Recruitment & Engagement Coordinator

Position Summary

All Covenant House Alaska program staff work as advocates and allies for youth experiencing homelessness, human trafficking, and who are at increased risk for human trafficking.

The Recruitment & Engagement Coordinator is responsible for identifying, recruiting, and engaging youth who can benefit from Covey Academy’s Work Ready Alaska (WRA) curriculum and career track pathways. This role is highly community-facing and builds strong referral pipelines from schools, shelters, tribal organizations, community partners, and internal CHA programs.

Grounded in trauma-informed, youth-centered practice, the Coordinator ensures that young people understand their options, feel empowered to choose what fits them best, and experience a welcoming on-ramp into Covey Academy offerings. The role also supports contract performance for workforce grants (including DOT-funded initiatives) by helping to meet enrollment, participation, and completion targets through ethical and relationship-based outreach.

Essential Functions

Youth Recruitment & Engagement

Identify and proactively engage youth who are eligible for Work Ready Alaska and Covey Academy career tracks through outreach at CHA sites, partner agencies, schools, and community events.
Conduct individual and small-group “program intro” conversations that clearly explain expectations, benefits, and commitments in a youth-friendly and transparent way.
Support youth in exploring their interests and readiness for participation, referring to E&E Success Navigators and program staff when deeper planning or case management is needed.
Facilitate orientations and information sessions for youth who are enrolling in Work Ready Alaska or career track programming.
Maintain regular follow-up with interested youth to reduce barriers to enrollment (transportation, scheduling, questions, fears) and to encourage continued participation once enrolled.

Partner & Community Outreach

Build and nurture referral relationships with schools, shelters, transitional housing programs, tribal organizations, youth-serving nonprofits, employers, and workforce partners.
Represent Covey Academy and CHA at community events, fairs, presentations, and meetings, sharing information about Work Ready Alaska and career track options.
Coordinate recurring outreach activities (e.g., monthly presentations, classroom visits) that keep Covey Academy offerings visible and accessible.
Provide partners with clear, up-to-date referral pathways, eligibility guidance, and simple tools to connect youth to Covey Academy.
Collect and share feedback from partners about what youth need and how Covey Academy can better support referrals and collaboration.

Program Support & Coordination

Work closely with E&E Success Navigators, the Academy Director, and program staff to align recruitment efforts with class schedules, capacity, and grant targets.
Participate in internal huddles and case conferencing as appropriate to coordinate outreach strategies for specific youth or groups.
Assist with the planning and promotion of special Academy events (info nights, career panels, employer spotlights, graduations) that attract and celebrate youth participants.
Collaborate with communications/development staff to ensure consistent messaging, branding, and storytelling for Covey Academy and Work Ready Alaska.
Support the development and implementation of Work Ready Alaska virtual delivery.

Data, Reporting & Compliance

Track outreach contacts, referral sources, inquiries, and enrollments in designated databases or tracking tools in a timely and accurate manner.
Document required information for DOT and other workforce-related contracts, including demographics, eligibility indicators, and participation milestones as directed.
Provide regular reports on recruitment numbers, partner engagement, and enrollment conversion to the Academy Director and relevant grant teams.
Use data and feedback to adjust outreach strategies, prioritizing populations and communities identified as priorities in grant scopes of work.

Youth-Centered, Trauma-Informed Practice

Ensure that all recruitment and engagement efforts are trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and grounded in respect, equity, and youth agency.
Offer information without pressure, supporting youth in making informed choices—even when that means referral to other services or programs outside CHA.
Uphold CHA policies and expectations related to confidentiality, mandated reporting, professional boundaries, and safety.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s degree in education, social work, human services, communications, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Experience

Two years of experience in youth services, recruitment, outreach, community engagement, workforce development, education, or related work preferred.
Experience working with youth and young adults who have experienced homelessness, system involvement, trauma, or significant barriers to employment/education strongly preferred.
Familiarity with workforce programs, career pathways, or vocational training is a plus.

Lived experience of homelessness considered an asset

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

Understand and comply with all Agency policies and procedures, including Child Protection Policies.
Is approachable, relatable, builds rapport well, and practices active listening with individuals of varied cultural backgrounds, embracing differences in behavior and lifestyle choices.
Knowledge of community social service resources to assist students with needs related to housing, employment, education, and social-emotional well-being.
Knowledge of crisis intervention and ability to address conflict between students exhibiting challenging behaviors; able to respond quickly and safely while continuing to be a settling influence in crisis situations and emergencies.
Maintain confidentiality while understanding and complying with requirements of mandated reporting, duty to warn, Title IX, ADA, HIPAA, FERPA and other limits to confidentiality.
Willingness to utilize training opportunities in support of personal and professional growth, competence development, and to increase overall capacity to serve youth every day.
Well-developed verbal and written communication skills.
Proficient with standard computer operating systems. Ability to navigate Microsoft Office Suite, online databases, and other programs and websites as required.
Organizational abilities and level of responsibility conducive to ensuring team and student safety, keeping supplies inventoried and stocked, and tracking and reporting on grant-funded activities.
Able to articulate successes and challenges experienced by students to inform program development and effectively communicate with CHA staff, community partners, funding sources, and others.
Willingness to see past differences in behavior and functioning and ability to passionately advocate for the right of all youth to be valued, supported, and housed.
Leadership skills and ability to tactfully and effectively coach team members.
Willingness and ability to work outside of normal business hours as well as Holidays and weekends as needed.
Willingness and ability to attain a CPR/First Aid Certification
Possess a current and valid Driver’s License
Acceptable driving record assessed through CHA’s Drivers Acceptability Matrix.
Pass federal, state, and local background check investigations.

Working Conditions

Primarily community-based work with significant time spent traveling to partner sites, schools, and events, alongside time in an office environment at Covey Academy/CHA sites.
Noise level is mild to moderate, consistent with office and residential environments.
Must have the ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
Must have the ability to observe details within close range.
Must be able to remain in stationary position for extended periods of time.
Must be able to move within the office to access files and office equipment.
Consistently operates a computer and related office machinery.
Must be able to ascend/descend stairways within a wide variety of facilities both commercial and residential, with and possibly without the assistance of an elevator.
Occasionally moves items up to 40 pounds while ascending/descending stairways for position related activities.

Covenant House is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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Due to licensing requirements, some of our positions require applicants to be at least 21. Do you meet this requirement?

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