CES in Training

The Community Engagement Specialist-in-Training serves as the steward of Thread's enrollment and onboarding experience, ensuring new young people, caregivers, and volunteers begin their Thread Journey through welcoming, relationship-centered engagement that establishes the foundation for long-term success.

Working collaboratively with Community Managers, Program Managers, volunteers, school partners, and cross-functional teams, this role coordinates student enrollment, volunteer onboarding support, early community engagement, and operational activities that strengthen participation and belonging for both young people and volunteers in Thread. Through authentic relationship-building, proactive communication, and thoughtful coordination, the Community Engagement Specialist-in-Training helps create a seamless transition into the Thread community.

As one of the first staff members many young people and families encounter, this role serves as an ambassador for Thread's mission, values, and relationship-centered philosophy. The Community Engagement Specialist-in-Training ensures every participant experiences a high-quality introduction that builds trust, strengthens engagement, and supports successful long-term participation.

• Serve as the primary coordinator for Thread's student enrollment process, ensuring annual enrollment goals are achieved through organized, relationship-centered recruitment efforts.
• Coordinate interviews, enrollment events, home visits, documentation and paperwork processing, and onboarding activities for new young people and caregivers.
• Facilitate onboarding experiences that clearly communicate Thread's mission, expectations, resources, and opportunities.
• Build authentic relationships with prospective young people and families while providing a welcoming and supportive enrollment experience.
• Ensure enrollment activities are completed accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with organizational standards.

• Support newly enrolled young people as they begin their Thread Journey by strengthening engagement with both Thread and their school communities.
• Foster meaningful relationships that encourage belonging, trust, confidence, and sustained participation.
• Coordinate early relationship-building opportunities among young people, volunteers, Community Managers, and staff.
• Monitor engagement during the first stages of participation and proactively address barriers to involvement.
• Encourage participation in Thread programming, school activities, and community experiences.

• Support volunteer recruitment efforts by assisting with outreach events, informational sessions, and onboarding activities.
• Coordinate volunteer onboarding processes in partnership with recruitment and community staff.
• Help prepare volunteers to successfully engage with young people through orientation, communication, and relationship-building resources.
• Support thoughtful volunteer placement within Thread communities.
• Maintain consistent communication with volunteers throughout the onboarding process.

• Support implementation of enrollment events, Welcome Weeks, family engagement activities, information sessions, and other organizational programming.
• Collaborate with Community Managers, Program Managers, and cross-functional teams to ensure coordinated service delivery.
• Partner with schools and community organizations to strengthen enrollment and engagement efforts.
• Represent Thread professionally with students, caregivers, volunteers, educators, and community partners.
• Contribute to organization-wide initiatives supporting community engagement and organizational priorities.

• Maintain accurate enrollment, engagement, volunteer, and demographic information within organizational systems.
• Use CRM platforms and organizational technology to support communication, scheduling, reporting, and documentation.
• Monitor enrollment and engagement trends to identify opportunities for improved participant experience.
• Support data collection and reporting that informs organizational planning and continuous improvement.
• Ensure documentation remains timely, accurate, and aligned with organizational standards.

• Evaluate enrollment and onboarding practices to identify opportunities for improved efficiency and participant experience.
• Use technology and emerging tools — including AI-assisted communication, scheduling, documentation, and administrative workflows — to improve efficiency while maintaining appropriate human judgment, confidentiality, and relationship-centered engagement.
• Stay current on best practices in youth engagement, volunteer onboarding, customer service, and community outreach.
• Contribute ideas that strengthen organizational effectiveness and participant experience.
• Complete other duties and strategic initiatives as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree preferred or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Minimum of one year of experience in youth development, community engagement, education, volunteer coordination, project management, or related fields.
• Prior experience with the Thread community as a volunteer, young person, collaborator, or staff member strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to build authentic relationships with diverse populations, including young people, caregivers, volunteers, educators, and community partners.
• Strong organizational, administrative, and project coordination skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Experience using CRM platforms, data systems, and digital collaboration tools preferred.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, belonging, relationship-centered practice, and continuous learning.
• Ability to conduct home visits, travel throughout the community, and work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Spanish language proficiency preferred.
• Ability to clearly communicate and consistently model Thread's core values and core competencies.