Career Mentor

About the Organization

Center for Community Alternatives (CCA) supports and builds power with people across New York State who have been affected by mass incarceration, criminalization and community disinvestment. Through a statewide network of direct services, advocacy and organizing, and by supporting the leadership of directly-impacted people, we advance civil and human rights for all New Yorkers. CCA works to build a world where everyone has what they need to thrive.

Why Join the Team?

At CCA, we are committed to fair transparent pay, and we strive to provide competitive market-informed compensation. The successful candidate's salary is determined by the combination of knowledge, skills, competencies, experience, and geography. Our goal is to continue to make CCA one of the most desirable nonprofit places at which to work, and in part, recognize the importance of work-life balance.

CCA’s Youth Services’ Education and Employment Department is seeking a qualified positive youth development professional to deliver employment services to justice-impacted youth.

Outreach and Client Facing Services (75%)

• Outreach to and maintain engagement with participants across all departmental programming
• Conduct intakes with new participants and document youth’s contact information, employment experience, and employment plans
• Assist participants with action plans, transitional plans, and address employment barriers (resume, cover letter, certifications, photo , birth certificate)
• Maintain contact with subcontracted facilitators for participant progress and support areas
• Complete weekly outreach goals for participants enrolled in the Education and Employment Department’s programs
• Collaborate with internal and external partners, including subcontracted facilitators, regarding participant engagement and develop participant outreach strategies and share with the Career Readiness Coordinator
• Develop and maintain relationships with subcontracted, grassroots partner organizations
• Support Transition Coordinators from the Next Gen Network program in building relationships with youth reentering from detention
• Work with Transition Coordinators to deliver high-quality enrichment, restorative justice and career pathways workshops through youth development and trauma-informed best practices
• Support reentering youth connect with community resources and subcontracted partner organizations
• Connect with youth within 48 hours of their release and provide resource packets and information of resources
• Support youth and their families engage and work towards reentry milestones

• Report participant demographic, programmatic, and milestone data in all internal databases, including Quick Base; ensure Director of Education and Career Readiness Coordinator is updated regularly on participant engagement
• Generate and save all participant documentation group and 1:1 notes; intakes; outreach attempts and contacts; resumes and cover letters; save and track in all internal trackers, including Quickbase
• Complete internal weekly reports, as required by Director of Career Readiness.
• Attend and participate in weekly department meetings.

• Bachelor’s degree in youth development, social work, criminal justice or related human services field required.
• Strong interest in juvenile justice issues and awareness of positive youth development best practices required.
• Strong written/oral communication and advocacy skills.
• Excellent networking, writing and organizational skills Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Suite and other online platforms Strong interpersonal and team building skills.
• Experience working directly with justice-involved youth a strong plus Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus.

ALL APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT COVER LETTER WITH RESUME.

• 12 paid holidays per year
• 20 days of earned time off (ETO) for full-time staff, with the ability to use it after 90-days of employment.
• Time off is earned starting on your first day.
• 7 days of paid sick time
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program

CCA Website: