Buildon
Uniting youth and global communities through service‑led school building and education.
2 days ago
$43,680 - $47,840
Junior (1-3 years), Entry-level
Full Time
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Hybrid
Company Size
382 Employees
Service Specialisms
Sector Specialisms
Description
student recruitment
service planning
lesson facilitation
data entry
report generation
event organization
The Engagement Specialist will serve as the sole buildOn staff member at a designated partner high school, recruiting students through lunchtime tables, school fairs, classroom presentations, and trek recruitment. They will plan and lead 2‑3 after‑school service opportunities each week plus a Saturday project, and collaborate with teachers to deliver up to six in‑class service‑learning lessons per month.
Weekly responsibilities include hosting program meetings, establishing a student leadership team, entering engagement data into Salesforce, and preparing monthly engagement reports and regional service plans. Each semester the specialist will organize a large‑scale service kickoff and two city‑wide service events, culminating in an end‑of‑year award ceremony.
Ongoing duties involve building authentic relationships with students, school staff, parents, and community partners, as well as supporting cross‑departmental collaboration with Development, Marketing, Global, Finance, and HR to advance organizational goals.
- Represent buildOn as the sole staff member at a partner high school
- Recruit students through lunchtime tables, fairs, presentations, and trek outreach
- Plan and lead 2‑3 after‑school service opportunities and a weekly Saturday project
- Facilitate up to six in‑class service‑learning lessons per month with teachers
- Host weekly program meetings and establish a student leadership team
- Enter weekly engagement data into Salesforce and produce monthly reports
- Organize semester service kickoffs and two city‑wide service events per semester
- Build relationships with students, school staff, parents, and community partners
- Collaborate with Development, Marketing, Global, Finance, and HR departments
Requirements
youth engagement
facilitation
google suite
salesforce
spanish
collaboration
buildOn is seeking an experienced, passionate individual who is committed to working with youth and giving back to the community through service and education.
Ideal candidates possess a passion for service, high energy, solution‑oriented mindset, and strong collaborative skills; Spanish language ability is strongly preferred. Required experience includes at least two years engaging youth in classroom or extracurricular programs, facilitation or teaching experience, and familiarity with Google Suite and preferably Salesforce.
- Required: 2+ years youth engagement, facilitation experience, collaborative mindset, self‑motivation; Spanish preferred
- Preferred technical skills: Google Suite, Salesforce
Benefits
The position is a full-time, in-person, non-exempt role based at the Academy of the Americas High School in Detroit, MI, reporting to the Executive Director or designee. Workdays run Tuesday‑Saturday during the academic year and Monday‑Friday otherwise, with start times between 7:30 am and 9 am and end times between 4 pm and 5:30 pm. Compensation ranges from $21 to $23 per hour ($43,680–$47,840 annually for a 40‑hour week) and includes medical, dental, vision insurance, a 403(b) retirement match, and 39 paid days off.
buildOn offers creative freedom to design a unique program, international service travel (Trek) to partner countries, schedule autonomy within an 8:30 am‑5 pm workday, and leadership and collaboration opportunities with educators and community leaders. The staff experience is enriched by culture‑focused activities such as karaoke, picnics, ice‑skating, escape rooms, museums, and other social gatherings.
- Compensation: $21‑$23 hourly ($43,680‑$47,840 annually) with medical, dental, vision and 403(b) match
- Time off: 10 vacation days, 2 weeks company shutdown, 7 personal days, 5 sick days, 7 holidays (including Juneteenth) – total 39 paid days
- Benefits include international service travel (Trek) to partner countries
- Flexible program schedule within an 8:30 am‑5 pm workday
Training + Development
Interview process
Visa Sponsorship
Security clearance
Overview
1991 Founded
Year Established
The organization was established in 1991 by a former GE finance professional.
$15M Revenue
Annual Revenues
The organization reports annual revenues around $15 million through donations and partnerships.
2.5M Hours
Service Hours Logged
U.S. students have contributed 2.5 million service hours in their communities.
2,900 Schools
Schools Built
The organization has built nearly 2,900 schools across eight low-income countries.
- buildOn sparks change through service and school construction.
- Students from urban U.S. high schools engage in weekly community service before joining global school-building treks.
- The organization builds a school roughly every two days.
- Funded through donations and partnerships.
- Typical projects include afterschool programs in cities like Boston, Detroit, Chicago, the Bronx, and Oakland.
- Their global build work uses local labor, a covenant model, and materials provided by villages.
- They’ve built nearly 2,900 schools serving over 370,000 students worldwide.
Culture + Values
93–98% Graduation Rate
High School Graduation
U.S. participants achieve high school graduation rates of 93–98%, reflecting a strong academic focus and support system.
70% College Attendance
Higher Education Participation
Approximately 70% of students go on to college, showcasing the program's impact on fostering long-term educational success.
50% Female Student Attendance
Community Commitment
Every village involved guarantees that at least 50% of students attending are female, emphasizing gender equality in education.
- “Break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and low expectations through service and education.”
- Service‐driven youth leadership—students volunteer weekly (75% direct service, 25% beautification) in their communities.
- Global community collaboration—every village signs a covenant, provides labor.
Environment + Sustainability
200+ schools
Solar Power Installations
Solar power has been installed in schools across multiple countries to improve access to clean energy and education.
70% women
Empowered Participants
The SCB-buildOn Malawi project empowers adults, particularly women, through solar-powered classrooms and literacy programs.
- Program supports UN Sustainable Development Goals including Clean Energy (SDG 7) and Climate Action (SDG 13).
- No stated net‑zero target date publicly available.