Job Title: Instructor Associate, Visual & UX/UI Design Pathway
Pay Rate: $20.00 per hour, non-exempt
Temporary, Part-time: 20-25 hours per week
Start and End Date: August 2026 - August 2027
Benefits: Professional Development and Career Coaching, CA Sick Time Off
Organization size: 50+ employees
Reports to: Director of Teaching and Learning
Location(s): In-person at the Digital NEST Modesto Center. This position is not eligible for remote work.
Age requirements: Internship positions are reserved for young adults ages 18 - 24 years of age.
ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW:
Digital NEST is an innovative workforce development center that has welcomed thousands of youth from working-class, farmworker communities to develop the technical and professional skills they need to achieve their dreams. It is an exciting time for the NEST. We are focused on growth and expansion to five communities across The Monterey Bay (MBR) and San Joaquin Valley (SJVR) Regions in Northern California. Digital NEST has Centers in the heart of Watsonville, Salinas, Gilroy, Modesto and Stockton.
JOB OVERVIEW:
The Instructor Associate will be a part of the BizzNEST career accelerator annual cohort, which provides young adults 18-24 with one-year paid job experience to help them develop in their careers. As the in-house digital agency of Digital NEST. BizzNEST offers Associates the opportunity to work on real-world projects with external and internal clients. Associates gain essential technical and professional skills, and also have access to mentorship, career support, and professional development coaching.
bizzNEST is seeking a motivated Instructor Associate to support career pathway programming in Digital UI/UX design. This role is ideal for someone passionate about their field and excited to mentor emerging talent. The Instructor Associate will deliver classes, support hands-on learning, and mentor members in developing both technical and professional skills. They will create a safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environment that prepares members for careers in tech. This role also supports recruitment and retention efforts through outreach, relationship-building, and fostering member engagement. The Instructor Associate will collaborate closely with Pathway instructors, and cross-functional teams to ensure a high-quality program experience.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Instructional Delivery & Classroom Support (50%)
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Facilitate seasonal training sessions that build foundational Visual and UX/UI Design skills and prepare youth for careers using provided curriculum and lesson plans.
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Lead low-barrier, entry-level Visual and UX/UI Design Studios and workshops to introduce youth to the Digital UI/UX design concentration and spark interest in the Digital Arts & Technology (DAT) pathway.
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Review lesson plans and instructional materials to ensure effective delivery.
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Deliver curriculum and activities aligned with DAT program goals and member skill development.
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Set up classroom spaces, tools, and materials to support instruction and lab activities.
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Take attendance, manage classroom behavior, and establish clear expectations for an engaging learning environment.
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Monitor member progress, support project completion, and maintain accurate documentation (attendance, participation, surveys, and case notes).
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Facilitate professional skills and career navigation workshops as part of the curriculum.
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Coach and mentor youth to challenge, encourage, and support them in achieving paid, on-the-job training opportunities as Associates in the bizzNEST program.
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Participate in weekly check-ins with the supervisor and support curriculum development as needed.
Member Support & Engagement (20%)
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Build strong, trusting relationships that encourage consistent participation and growth.
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Support members in navigating coursework, projects, and learning platforms (e.g., Google Classroom, Adobe, Canva etc).
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Provide additional support outside of regular programming hours to reinforce learning and engagement.
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Track and document member progress, including seasonal cohort updates.
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Reinforce professional and behavioral expectations aligned with NEST-Ed principles.
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Foster a positive, inclusive environment that supports youth development and belonging.
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Provide ongoing mentorship, career guidance, and wellbeing support; share relevant observations with program staff.
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Identify barriers to participation and collaborate with staff to support retention and member success.
Recruitment (25%)
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Facilitate engaging presentations, tabling events, and hands-on activities that inspire youth to explore tech pathways.
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Participate in center-wide recruitment, retention and NEST core events (Open houses, etc).
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Deliver fun, low-barrier activities that introduce youth to Digital UI/UX design concepts and spark interest in joining the program.
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Collaborate with the HUB team and supervisor to design and execute youth outreach strategies, including tabling events, classroom presentations, and other opportunities as needed.
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Serve as a welcoming and enthusiastic ambassador for Digital NEST in the community.
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Support outreach efforts to connect with local schools and community partners to expand access to NEST programs as needed.
Other (5%):
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Participate in relevant certification programs, workshops, and training courses.
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Participate in the Mentorship Program.
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Seek and participate in professional development opportunities and share insights with fellow Associates.
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Collaborate with staff members from other departments, as necessary.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Technical Skills / Experience:
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At least one (1) year of professional experience in Visual and UX/UI Design; or a bachelor’s degree or industry certification in Visual and UX/UI Design with a portfolio of work; or equivalent experience gained through Digital NEST programs, internships, or hands-on project work.
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At least 1 year of full-time experience teaching or working with youth using culturally responsive experiential learning pedagogies and instructional methods.
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Experience supporting or facilitating learning for youth using culturally responsive, hands-on, or experiential approaches.
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Strong classroom management, facilitation, and communication skills, preferably in an out-of-school or youth development setting.
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Experience with designing creation, and tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, and video editing software.
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Familiarity with design tools such as Figma.
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Knowledge of SEO best practices and web analytics tools to support digital performance.
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Familiarity with Digital NEST’s youth-centered model and experience working with first-generation, underrepresented, or opportunity youth.
Professional Skills:
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Demonstrates self-awareness by reflecting on strengths, growth areas, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
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Takes initiative to learn, adapt, and contribute creatively to team and project goals.
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Strong organizational and time management skills to effectively manage multiple projects, deadlines, and priorities.
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Excellent collaboration and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively across diverse teams and perspectives.
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Strong verbal, written, and visual communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging for different audiences and platforms.
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Adaptable and solutions-oriented, with a positive approach to change, challenges, and new responsibilities.
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Demonstrates creativity, curiosity, and strategic thinking in developing UI/UX design content, campaigns, and ideas.
PREFERRED-BUT-NOT-REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
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Bilingual/Biliterate English and Spanish
REQUIREMENTS:
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All individuals hired to work at Digital NEST must be able to uphold our core set of values that allow us to nurture the full potential in the youth we serve, in our community, in our colleagues and in ourselves.
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Provide the general support to NEST fundraising efforts expected of all staff by: speaking articulately and accurately about how we accomplish our mission
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Serve as a positive role model for Members, especially in relation to holding others in positive regard, mutual respect social enterprise, career aspirations and becoming tech-savvy; live by and enforce the community code of behavior
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Ability to sit for long periods of time performing desk-based computer tasks.
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The ability to be mobile (including, but not limited to walking, bending, squatting, crouching, twisting, kneeling, reaching, etc.).
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Ability to lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh up to 35 pounds as needed.
We understand that no candidate is perfectly qualified for any job. Experience comes in different forms; many skills are transferable, and passion goes a long way. Even more important than your resume is a clear demonstration of dedication, impact, and the ability to thrive in a fluid and collaborative environment. We want you to learn new things in this role and encourage you to apply if your experience is close to what we’re looking for. We also know that diversity of background and thought makes for better problem-solving and more creative thinking, so we're dedicated to adding new perspectives to the team. We look forward to hearing from you.
Digital NEST, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Digital NEST is committed to an inclusive experience for all applicants and will endeavor to make reasonable accommodations in the interview process, to the known physical or mental limitations of qualified employees with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.
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