Lead Peer Navigator

Job Summary

The Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence (CSPV) within the Institute of Behavioral Sciences at CU Boulder invites applicants for a Professional Research Assistant – Lead Peer Navigator for the Youth Violence Prevention Center- Denver (YVPC-D) Project. The YVPC-D project is grant funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021-2026). This project focuses on partnering with community organizations and community youth to implement and rigorously evaluate strategies aimed at reducing violence among 10-24 year olds in northeast Denver.

Peer Navigators work to engage young people identified for risk of involvement in violence and connect them to community resources that may intervene and prevent the violence from occurring. Community support and resources may include existing wraparound support and violence interruption programs supported by Denver’s Office of Community Violence Solutions, as well as established youth-serving community organizations providing athletics, life skills, career development, or other programming. Peer Navigators will be trained in best practices in strength-based family development and will also assist in connecting with young people on digital and social media to monitor for conflicts that may escalate into physical violence. Peer Navigators will ideally have expertise and experience in working with young people, may identify as a young person, and may undertake the position as part of an established internship program with local institutions of higher education for school credit. Ideal candidates will also have experience and familiarity with issues facing young people in northeast Denver.

The project will hire a half-time (20 hours/week) Lead Peer Navigator to pilot the Peer Navigator position, and train and orient Peer Navigator interns. As the position evolves and job duties increase, there may be an opportunity to increase hours if funding allows.

The position will be based in northeast Denver and will report to the Project Director.

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

For over 30 years, the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence (CSPV) has partnered with community members, practitioners, and policymakers to bridge the gap between research and practice on violence prevention in schools and communities. At CSPV, we believe systemic racism and other forms of oppression are a pervasive form of violence, which limit the opportunity to achieve human potential.

To address systemic racism, we are committed to:

1. Engaging in authentic collaboration with community partners by using research methods and violence prevention strategies that advance both community and individual agency.
2. Building an inclusive and equitable organizational culture.
3. Hiring staff from underrepresented groups (read our official statement here ).

CSPV is located within the Institute of Behavioral Science at the University of Colorado Boulder. https://cspv.colorado.edu/ .

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• As a Lead Peer Navigator, assist with recruitment, selection, training and onboarding of other Peer Navigators.
• As a Lead Peer Navigator, arrange training opportunities for Peer Navigators and assist with the creation of the format and structure of the position.
• As a Lead Peer Navigator, pilot and provide feedback on the Peer Navigator position.
• As a Peer Navigator, receive referrals from community partners and the general public. Referrals will be for youth at-risk for involvement in violence. Follow up on referrals and engage referred youth to connect them to applicable and relevant community resources.
• Monitor social media platforms to identify youth engaging in conflict that could escalate into violence, as well as for warning signs of impending violence, and engage youth as described above.
• Connect with local community organizations to develop inventory of available resources for referred youth and to build relationships key staff at each organization.
• Participate in ongoing training and coaching to continue to increase skills and knowledge.

What You Should Know

• Continued funding for this position after 2026 would be dependent on additional grant funds from the CDC, or may come from research projects from other funding sources.
• Some local travel required.
• Job site is in northeast Denver, with occasional meetings at the CU Boulder campus. Virtual attendance at some of the meetings in Boulder may also be arranged.
• All University of Colorado Boulder employees are required to comply with the campus COVID-19 vaccine requirement . New employees must provide proof of vaccination or receive a medical or religious exemption within 30 days of employment.

What We Can Offer

Salary: $20,800 at 50% time.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits , including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder .

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Passion for assisting young people displaying troubling behavior and making negative choices.
• Interest in a potential career path in social work, counseling, youth career exploration, or related field.
• Demonstrated understanding of the life experience of young people (age 10-24) growing up in Denver.
• A Bachelors degree.

What You Will Need

• Demonstrated ability to identify problems, develop solutions and take the lead in solving problems.
• Must be self-directed, as well as a team player.
• Must have excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills.
• Working knowledge of Word, Excel and ability to work with on-line versions of similar software products, such as Google Docs and Google Sheets.
• Flexibility and adaptability for a changing environment and scope of work.
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of CSPV.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Familiarity with local community resources.
• Understanding/working knowledge of youth-serving systems and agencies.
• Familiarity with and ability to use different social media platforms.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. Resume or CV
2. Cover letter addressed to the Search Committee briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position (maximum 2 pages).

During the application process, you will be asked to provide contact information for one confidential letter of recommendation provider. We will request the letter immediately following your application.

If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version as an optional attachment.

Reviewofapplicationswillstartimmediatelyandwillremainposteduntil 2/10/2023.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs .

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources

Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu