Community Development Specialist

Special benefits

• Extensive language, technical, and intercultural training
• Hands-on, valuable international work experience
• Travel to and from country, housing and monthly living allowance, and full coverage of medical and dental needs during service

• Competitive advantage for federal hiring and opportunities to save on graduate degrees and other education programs
• Monthly accrued Volunteer service award (readjustment allowance) totaling $10,800 before taxes, with option to access for ongoing financial obligations

Key dates

Apply by
January 15, 2027

Know by
March 1, 2027

Depart on
August 15, 2027

Duration
2 years, plus 3 months training

About the project

Entrepreneurs and small businesses in El Salvador are seeking to build the necessary skills to successfully launch or grow their enterprises.

The Government of El Salvador has named economic growth and tourism as national priorities, with a commitment to expanding access to financial and educational support to underserved populations. The government's strategic plan is designed to modernize infrastructure and boost the economy by developing policies aimed at economic and social growth. Between 2019 and 2024, international tourism increased by 89%, which indicated new economic opportunities. Crucial to the economic growth of El Salvador, micro and small enterprises (MSEs) represent 96% of all businesses with over half of those MSEs led by women. MSEs face significant challenges, including limited access to financing, high informality rates, and barriers to formalization. Digitalization also represents a crucial area for improvement in this dynamic sector, and continued efforts are needed to advance this aspect.

As a Community Development Specialist, you will work with youth 18-29 to develop the skills to strengthen personal finance, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills. You will equip business owners and entrepreneurs-in-the-making to create savings groups, market goods, and develop new products. Your collective efforts will improve individual livelihoods and help the country meet its growing tourism needs.

Learn more about what Volunteers do in country by visiting our El Salvador project page .

Requirements

Behavioral competencies

These competencies are essential for all service assignments and are assessed in the application and interview process:

1. Motivation for and commitment to service
2. Adaptability and open-mindedness
3. Problem solving and resourcefulness
4. Behavioral maturity and professionalism

Education/experience

Qualified candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:

Associate degree in any field and at least two years of full-time, post-high school work experience (from any combination of roles).
OR
Bachelor's degree in any field.
OR
High school diploma or GED and four years of full-time, post-high school work (from any combination of roles).
Spanish language

Qualified candidates will meet one of the following criteria:

1. High school: Completed 4 years of Spanish coursework within the past 8 years
2. College: Completed Spanish Elementary II (e.g., 102, 1002) in the semester system (Elementary III in quarter system) within the past 6 years
3. College Level Examination Program (CLEP): Score 50-62 on the Spanish exam in the past 6 years
4. American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL): Score of Novice-High or Intermediate-Low on official Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in Spanish within the past 6 years
5. Native Spanish speaker