Employment Opportunities

The Durango and Cortez Adult Education Center has been providing essential education programs in the greater Durango region for over 37 years. Learners rely on us for affordable educational programs to help them reach their employment or educational goals. Our participants range in age from 17 to over 70 years old. The entire staff at the DAEC is highly motivated and we take pride in our students’ success. This requires each staff member to be committed to our mission and the people we serve.

Are You a Good Fit for Our Education Center?

If you are interested in a challenging, rewarding and multi-faceted employment opportunity, this might be the place for you. We seek candidates who are:

• Committed: Strong belief in the work we do is absolutely crucial for each member of our team.

• Service-oriented: The desire to help others with their immediate and long-term needs. You will be interacting with learners, teachers and volunteers on a daily basis. You will be key in helping our students feel supported.

• Professional: We are role models for our learners and we maintain confidentiality at all times.

• Adaptable: We are all available to assist with student and organizational needs as they arise and are solved throughout the day.

Building Manager – The Commons Building, Durango

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Reports to: Executive Director

Starting Salary: starting salary range $22-24/hr

Location: Durango, CO, On-site

Status: Part-Time 20-25 hours per week, Full-Time available, 32-40 hrs possible with additional tasks

Benefit Eligible: Full-Time is eligible for Health, Vision, and Dental

Position Summary:

The Building Manager is the Manager for the Southwest Institute for Education and

Conservation (SIEC) Building, The Commons, in Durango, CO; coordinating aspects of tenant

relationships, property management, and organizational business. This position oversees

maintenance, security, and general property management for the building, the parking lot, and

the surrounding property. Assigned hours may include opening or closing of the building.

Includes occasional on-call duties, during nights and weekends, in case of emergencies during

non-occupied hours.

Essential Responsibilities and Functions:

Building Management and Maintenance

• Implements and manages capital projects of the building while maintaining the budget.

• Organizes and delivers projects or requests made by tenants in the scope of

responsibilities of the building.

• Monitors and enforces visitor expectations and usage of the building.

• Open and/or close building with security checks, as scheduled.

• Perform routine maintenance and order supplies for building operations, as needed,

including daily cleaning of shared spaces.

• Ensures the inside and outside of the building’s common areas are kept clean, safe, and

presentable, including snow shoveling, weeding, trash removal, sweeping, mopping, etc.

(Commons contracts with cleaning staff for daily/ regular building needs.)

• Ensure compliance with OSHA, fire, safety, and other relevant regulations.

• Identify more efficient processes to ensure practices and policies are followed around

tenant management, safety, vendor relations, etc.

February 2026

Susan Hakanson

Building Safety

• Monitors entrance and exits of the Commons Building, as well as the perimeter and

parking lot during shift hours, as possible.

• Responsible for the coordination and implementation of the Emergency Response Plan

by building efficient systems and relations with local contacts (Durango Police and Fire

Departments, and Alarm System contractors), as well as educating tenants and

coordinating the Safety Team.

• First responder to Emergency Response Plan when on site; on call to respond during

non-business hours.

Contractor Oversight and Relations

• Creates and executes vendor contracts for completing work in and around the property.

• Oversee contractors and vendors in the course of performing work.

• Ensure payment of vendors.

• Manage relations and supervise business with major vendors (security, HVAC, etc.)

• Provide documentation and approval of all SIEC bills for the building and its

maintenance to the SIEC bookkeeper.

Tenant Relations

• Manage leases, addendums, and appendices while tracking and holding tenants to lease

terms, including payments.

• Identify ongoing needs and expectations of building tenants and building owners to

facilitate and/or deliver resolution.

• Work with the SIEC board or representative to lease space in the building. Provide

support through frequent communication, timely responses, space showings, rate bids,

executed leases, and other administrative needs to complete a lease.

• Foster a collaborative, supportive tenant community within The Commons.

• Provide high-quality customer service to tenants, their guests, and the community.

• Send out updates on building information and partner information.

Community Outreach

• Represent SIEC and The Commons to the greater Durango community, including

the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Improvement District, etc.

• Attend bi-monthly SIEC Board Meetings.

