Senior Recruitment Coordinator (Youth Programs)

Spark the Journey • Washington, DC

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Spark the Journey (Spark) is a nonprofit organization that provides mentorship and a community of support for young adults to chart their own paths to achieving college and career success. Spark has been working with talented young adults in the Washington, DC metro region for over 30 years and currently serves over 400 mentees annually. Spark the Journey’s unique mentorship approach fosters long-lasting relationships between mentors and mentees as young adults choose to pursue the education, career path, or personal goals they want to achieve—with a community of support. As our Senior Recruitment Coordinator, you will play a critical role in growing and strengthening Spark’s mentor and participant pipeline during an exciting period of expansion and partnership growth. You’ll serve as a trusted point of contact for mentors, students, families, and partners while driving recruitment strategy, improving systems, coordinating events, and ensuring a high-quality experience from first interaction through final match. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who thrives in a mission-driven, fast-paced environment and enjoys balancing relationship-building, operations, events, and data management. This role is an exempt role reporting to the Associate Director of Recruitment and Admissions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; Associate’s degree considered with relevant experience
• 2+ years of experience in recruitment, admissions, youth programs, community engagement, or a related field
• Strong organizational and communication skills with demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Proven experience in event coordination, with strong facilitation and presentation skills and the ability to engage diverse audiences
• Skilled in conducting one-on-one interviews and handling sensitive information with empathy, professionalism, and confidentiality
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to establish trust across diverse stakeholders
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. now and in the future without sponsorship
• Must pass a criminal background check.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with low-income youth and/or students facing barriers to college completion strongly preferred
• Experience with data management and CRM systems (Salesforce preferred) and proficiency in Microsoft Office tools

Responsibilities

• Lead and strengthen Spark’s mentor recruitment pipeline by conducting mentor interviews, coordinating onboarding steps, and supporting orientations to ensure a positive candidate experience.
• Plan and support recruitment events, information sessions, and outreach efforts to grow mentor engagement.
• Maintain accurate recruitment and pipeline data in Salesforce or similar systems while keeping listings and communications updated.
• Build collaborative relationships with internal teams and community partners to support recruitment goals, mentor matching to reach growth goals, and process improvements based on recruitment trends.
• Create meaningful experiences that keep our community engaged and connected by planning, coordinating, and attending recruitment, recognition, and community-building events.
• Manage event logistics including materials, communications, attendance tracking, and follow-up.
• Ensure events are executed professionally and within budget guidelines.
• Ensure our processes remain organized, equitable, and people-centered by reviewing and processing student applications accurately and efficiently.
• Track applicants and guardians through each stage of the admissions process.
• Ensure communications are timely, professional, and welcoming.
• Partner with Programs and Data teams to maintain accurate records and support equitable practices.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with Flexible Spending Account options, effective the first day of the month following employment
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching of 3%
• Life and disability insurance with premiums fully funded by Spark
• 15 days of paid vacation in each of the first two years; 20 days in subsequent years
• Office closed on national and state holidays and between December 24-January 1
• Flexible teleworking policies in response to employee needs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree