Group Facilitator

Center for Justice Innovation•New York, NY

23h•$52,000 - $61,300•Onsite

About The Position

Brooklyn Justice Initiatives (BJI), a program of the Center for Justice Innovation, is seeking a part-time Group Facilitator for its Alternatives to Incarceration team. BJI provides early diversion, supervised release, and alternative sentencing options for people navigating Brooklyn’s criminal court system, helping them avoid the harmful effects of incarceration. The Facilitator leads skill-development, psychoeducational, and process-oriented groups, including Anger Management, Tools for New Thinking, and Driver Accountability. Groups serve adults age 18 and older who are mandated to participate in programming as an Alternative to Incarceration. The position is based in Brooklyn, New York, is 20 hours per week, and requires availability during evenings and weekends as needed. The Facilitator reports to the Director of Diversion Services and Clinical Supervision.

Requirements

Associate degree from an accredited college or university in a relevant field, such as social work, psychology, human services, counseling, or education, or 3–4 years of relevant experience.
At least 1–2 years of group facilitation experience.
Comprehensive understanding of harm-reduction, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive practices.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to navigate and de-escalate conflict calmly and without judgment.
Availability during evenings and weekends as needed.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.
Experience working with individuals impacted by the criminal-legal system.
Experience working with young adults, unhoused individuals, or people with mental health, substance-use, or co-occurring disorders.
Spanish/English bilingual ability.

Responsibilities

Plan and lead group sessions.
Prepare group materials and logistics, including handouts, sign-in sheets, technology, and room setup.
Collect and report attendance in a timely manner.
Keep participants engaged throughout group sessions.
Use group curricula to guide discussion and encourage participation.
Manage challenging group dynamics, including disengagement, interpersonal conflict, and disruptive behavior, using appropriate de-escalation techniques as needed.
Follow lateness and rescheduling protocols as needed.
Promote inclusion and diversity and foster an environment where participants feel safe and welcome.
Follow New York State and organizational protocols on confidentiality, mandated reporting, and responding to imminent risk of harm to self or others.
Provide feedback on participant engagement trends, curriculum effectiveness, and opportunities to strengthen group programming.
Support development and implementation of new group curricula.
Communicate concerns with the clinical team as needed and collaborate on referring participants to appropriate services.