Other Duties

• Successfully engages, leads and supports an inclusive work environment for those of

underrepresented populations within the organization and the communities we serve.

• Leads and/or participates in organizational-wide teams, projects and initiatives that

support the work of the Strategic Plans goals.

February 2026

Susan Hakanson

Physical Requirements:

This position may be required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl on an infrequent basis.

They must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer. Reasonable accommodation

may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Exhibits the ability to effectively work on diverse teams or with a variety of populations,

including those underrepresented at our organization and those of BIPOC communities.

• Minimum of 1 year of experience in customer service, community organization, non-

profit industry, or facility/environmental management

• Experience with managing contracts and the administrative needs of an organization.

• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.

• The ability to carry out assigned work independently or with minimal supervision.

• The ability to communicate effectively, manage complexity, cultivate innovation, drive, and

influence the results of oneself and others.

• Ability to work well with others and to seek assistance when needed to carry out

assignments.

• Familiarity with Microsoft Office programs and applications, or similar platforms.

• Must be able to pass the organization’s criminal history background check requirements.

• Valid driver’s license and an insurable driving record.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience with community properties with non-profit tenants and/or schools.

• Experience in building or commercial maintenance.

• Experience with Microsoft Office programs and applications, including SharePoint and/or Google

Drive, or similar platforms.

Title: Building Manager Date: Feb 2026

Reports to: Executive Director

Starting Salary: starting salary range $22-24/hr

Location: Durango, CO, On-site

Status: Part-Time 20-25 hours per week, Full-Time available, 32-40 hrs possible with additional tasks

Benefit Eligible: Full-Time is eligible for Health, Vision, and Dental

Position Summary:

The Building Manager is the Manager for the Southwest Institute for Education and

Conservation (SIEC) Building, The Commons, in Durango, CO; coordinating aspects of tenant

relationships, property management, and organizational business. This position oversees

maintenance, security, and general property management for the building, the parking lot, and

the surrounding property. Assigned hours may include opening or closing of the building.

Includes occasional on-call duties, during nights and weekends, in case of emergencies during

non-occupied hours.

Essential Responsibilities and Functions:

Building Management and Maintenance

• Implements and manages capital projects of the building while maintaining the budget.

• Organizes and delivers projects or requests made by tenants in the scope of

responsibilities of the building.

• Monitors and enforces visitor expectations and usage of the building.

• Open and/or close building with security checks, as scheduled.

• Perform routine maintenance and order supplies for building operations, as needed,

including daily cleaning of shared spaces.

• Ensures the inside and outside of the building’s common areas are kept clean, safe, and

presentable, including snow shoveling, weeding, trash removal, sweeping, mopping, etc.

(Commons contracts with cleaning staff for daily/ regular building needs.)

• Ensure compliance with OSHA, fire, safety, and other relevant regulations.

• Identify more efficient processes to ensure practices and policies are followed around

tenant management, safety, vendor relations, etc.

February 2026

Susan Hakanson

Building Safety

• Monitors entrance and exits of the Commons Building, as well as the perimeter and

parking lot during shift hours, as possible.

• Responsible for the coordination and implementation of the Emergency Response Plan

by building efficient systems and relations with local contacts (Durango Police and Fire

Departments, and Alarm System contractors), as well as educating tenants and

coordinating the Safety Team.

• First responder to Emergency Response Plan when on site; on call to respond during

non-business hours.

Contractor Oversight and Relations

• Creates and executes vendor contracts for completing work in and around the property.

• Oversee contractors and vendors in the course of performing work.

• Ensure payment of vendors.

• Manage relations and supervise business with major vendors (security, HVAC, etc.)

• Provide documentation and approval of all SIEC bills for the building and its

maintenance to the SIEC bookkeeper.

Tenant Relations

• Manage leases, addendums, and appendices while tracking and holding tenants to lease

terms, including payments.

• Identify ongoing needs and expectations of building tenants and building owners to

facilitate and/or deliver resolution.

• Work with the SIEC board or representative to lease space in the building. Provide

support through frequent communication, timely responses, space showings, rate bids,

executed leases, and other administrative needs to complete a lease.

