Youth Coordinator

Community Organizing Alliance; Lewiston (ME); Hybrid; USD 48,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

13 paid holidays

Paid time off

Health/dental/vision insurance (80%/20

Job summary

Community Organizing Alliance (COA) is seeking a Youth Coordinator to advance racial and social justice, build a youth base, and lead COA’s youth programming. The role focuses on program development, delivery, and integrating youth work with COA’s mission and campaigns, including career exploration and workforce development.

COA educates Black and immigrant youth across Maine to become agents of change through civic education, organizing, and leadership development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or related field is preferred but not required.
• Experience in non-profit, civic or social impact sectors.
• Experience organizing, outreach, and youth leadership development.
• Curriculum design and workshop facilitation experience.
• Strong relationship-building and cross-cultural skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct outreach to recruit and retain youth for leadership programs.
• Provide 1:1 mentor support and connect youth to internships and jobs.
• Develop partnerships creating internships and career opportunities.
• Design and run monthly workshops and curriculum.
• Track participation and outcomes to align with grant requirements.
• Support Youth Leadership Council with staff.
• Collaborate with staff to support campaigns and events.

Skills

Curriculum design

Workshop facilitation

Partnership development

Mentorship programs

Community outreach

Cross-cultural communication

Google Suite

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Google Workspace

Job description

Youth Coordinator

Community Organizing Alliance (COA) is seeking a Youth Coordinator with a strong commitment to our values of racial and social justice, as well as advancing systemic change and policy at the community and government levels. The Youth Coordinator will work closely with other staff to build a community base and develop and lead COA's youth programming. The Youth Coordinator will focus on program development and delivery and will work with the COA team to integrate all youth programming work to the mission and vision. The Youth Coordinator will have a lead role in COA's career exploration and workforce development work.

COA educates, empowers, and engages Black and immigrant youth across Maine to become agents of change in their communities. Through civic education, grassroots organizing, and leadership development, we equip young people with the tools to understand systems of power, advocate for themselves, and shape the future of their community and the state. Note: COA considers youth to be anyone under the age of 30.

Position Overview:

The Youth Coordinator will support youth participants to explore career pathways in social impact fields, specifically across advocacy, government, and community leadership. The Youth Coordinator will develop partnerships, facilitate skill-building workshops, lead networking opportunities and other hands‑on career opportunities.

The Youth Coordinator will also contribute to COA’s base‑building by assisting the Organizing Manager in building relationships with community members, engaging in volunteer recruitment, and helping to connect youth to meaningful roles in COA’s campaigns, Youth Leadership Council (YLC), programs, and broader organizing work. The YLC is a youth leadership body of high school and college students dedicated to ensuring young people have a voice and a meaningful role in shaping COA as an organization.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct concerted community outreach to recruit and retain young people participating in COA youth leadership programming, particularly for COA’s workforce/career development work.
• Provide 1:1 mentor support for young people and connect them to internships, employment, job-shadowing, mentorship, career exploration, and other hands‑on opportunities.
• Develop partnerships that create internships, employment opportunities, job-shadowing, and career exposure opportunities for young people.
• Design and facilitate monthly workshops, events, and activities from beginning to end, building agendas and curriculum based on participant interests and workforce development needs.
• Plan and track workforce/career development program participation, progress and impact in alignment with grant requirements.
• This role may include managing 1‑3 interns who will support the workforce/career development program goals by holding weekly check‑ins, monitoring intern workplans, and supporting growth.
• Collaborate with the Organizing Manager and other staff over base‑building efforts, including holding relational 1:1s with interested volunteers or youth, recruiting and retaining members through community outreach, events, and other organizing activities, and mentoring youth identified for leadership roles.
• Co‑support and oversee the Youth Leadership Council (YLC) with the Organizing Manager.
• Support other COA program staff, contribute to COA organizational strategy, and provide ad‑hoc support to COA community events and/or rapid response efforts.

Qualifications:

We encourage applications even if you don’t feel that you meet 100% of the outlined qualifications. If you are excited about this role, passionate about our mission, and ready to put in the work then we would be happy to hear from you!

• Bachelor’s degree and/or related degree desired, though not required.
• Experience with or prior work in non‑profit, civic and social impact organizations (advocacy, law, government, policy, school leadership, etc.)
• Experience with organizing, outreach, and supporting young people in taking on leadership roles, particularly those from diverse or historically underserved communities.
• Experience designing curriculum for and facilitating workshops, trainings, programs, or group activities.
• Demonstrated ability and enthusiasm for developing and coordinating partnerships, mentorships, internships, job‑shadowing, or other career opportunities.
• Strong relationship‑building and cross‑cultural communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage with youth, community partners, employers, and professionals.
• Experience working with immigrant, refugee, Black, or other historically underserved communities preferred but not required.
• Proficient using Google Suite for organizational purposes, or has a willingness to learn.
• Knowledge of the issues and barriers affecting immigrant and underserved communities in the Lewiston/Auburn/Portland area preferred.
• Diligent, detail‑oriented, self‑motivated and able to adapt to fast‑paced settings.

Compensation & Benefits:

COA is an EEO Employer committed to a racially just, equitable, and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender identity, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or marital status.

COA operates in a hybrid work environment with in‑person work in Lewiston required at least 2‑3 days/week, with 1‑2 remote work days available. Preferred candidates will live in the Lewiston/Auburn area, though it is not required. This is a full‑time, salaried position, with a salary range of $48,000 - $51,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience. COA also provides 13 paid holidays and paid time off, and offers health/dental/vision insurance (80% employer/20% employee coverage for health benefits).