About Breakthrough Silicon Valley

Breakthrough Silicon Valley launches talented students who have been historically excluded from higher education on the path to college, and inspires high school and college students to become the next generation of leaders, advocates, and educators. BTSV’s seven-year college access and success program, which supports students from 7th grade to first year of college, has proven to be effective in preparing these students for college: a stunning 99% of BTSV graduates attend college immediately after high school.

 

BTSV’s tuition-free program provides year-round out-of-school time academic support, counseling, and advocacy for a diverse group of talented students, most of whom come from under-resourced communities and will be the first generation in their family to go to college. Through our students-teaching-students model, BTSV also provides a consummate professional development experience providing talented high school and college students the opportunity to understand the K-12 system and the drivers of educational inequities, and to design and teach classes under the direction of seasoned educators.

 

Located in San Jose, California, Breakthrough Silicon Valley is an affiliate of The Breakthrough Collaborative, a leading national service organization that acts as the national voice for 25 Breakthrough sites across the country.

 

The Position

The Program Associate role offers an impactful, hands-on internship experience at a highly effective nonprofit organization. Throughout the internship, you will be coached and supervised by our experienced BTSV staff. Interns will develop organizational, communication, and project management skills, gain exposure to programming in education and youth development, and learn how to operate effective and efficient programming involving students and volunteers.

 

Each day will look different depending on the needs of the program: you might start by reaching out to students and volunteers to remind them of the schedule for the day, then enter student grades and attendance data into Salesforce. You’ll then make sure the classroom is prepped for our drop-in homework support program, and spend the rest of the afternoon greeting and interacting with volunteer tutors and students as they meet together. You will collaborate frequently with the BTSV program staff to check in on student engagement and progress, and you’ll be the point of contact for homework center volunteers on a day-to-day basis.

 

The Program Associate reports to the Senior Director of Programs and Instruction. 

 

What background and skills do you have?:

  • You’re a current college junior or senior, or a graduate student.

  • Experience working with students (preferably middle and/or high schoolers) as a tutor, counselor, teacher, etc., and an unwavering focus on students’ best interests.

  • Ability to commit to working in-person according to a regular program schedule with access to reliable transportation to our two program locations.

  • Ability to work in an organized and thoughtful way while juggling multiple tasks, and implement plans with a keen attention to detail.

  • Ability to communicate effectively and professionally, verbally and in writing, with students, volunteers, and colleagues.

  • A customer service skill-set gained from prior experience such as retail, food service, or other direct-service positions.

  • Flexible problem-solver with a can-do attitude; willing to support where needed.

  • Communicative and able to responsibly pose questions and ask for clarification whenever necessary.

  • Proficiency with MS Office and Google Suite, including Excel/Sheets. Ability to learn Salesforce CRM with direction.

  • “Breakthrough Spirit”: You’re a collaborative team player who is committed to excellence and open-minded, demonstrates a growth mindset, thinks creatively to solve problems, and works with a sense of humor and humility.

  • Commitment to Breakthrough Silicon Valley’s mission and goals as well as a passion for educational equity.

 

All staff and volunteers working with BTSV students need to complete a background check and TB test prior to their start date.

 

Bonus points if you’ve got:

  • You’re a former BTSV student, Teaching Fellow, or volunteer, or have supported us in another capacity.

  • You’re majoring in education or a related field.

  • You have experience at a nonprofit youth development or educational organization, particularly one focused on college access for first-generation students and students of color.

  • You have experience with Salesforce.

We know that many strong candidates will not have all the skills we list. That’s OK. What else do you bring to the table? Please tell us!

 

Location, Commitment, and Compensation

This is an in-person position in San Jose, alternating between BTSV’s SJUSD office (1635 Park Ave, San Jose, CA 95126) and FMSD office (1702 McLaughlin Ave, San Jose, CA 95122).

 

This is a part-time (up to 15 hours per week) position, starting in mid-September through mid-December, with the potential to extend to the Spring semester. Candidates must be available Mondays through Thursdays from 3 PM–6:30 PM in order to be considered.

 

This is a temporary, hourly, non-exempt (overtime-eligible) position. You will be paid $20 per hour.

 

Application Process

Apply online through this site and attach your resume and cover letter as PDFs. We will review applications on a rolling basis.

 

Breakthrough engages with individuals of all backgrounds and we are committed to embracing diversity within our organization, including developing a team who represents the communities we serve.

 

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Breakthrough is committed to providing employment opportunities to all individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.