We are seeking a full-time Director of Youth and Young Adult Services and a full-time Education Navigator (high school tutor/mentor). Ideal candidates will have a passion for education and equity and experience working with Pasefika communities.

Voices of Pacific Island Nations is a nonprofit organization based in Kitsap County that is committed to providing high-quality, culturally responsive services and resources to eliminate educational and opportunity inequities for Pasefika youth and families. We serve as a bridge to develop stronger relationships between students, schools, families, and the community. We are looking for passionate, dedicated individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of Pasefika. Because we are a relatively new and small but quickly growing organization, this is an exciting opportunity to help develop, implement, and improve our programs and services. 

Employment Announcement

Position: Youth and Young Adult Services Director
Compensation: $55,000 - $65,000 annual salary, depending on experience Benefits: Paid vacation, holiday, and sick leave
Location: Kitsap County, Washington

About Voices of Pacific Island Nations

Voices of Pacific Island Nations (VOPIN) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to inspiring Pasefika (Pacific Islander) students and their families by providing high-quality, culturally responsive services and resources to eliminate educational and opportunity inequities. We serve as a bridge to develop stronger relationships between students, schools, families, and the community. VOPIN is a very small but fast-growing organization. Staff hired at this time will be part of a dedicated, mission-driven team working together to develop and implement new programs and services and building them from the ground up.

About Youth and Young Adult Services

The future of Pasefika communities is in the hands of our younger generations. Preparing youth and young adults for the future is essential for the preservation of our history and heritage.
Developing and teaching young leaders our culture and values will also help establish a just society. The Youth and Young Adult Services department will provide evidence-based, culturally resonant services under three headings: Youth Advocacy, Academic Support, and Mentorship.

VOPIN serves as an advocate for Pasefika youth and their families at the local, state, and national levels to ensure they are provided with the support they need to thrive. Activities include affecting policy changes to ensure the educational needs of Pasefika youth are highlighted, understood, and addressed. VOPIN’s Youth and Young Adult Services Department will accomplish this through participation in organizations that influence education policies and by implementing Youth/Young Adult Leadership and Youth/Young Adult Ambassador programs that provide youth with the training and support they need to advocate for themselves, their peers, and their future.

Navigating Education is VOPIN’s tutoring and mentoring program that improves academic achievement and educational outcomes through positive relationships and social, emotional, and academic support. Navigating Education’s services are delivered both in and outside of the classroom. In-class support gives at-risk youth extra attention, especially in the areas of attendance, behavior, and academic performance. Afterschool support provides one-to-one and small group tutoring tailored to the individual needs of each student, social-emotional development, and supplemental support (college application, job application, time management, study habits, etc.). In school activities take place daily and last the entire school day. Afterschool sessions take place in the school three to five days per week (depending on enrollment) in two hour sessions. It is staffed by Education Navigators who serve as both teachers and mentors.

Job Responsibilities

The Youth and Young Adult Services Director is a new position that will be responsible for developing, implementing, managing, and improving programs within this department. This position reports to the Executive Director.

Role and Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, manage, and improve programs that support VOPIN’s mission, vision, and strategic plan within the Youth and Young Adult Services Department
• Design policies and procedures and strategies to meet program objectives
• Develop and maintain program budgets
• Be responsible for the sustainability of Youth and Young Adult Services programs through
• grant writing, fundraising, and other forms of resource development
• Develop and maintain a Continuous Quality Improvement Plan for all programs
• Oversee program evaluation and Continuous Quality Improvement
• Outreach and engagement of youth and families
• Supervision of Youth and Young Adult Services staff and AmeriCorps members
• Oversee and coordinate volunteers, mentors, and interns
• Develop and submit grant reports per funder guidelines
• Facilitate staff and partner meetings
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director

Required Qualifications

• Minimum two years program development and management experience, including staff supervision
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work with and positively support all youth, regardless of race, nationality, sexual
• orientation, gender identity, socio-economic status, and religion

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education, social work, or a related field
• Knowledge of theories of Positive Youth Development
• Experience working with Pasefika youth and families and knowledge of Pasefika cultures • Grant writing experience
• Program evaluation experience

How to Apply

Please email the following required materials to eliza@vopin.org:

• Resume with contact information
• Cover letter
• Three professional references
  All qualified candidates will need to complete a background check

Employment Announcement

Position: Education Navigator
Compensation: $23.75 per hour, full time
Position Type: Culturally resonant (Pacific Islander) tutoring and mentoring in secondary school.

