Manager of Recruitment & Admissions

Who We Are

Spark the Journey (Spark) is a nonprofit organization that provides mentorship and a community of support for young adults to chart their own paths to achieving college and career success. Formerly known as Capital Partners for Education (CPE), Spark has been working with talented young adults in the Washington, DC metro region for over 30 years and currently serves over 400 mentees annually. Spark the Journey’s unique mentorship approach fosters long-lasting relationships between mentors and mentees as young adults choose to pursue the education, career path, or personal goals they want to achieve—with a community of support behind them.

About the Role

The Manager of Recruitment and Admissions (MRA) plays a key leadership role in driving Spark's volunteer mentor recruitment efforts. This position serves as a pivotal connector between the strategic planning and daily execution within the Recruitment & Admissions team. The MRA is responsible for setting recruitment goals, managing timelines, and continuously refining approaches to ensure both immediate mentor recruitment needs and long-term volunteer engagement are met.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Recruitment and Admissions, the MRA collaborates closely to build and sustain partnerships that expand Spark’s mentor pipeline across the DMV region. The MRA supervises the Recruitment Coordinator, fostering a high-performing, cross-collaborative team. This role is ideal for someone who excels at volunteer engagement, cross-functional collaboration, and translating big-picture strategy into streamlined, people-centered recruitment operations.

Responsibilities

Recruitment and Engagement

• Design and lead recruitment, onboarding, and mentor engagement events, collaborating closely with the Recruitment Coordinator on logistics and execution
• Build and maintain strong relationships with school and non-profit partners, supporting the Associate Director to facilitate robust participant recruitment pipelines
• Maintain an active pipeline of prospective mentors through diverse sourcing channels, working in coordination with the Recruitment Coordinator
• Oversee and manage the process of matching mentors and mentees including logistics and data coordination with the Associate Director, focusing in on process improvement and implementation
• Create, update, and distribute all materials related to recruitment, matching, and engagement events, ensuring brand and message consistency in partnership with the Recruitment Coordinator and the Development team
• Coordinate Recruitment communications and events with Programs team leads to ensure unified integration within the broader program calendar and initiatives
• Lead and coordinate Mentor Champion Coalition activities, including empowering members to execute key projects
• Collaborate with Associate Director to manage annual mentor and participant recruitment budgets, ensuring efficient allocation of resources

Program Refinement (10%)

• Work closely with the Data and Systems team to ensure all recruitment systems and tools effectively support program needs.
• Conduct annual reviews of recruitment processes and procedures, recommending updates and implementing changes to achieve recruitment goals and operational excellence

Team Management (30%)

• Directly supervise, coach, and provide professional development opportunities for the Recruitment Coordinator, offering regular feedback and fostering team growth
• Monitor and support progress toward team and program goals, manage projects, and conduct timely performance reviews for reports.
• Apply strong project management skills to guide individuals and the wider team toward recruitment outcomes, overseeing and directing project work to drive results

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Minimum three (3) years of experience in recruitment admissions, or related non-profit management, including supervisory experience
• Proven track record in designing and leading recruitment strategy, managing budgets, and stewarding key partnerships, distinct from logistical or supporting roles
• Prior management or supervisory experience is a requirement
• Event-planning experience (including logistics and stakeholder communication) is a plus
• Experience working with students of low-income or first-generation-to-college backgrounds, or a demonstrated passion for serving Spark’s target population and improving their life trajectories

Skills & Attributes

• Ability to facilitate large groups focused on building a positive environment, engaging participants, and delivering key content.
• Effective communicator and able to build relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Proficient in using data to create reports, assess progress towards goals, and support decision-making
• Innovative, adaptable, and resourceful, with a self-starter mindset and leadership qualities, especially in dynamic or evolving environments
• Demonstrates initiative, leadership, and a collaborative, self-starting approach
• Empowers and supports others to in project ownership and goal achievement
• Ability to handle sensitive information with empathy, respect, and confidentiality
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities
• Committed to equity, Spark’s mission, and the betterment of the communities we serve
• Flexible schedule, including availability for some evening and weekend events

Technical Tools

• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Proficiency with Salesforce or another data management system is a plus

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

This position is partially a sedentary role but requires the ability to travel to and move around at events in the DMV areas. The person in this position will need to speak clearly and loudly in front of an audience; respond to emails, chat messages, and audio/visual communications; and may need to occasionally move about inside the office to liaise with internal team members and external volunteers, access files, and use office machinery such as a copier/printer.

We are not able to sponsor employment visas for this position. Applicants for this position should be legally able to work full time in the United States for 12 months.

Compensation & Benefits

The starting salary range for this position is $56,000-$68,000 annually, depending on skills and experience brought to the role. To counter pay inequality and uphold internal parity, Spark uses a non-negotiable salary system. Our goal is to offer a competitive salary that also meets our equity guidelines. Rather than negotiating, we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes:

• 100% of medical and dental premiums for employees paid by Spark.
• 100% of employees’ short and long-term disability and life insurance plans paid by Spark.
• A minimum of six weeks family leave at 100% pay, up to twelve weeks, at 100% pay.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching up to 3%
• 15 days of paid vacation in each of the first two years; 20 days in subsequent years
• Office closed on national and state holidays and last week of the year.
• Flexible hybrid/remote work policies