Employment Opportunities

 
 

part-time Instructor

The deadline to apply has passed for this position.

The Benji Project seeks compassionate individuals interested in joining our team as part-time instructors of Mindful Self-Compassion for Jefferson County youth and families. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds.

The Benji Project upholds these values:  

  • We honor the common humanity of mental and emotional struggle, while recognizing that each person’s life experience is unique.

  • We believe that mental health is integral to individual and community well-being.

  • We dedicate ourselves to fostering a sense of belonging among all youth in our community, especially those whose voices are less often heard.

  • We use evidence-based programs and innovative approaches to respond to the needs of our community. 

  • We seek to embody mindfulness and compassion in our interactions with ourselves and those we serve.

Instructors will receive 60 hours of training (with additional independent coursework) through the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion. The Benji Project covers the cost of the training, valued at roughly $2,500. We are looking for people interested in making a long-term commitment to the organization, with a minimum teaching engagement of 100 hours as a paid contractor after training is completed. The teaching schedule varies, but an instructor could expect to complete 100 hours within a year.

In addition to running after-school sessions and summer camps, The Benji Project partners with school districts across Jefferson County to offer in-school sessions to middle and high school students. Instructors need to have scheduling flexibility, allowing them to work some school-day hours as well as after-school and evening times.

While completing the formal training, instructors-in-training will have the opportunity to assist with Benji Project programs, including summer camps, as independent contractors at a rate of $25/hour. Once training is completed, instructors continue as independent contractors at a rate of $35/hour.

The training consists of two, 10-week Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) online intensives. The first intensive covers the adult version of MSC (centerformsc.org/lomsc). There are multiple scheduling options for this training. The second intensive prepares participants to teach the teen version of MSC (centerformsc.org/msc-teens-teacher-training). Candidates should be available to enroll in one of two online MSC-Teen teacher training courses:

  • June 26-Aug. 3, 2023 (skipping July 4th week); M/T/W/Th, 7-9 am, PT

OR

  • Oct 2-Dec 13, 2023 (skipping Nov 20 and 22); Mondays/Wednesdays, 4-6 pm PT

  

Required Qualifications

  • Background working with preteen/teen youth in some capacity.

  • Familiarity with mindfulness and/or meditative practices.

  • Excellent interpersonal communication skills.

  • Experience presenting to groups of youth and/or adults.

  • Demonstrated ability to work as a collaborative team member.

  • Willingness to engage with the logistical and administrative aspects of programming.

  • Interest in seeking and integrating feedback for continuous programmatic improvement.

  • NOTE: The Benji Project requires all final candidates to pass a criminal background check.

 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Training/experience in mental health care.

  • Personal practice of mindfulness.

General Inquires:

If you are interested in volunteering please submit an inquiry here.

You can always submit a brief cover letter and resume to info@thebenjiproject.org. We will keep your information on file in the event that a position opens. No phone calls, please.