• Foster a collaborative, supportive tenant community within The Commons.

• Provide high-quality customer service to tenants, their guests, and the community.

• Send out updates on building information and partner information.

Community Outreach

• Represent SIEC and The Commons to the greater Durango community, including

the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Improvement District, etc.

• Attend bi-monthly SIEC Board Meetings.

Other Duties

• Successfully engages, leads and supports an inclusive work environment for those of

underrepresented populations within the organization and the communities we serve.

• Leads and/or participates in organizational-wide teams, projects and initiatives that

support the work of the Strategic Plans goals.

February 2026

Susan Hakanson

Physical Requirements:

This position may be required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl on an infrequent basis.

They must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer. Reasonable accommodation

may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Exhibits the ability to effectively work on diverse teams or with a variety of populations,

including those underrepresented at our organization and those of BIPOC communities.

• Minimum of 1 year of experience in customer service, community organization, non-

profit industry, or facility/environmental management

• Experience with managing contracts and the administrative needs of an organization.

• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.

• The ability to carry out assigned work independently or with minimal supervision.

• The ability to communicate effectively, manage complexity, cultivate innovation, drive, and

influence the results of oneself and others.

• Ability to work well with others and to seek assistance when needed to carry out

assignments.

• Familiarity with Microsoft Office programs and applications, or similar platforms.

• Must be able to pass the organization’s criminal history background check requirements.

• Valid driver’s license and an insurable driving record.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience with community properties with non-profit tenants and/or schools.

• Experience in building or commercial maintenance.

• Experience with Microsoft Office programs and applications, including SharePoint and/or Google

Drive, or similar platforms.

To Apply:

Send a Cover letter and resume to Susan Hakanson – shakanson@durangoadulted.org.

Subject line in this email must include “Applicant”.

Cover Letter must include a response to the following question: Provide some examples of your

experience working effectively with diverse communities, and with maintenance or management

of a property, in a personal or professional context.

Durango Adult Education / Southwest Institute for Education and Conservation (SIEC) is an equal

opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage

members of diverse groups to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment

without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status,

sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other:

Part-Time ESL Adult Educator – Cortez Site (Daytime)

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The Durango/Cortez Adult Education Center seeks an experienced educator to join our team of caring and dedicated staff. Our English language classes incorporate reading, writing, listening, and pronunciation with a focus on the language needed for work and life. Our rigorous curriculum integrates technology, civics education, and workforce preparation. Teachers collaborate with Career Advisors to develop career pathways for individual learners.

Reports To: ESL Lead Teacher and Program Director

Location: Cortez, Colorado

Compensation: $23.00 – $25.00 per hour

Schedule: 13+ hours per week (Part-time)

• Tuesday–Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

• One hour of paid prep time for every three hours taught

• One hour for weekly or biweekly meetings

• Up to 4 paid hours of professional development for remainder of the 2025-2026 school

Additional hours may be available throughout the school year. For the right candidate, this position may

be combined with other employment opportunities at our site.

Benefits

• Paid time off (PTO)

• Paid professional development hours

Duties and Responsibilities

• Teach standards-based English instruction to non-native English speakers while integrating

technology skills

• Apply differentiation techniques, small group strategies, and problem-solving approaches to

develop critical thinking and high student achievement

• Maintain confidentiality of student records in compliance with FERPA

• Perform formative and summative assessment, record-keeping, and reporting duties as required

by DAEC and the Colorado Department of Education

• Record daily attendance in the state database

• Provide guidance to volunteer tutors regarding curriculum, teaching methods, and materials

• Collaborate with the ESL team in program improvement efforts

• Begin the Colorado Adult Basic Education Authorization (ABEA) within six months of hire and

complete within three years, or maintain and re-authorize as required

• Attend required professional development, trainings, and center in-service days

• Light classroom cleaning (whiteboard, tables, vacuuming, trash)

• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required

• Teaching certification preferred (teaching credential, TEFL, TESL, TESOL, etc.)

