics such as job search strategies, resume and cover letter writing, interviewing skills, workplace communication, and digital literacy.
• Facilitate industry-specific trainings and certification prep courses in alignment with participant interests and employer needs.
• Conduct individual assessments to identify participants’ career goals, skills, and training needs.
• Collaborate with career coaches and case managers to create individualized employment plans.
• Provide hands-on support with resume development, online job applications, and interview preparation.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with employers to identify job opportunities, internships, and training pipelines for participants.
• Serve as a liaison between participants and employers to support successful onboarding, retention, and career advancement.
• Integrate restorative and strengths-based approaches to teaching, fostering a supportive learning environment for justice-impacted adults.
• Collect attendance, progress, and outcome data for reporting and evaluation purposes.
• Stay informed about labor market trends and employer needs in NYC to adapt curriculum and programming.
• Participate in staff trainings, professional development, and team meetings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Social Work, Human Services, Workforce Development, or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• At least 2 years of experience in adult education, workforce development, or vocational training, preferably with justice-impacted populations.
• Strong instructional and facilitation skills; ability to design engaging and culturally responsive curriculum.
• Experience developing and maintaining employer partnerships to support job placement.
• Familiarity with reentry challenges and a commitment to second chances and equity in the workforce.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, and job search platforms; comfort with technology and virtual facilitation tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in vocational education, job training programs, or industry-recognized certification instruction (e.g., OSHA, customer service, culinary, IT).
• Bilingual English/Spanish or English/other languages common in NYC communities.
• Lived experience of the justice system and/or experience working in reentry programs.

Youth Justice Network is privileged to have a profoundly committed and caring staff – one which believes unconditionally in our members’ ability to do right and do well. We take our work very seriously, but we strive to make time for self-care and joy. We look for staff from all walks of life who have integrity, humor, a strong work ethic, are passionate about our mission and work, and who are committed to address the harms caused by mass incarceration.

Depending on full or part-time status, benefits include a competitive vacation/sick leave policy including three days off between Christmas and New Year's Day, four-day summer weeks through July and August, generous health insurance, 403b match.

Salary Range: $58,000 - $60,000

Target start date: As soon as possible