Location: Bremerton High School | 1500 13th Street, Bremerton, WA 98337

About Voices of Pacific Island Nations

Voices of Pacific Island Nations (VOPIN) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to inspiring Pasefika (Pacific Islander) students and their families by providing high-quality, culturally responsive services and resources to eliminate educational and opportunity inequities. We serve as a bridge to develop stronger relationships between students, schools, families, and the community. VOPIN is a very small but fast-growing organization. Staff hired at this stage will play a key role in developing, implementing, and improving our programs and services!

Tutoring Program Overview: Navigating Education

Navigating Education improves academic achievement and educational outcomes through positive relationships and social, emotional, and academic support. While Navigating Education serves all students regardless of background, it emphasizes Pasefika cultural resonance. Services are delivered both inside and outside of the classroom, providing educational support for grades 9-12 in English Language Arts (ELA), Math, Reading, Science, and Social Studies throughout the day and after school. Its in-class support gives at-risk youth extra attention, especially in attendance, behavior, and academic performance. The afterschool program provides one-to-one and small group tutoring tailored to the individual needs of each student, social-emotional development, and supplemental support (college research and application, job application, time management, study habits, etc.). In- school activities take place daily and last the entire school day. Afterschool sessions take place in the school three to five days per week (depending on enrollment) in two-hour sessions.

Role and Responsibilities

Navigators provide culturally responsive and integrated social, emotional, and academic support grounded in authentic and supportive relationships that improve educational outcomes for youth. They serve as tutors and mentors, providing interventions and/or academic coaching for at-risk youth identified by school staff, families, or self-selected because of their grades, English language ability, standardized testing, behavior, and/or attendance history. Navigators use evidence-based instructional strategies, including Developmental Relationship Framework, Growth Mindset, and Motivational Interviewing. The following table outlines the services Navigators will provide.

Classroom Support

Provide additional capacity in the classroom, supporting teachers by working with students who need extra attention, supporting classroom routines, and providing differentiated instruction to meet students’ individual needs.

Provide afterschool programming, including tutoring, homework assistance, Social-Emotional support, and skill-building activities.
Facilitate school-wide Positive School Climate activities and events that improve learning and commitment to school for the entire student body. Check in with a list of at-risk students (referred by the school) throughout the week to identify and address the root causes of attendance issues.

Afterschool Enrichment

All School Support

Attendance Coaching

Great Graduation

Family Engagement

Work with at-risk students and families to identify and address factors that may lead a student to leave school. Navigators provide coaching, Social-Emotional support, and case management to connect students and families with community resources and support to increase family stability.

Work with families to understand each student’s unique needs and family dynamics to tailor support to their needs. Family engagement includes regular contact through phone, email, and/or text and in person when the student first joins Navigating Education. It also provides start-of-school and quarterly family literacy and engagement events.

Navigators will also be responsible for the following:
● Monitoring and tracking student progress
● Creating a welcoming and safe learning environments
● Meeting regularly with teachers to ensure wrap-around support for enrolled youth 

● Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

● Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
● ExperienceworkingwithPasefikayouthandfamilies
● Minimum one year’s experience working with teenagers
● Excellent written and oral communication skills. As we serve a multilingual community, thisis not about perfect English but about ensuring people feel heard and that you can successfully advocate for the students and families we serve.
● Ability to develop and implement appropriate positive behavior interventions for students

● Ability to work with and positively support all youth, regardless of race, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic status, and religion.

Preferred Qualifications

● Lived or experienced working with the Pasefika community
● Bachelor’s degree in education, socialwork, or a related field
● Secondary school classroom teaching experience
● Training and experience in the Developmental Relationships Framework, Growth Mindset, trauma-informed care, and/or other areas of Positive Youth Development

How to apply

Please email the following required materials to eliza@vopin.org:

• Resume with contact information
• Cover letter
• Three professional references

Qualified candidates will be asked to complete a background check