Associate's Degree or Some College

JVC Northwest; Anchorage (AK); On-site; USD 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Covenant House Alaska is seeking a Volunteer Engagement Specialist to coordinate volunteers, plan and facilitate activities, and welcome youth to participate. You will work with youth aged 13-24 experiencing homelessness, building relationships and creating a safe, engaging space for recreation, culture, and arts.

The role includes afternoon, evening and weekend activities, data entry on youth participation, and collaboration with program staff and volunteers to support holistic care.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree or some college completed.
• Driver's license required.
• Vehicle owned by your organization or program.
• 1-2 times per week driving within local area.
• English language requirement only; no Spanish requirement.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with volunteers to plan and facilitate activities.
• Encourage youth to participate and build welcoming relationships.
• Support youth through recreation, culture, and arts opportunities.
• Track youth participation and volunteer impact in data records.

Education

Associate's Degree or Some College

Job description

Opportunities to serve with JVC Northwest exist in the five beautiful states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska in remote, rural, and urban settings.

Jesuit Volunteers also have the opportunity to serve in other US regions through our sibling organization, Jesuit Volunteer Corps.

Below is a list of opportunities organized by location and by category of service. As part of your application to become a Jesuit Volunteer, we’ll ask about your service preferences, but we ask all applicants to be open to where the need is greatest, and we may ask you to consider options you had not initially thought about.

Position Title

Agency Website

https:covenanthouseak.org

Position Focus

AmeriCorps Status

AmeriCorps

Service Impact Area

Capacity Building

Primary Role

Length of Service Term

12 months

Primary Service Area

Teen/At-Risk/Opportunity Youth Services

Populations Served

Teens/At-Risk/Opportunity Youth

Other Issues and Roles

Homelessness/Housing Services

Brief Position Description:

The Volunteer Engagement Specialist helps make Covenant House Alaska a place where young people experience joy, community, and belonging. In this role, you’ll coordinate with volunteers, help plan and facilitate fun activities, and actively encourage youth to participate alongside them. You’ll spend afternoons and early evenings accompanying groups into the community, building relationships, and creating a welcoming atmosphere where youth feel excited to join in. Your service will ensure young people have meaningful opportunities to explore recreation, culture, and the arts while forming positive, lasting connections.

Day in Life of JV

A day in the life for this JV/AmeriCorps member will include a blend of youth, staff, and volunteer collaboration across all Covenant House Alaska programs. Upon arrival, the JV will check email and voicemail to prioritize the day, address any immediate needs, and respond to volunteer/staff communications. They will check in with their supervisor for any questions or concerns (throughout the day as well). They will meet weekly with their supervisor to focus on support, performance, and upcoming tasks. Then, they will plan and coordinate opportunities with volunteers and staff. They will be collaborating with volunteers as well as the Director of Holistic Care, who oversees many youth opportunities, program managers, shift leads, and youth activity specialists across all programs. They will enjoy lunch alongside youth and spend time engaging in conversation or shared activities. A great way to build rapport, increase youth participation, and learn more about what opportunities youth are seeking. Key clients the JV may accompany will include youth aged 13-24 years old experiencing homelessness. This includes youth navigating experiences of trauma, mental health concerns, or substance misuse.

Afternoon, evening, and weekend times may be especially filled with scheduled opportunities that the JV member will lead themselves or support volunteers in leading. These opportunities could include art workshops, hiking trips, life skills lessons, game nights, volunteer groups, or special events such as the annual prom or a 3v3 basketball tournament (and more!). They’ll create a positive, welcoming environment for all parties participating. In wrapping up activities, the JV member will show appreciation to all those who participated and make sure rooms, vehicles, and supplies are returned to their original state. They will take some time to complete any data entry to record youth participation and volunteer impact. They’ll continue any planning for larger future opportunities and get ready for the day ahead!

Required & Preferred Skills

Education Requirements

Associate's Degree or Some College

Driver's License Requirement

Yes

Vehicle Requirement

A vehicle owned by your organization or program

Nature of Driving

1-2 times per week around time (less than 10 miles) in a comfortable small SUV or van.

Spanish Language Requirement

No requirement other than English

Preferred Spanish Language Level

No requirement other than English

Additional Languages and Level Preferred

Required experience, qualities, or specialized training

n/a

Preferred experience, qualities or specialized training