NAYA Family Center is seeking a part-time dependable and youth-centered Youth Engagement Specialist to support recreation and wellness programming for Native youth. This role plays a key part in increasing youth participation by reducing transportation barriers and supporting engaging, safe, and culturally responsive activities. Reporting to the College & Career Readiness Manager, you will provide reliable transportation to and from programs while assisting with recreation coaching and youth engagement activities.

NAYA offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees and a supportive, mission-driven work environment. This is a part-time position, working 20–25 hours per week. General working hours are 2:00–8:00pm Tuesday–Thursday and 8:00am–5:00pm Saturday, with a flexible schedule available upon approval.

The hourly wage for this position is $20.00 per hour.

Who You Are

• Ideally, you have work or lived experience within Native communities—or a strong commitment to learning Native history and understanding the Urban Native experience.
• You enjoy working with youth and creating positive, supportive environments where young people feel safe and encouraged to participate.
• You are reliable, safety-conscious, and comfortable providing transportation as part of your role.
• You are comfortable supporting group activities, sports, games, or wellness programming.
• You are organized, flexible, and willing to learn basic data tracking systems.
• You thrive in a team-oriented workplace, are adaptable, and are willing to roll up your sleeves and pitch in, even when it’s not your job.
• You demonstrate self-awareness, listening deeply, centering others, and taking accountability for your actions.
• You are consistently punctual, reliable, and dependable in support of your team and clients.
• You possess strong communication skills, engaging effectively with diverse groups and adapting to varied contexts.
• You’re comfortable using databases, Microsoft Office, and email, and you're open to learning new systems.
• You possess a current Oregon or Washington driver’s license, and the ability to be insured under NAYA’s liability insurance policy (i.e. no more than one major driving violation in the last three years).
• You have a high school diploma (associate degree preferred).
• You are certified in CPR, First Aid, and AED, or willing to obtain certification.

What You'll Do

• Provide safe, reliable transportation for youth to and from NAYA Family Center, recreation activities, camps, and special events.
• Support and help lead recreational and wellness activities in collaboration with program staff.
• Build positive relationships with youth that encourage participation, consistency, and engagement.
• Communicate clearly with staff about routes, schedules, attendance, and program needs.
• Model teamwork, respect, and positive behavior during all activities and interactions.
• Assist with basic data tracking such as attendance, transportation logs, and participation records.
• Participate in trainings, team meetings, and cross-program collaboration.
• Represent NAYA professionally and contribute to a safe, welcoming environment.

Application Instructions

Providing a cover letter helps us best understand your interest in the role, so we encourage you to submit one along with your resume. If you need accommodation during the application process, please email jobs@nayapdx.org.

Questions? Want to chat about this role before you decide to apply? Contact Auna Castellón, Culture, Education, and Wellness Manager, or the HR team.

NAYA is committed to building a work environment that respects and inspires every community member. Our mission is to serve Urban Native youth and families, so we strongly encourage Native people to apply. We encourage applications from members of other historically marginalized groups, as well, including women, people of color, those with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and those who have served in the military.