First Generation Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

About Breakthrough Silicon Valley

Starting in middle school, Breakthrough Silicon Valley launches talented students who have lacked access to higher education on the path to college, and inspires high school and college students to become the next generation of leaders, advocates, and educators. While ambitious in our goals, BTSV works: a stunning 99% of BTSV graduates attend college immediately after high school, and 78% of BTSV Teaching Fellows are inspired to pursue a career related to education as a result of their BTSV experience.

BTSV's tuition-free program provides year-round out-of-school time academic support, counseling, and advocacy for talented students from underserved communities who 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 expand access to educational opportunities, design and teach classes under the direction of seasoned educators, and learn about the K-12 system.

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 AmeriCorps Position

We are looking for a full-time AmeriCorps Member to serve as Breakthrough Silicon Valley's Volunteer Engagement Coordinator. AmeriCorps Members will serve full-time from September 8, 2026 to August 6, 2027, and will serve alongside and be supported by the BTSV team. This is a fantastic opportunity for a passionate recent college graduate to serve at an organization that is making a difference in the educational trajectory of aspiring first-generation college students.

As the Volunteer Engagement Coordinator, you will play a pivotal role in fostering meaningful connections between our organization and volunteers. Your expertise in communication, organizational prowess, and strategic thinking will contribute to the success of our mission. Volunteer events take place throughout the year; highlights include Career Exploration Day during BTSV's signature summer program, resume and interviewing workshops for high school students. You will also support the recruitment of volunteer tutors who work with students across all grade levels, and help engage general volunteers who may be needed for programmatic support.

Learn more about AmeriCorps and national service here!

Competencies and Responsibilities

Volunteer and Database Management

• Manage and prioritize multiple volunteer-related tasks, events, and projects, ensuring timelines and deliverables are met. 

• Coordinate volunteer schedules, events, and follow-up activities with precision.

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date volunteer data by tracking participation, hours, and engagement in the database.

• Build positive and collaborative relationships with volunteers, team members, and external partners through regular communication and support.

• Design and implement new initiatives or improvements that strengthen volunteer engagement and experience.

• Apply strategic planning skills to identify opportunities for recruiting volunteers from all walks of life.

Recruitment and Marketing Communications

• Contribute to the development of BTSV's volunteer recruitment and marketing strategy.

• Effectively articulate the mission and goals of BTSV to attract and retain a robust pool of volunteers.

• Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills to engage with stakeholders.

What background and skills do you have?:

• Experience with design programs, such as Adobe Creative Suite and/or Canva.

• Experience with photo and video editing.

• You have excellent writing skills and are a stickler for grammar.

• Proficiency with MS Office and Google Suite, including Excel/Sheets.

• Ability to plan, organize, and implement projects with attention to detail.

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

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

• "Breakthrough Spirit": You're a collaborative team player who is committed to excellence and open-minded. You demonstrate a desire to continuously learn and grow, think creatively to solve problems, and work with a sense of humor and humility.

• Passion for Breakthrough Silicon Valley's mission and goals.

Bonus points if:

• You have experience with Salesforce, Mailchimp, and/or Asana.

• You have experience with event planning.

• You're bilingual (Spanish or Vietnamese).

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

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!

Requirements

• Have a commitment to community service and the ability to serve the complete program year: a service term of 1,700+ hours from September 8, 2026, to August 6, 2027. 

• Bachelor's degree or enrolled in college pursuing your degree.

• US citizen, US national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States.

• Candidates 18 years of age or older must pass a National Service Criminal History Check.

• Access to reliable transportation to our program offices and summer program sites via personal vehicle, public transit, or other means.

• As BTSV is an out-of-school-time program, evening availability and occasional weekend service are a must.

Training and Professional Development

BTSV wants you to learn and grow as much as your students will. At the start of your service, you will receive a comprehensive orientation to your new team, to BTSV, our program, and your role. Throughout the year, you will serve with your supervisor and the AmeriCorps Program Director to pursue training specific to your role and your own goals for professional development.

Compensation

AmeriCorps positions are volunteer roles that carry a living allowance. BTSV's AmeriCorps members will receive:

• $30,000 living allowance (pre-tax) paid semi-monthly over the 11-month service term.

• Health insurance, if needed.

• Most AmeriCorps members will be eligible for food supplement programs, like SNAP/CalFresh, to help cover monthly grocery expenses.

AmeriCorps members who complete their service are eligible for a $10,000 education award via the AmeriCorps Segal Education Award and the California for All Education Award. This award can be used for continuing education or even to repay certain student loans. Many members will also qualify for student loan forbearance.

Location

BTSV maintains two offices in San Jose:

• Bridges Academy: 1702 McLaughlin Ave, San Jose, CA 95122

• Herbert Hoover Middle School: 1635 Park Ave, San Jose, CA 95126

AmeriCorps members are required to serve full-time in person. This is not a remote position.

Application Process

Apply online through this site and attach your resume and cover letter as PDFs. Please indicate where you heard about the position in your cover letter. We will review applications on a rolling basis.

• Priority application deadline: Sunday, June 7, 2026, 11:59 PM PT

• Final application deadline: Sunday, July 19, 2026, 11:59 PM PT
  

*This service opportunity is contingent upon the approval of our AmeriCorps renewal contract (currently in process).

BTSV engages with individuals of all backgrounds and as an Equal Opportunity Employer, BTSV 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.