• Minimum of three years of teaching experience, preferably in language instruction

• Willingness to obtain Colorado Adult Basic Education Authorization (ABEA) within three years of

hire

• Experience working with diverse, marginalized, or vulnerable populations

• Strong technology skills, including Microsoft Office and educational software

• Excellent communication and teamwork skills

• Integrity, credibility, and dedication to the Center’s mission

• Flexibility and compassion essential

• Bilingual English/Spanish or other languages beneficial

How to Apply

Please email a complete application package (cover letter, resume, and three professional references)

to: info@durangoadulted.org

Please indicate which position you are applying for in your cover letter.

Application Deadline: March 23, 2026

Part-Time Humanities Adult Educator – Cortez Site (Afternoon)

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The Durango and Cortez Adult Education Center is seeking an experienced educator to join our team ofdedicated and compassionate staff. The Humanities Adult Educator is a key member of our High SchoolEquivalency (HSE) program, which is comprised of skilled, patient, and committed teachers.

This role involves teaching two groups of learners:

1. Adult Basic Education (ABE) learners – focusing on reading comprehension and analytical skills to

reach high school reading levels.

2. Adult Secondary Education (ASE) learners – focusing on the skills and content required to pass the

High School Equivalency (HSE) tests in Language Arts and Social Studies.

Our learners consistently score above state and national averages on GED subject exams. The

Humanities Educator is expected to motivate and prepare students to achieve their best, continually

exploring innovative strategies to engage learners and support academic progress. The ultimate goal is to

equip students for post-secondary education and livable-wage careers.

Reports To: HSE Lead Teacher and Program Director

Location: Cortez, Colorado

Compensation: $23.00 – $25.00 per hour (depending on experience)

Schedule: 13+ hours per week (Part-time)

• Tuesday–Thursday, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

• One hour of paid prep time for every three hours taught

• One hour for weekly or biweekly meetings

• Up to 4 paid hours of professional development for remainder of the 2025-2026 school

Additional hours may be available throughout the school year. For the right candidate, this position may

be combined with other employment opportunities at our site.

Benefits

• Paid time off (PTO)

• Paid professional development hours

Duties and Responsibilities

• Teach Adult Basic Education (ABE) reading fundamentals in a class setting to prepare students to

move into accelerated Adult Secondary Education classes (ASE) in Language Arts and Social

Studies.

• Teach ASE Language Arts and Social Studies in accelerated classes designed to help students

with high school-level reading skills pass the High School Equivalency (HSE) test within an 8-week

session.

• Apply differentiation techniques, small group strategies, and problem-solving approaches to

develop critical thinking and high student achievement

V. Feb-2026

• Perform formative assessment, record-keeping, and reporting duties as required by DAEC, the

Colorado Department of Education, and OCTAE and adhere to confidentiality

• Collaborate with the team to continue standards-based instruction for the high school

equivalency diploma, with a strong emphasis on computer-based teaching in a lab

or classroom setting

• Attend required professional development, trainings, and center in-service days

• Provide guidance to volunteer tutors regarding curriculum, teaching methods, and materials

• Begin the Adult Basic Education Authorization (ABEA), a designation required by the Colorado

Department of Education, within six months of hire and complete within 36 months or complete

90 hours of professional development and successfully re-authorize your ABEA within five years

• Light cleaning of classroom (whiteboard, tables, vacuum, & garbage)

• Other duties as assigned, including annual and fundraising events (e.g., graduation)

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, teaching license preferred

• Minimum of 3 years of teaching experience

• Technology skills and experience with educational software, Microsoft Word and Outlook, and

willingness to learn new technology to improve student learning

• Experience working with at-risk youth and adults

• Depth of knowledge of reading fundamentals, assessing reading weaknesses, and skills to

support strong analytical reading with increased fluency and reading rate

• Experience with and ability to differentiate varied reading and writing levels and skill gaps

• Excellent communication skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety

of personalities

• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of the

Durango/Cortez Adult Education Center

• Maintain confidentiality of student records in compliance with FERPA

• Flexibility is essential for this position

How to Apply

Please email a complete application package (cover letter, resume, and three professional references)

to: info@durangoadulted.org

Please indicate which position you are applying for in your cover letter.

Application Deadline: March 23, 2026

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