Job Title: Data Associate

Pay Rate: $17.00 per hour, non-exempt

Temporary, Part-time: 15-20 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: Learning & Research Department

Location(s): This is an in-person role based in one of our Salinas, Watsonville, or Gilroy centers. This position is not eligible for remote work.  not eligible for remote work.

Age requirements: Associate 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 Data 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 Data Associate to support the Data Analytics Specialist in maintaining and improving our data systems, analyzing program data, and producing reports that inform organizational decision-making. This is a hands-on learning opportunity for someone who is curious about data, eager to contribute to mission-driven work, and interested in how nonprofits use information to create change for young people.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Data Entry & Management (30%)

• Enter, clean, and organize program data in Airtable, ensuring accuracy and consistency across bases and tables
• Assist in building and updating Airtable forms for program staff and participants to submit data
• Conduct routine data audits to identify and correct errors or gaps

Reporting & Analysis (20%)

• Support the development of Airtable views, reports, and dashboards to track program metrics and outcomes
• Help compile data for quarterly and annual impact reports, grant reports, and funder presentations
• Assist in basic data analysis to identify trends in youth participation, program completion, and outcomes

Systems Support (20%)

• Help document data collection workflows and data glossary updates
• Support training of program staff on data entry best practices in Airtable
• Assist with migrating or organizing historical data as needed

Special Projects (30%)

The following will depend on the associate’s interests, skills, experience, and where they would like to go next. The following are examples of projects:

• Conduct background research on nonprofit data best practices and youth development metrics
• Find and summarize data from external sources, such as state and national employment databases
• Support ad hoc data requests from program and development staff
• Participate in team meetings and contribute ideas for improving data quality and usability
• Analyze the data in new and innovative ways to gain more insights
• Create automations to save staff time on repetitive tasks or make data more accessible when they need it

QUALIFICATIONS:

Technical Skills / Experience: 

• Some experience working or volunteering in the nonprofit sector in any capacity
• Basic proficiency with spreadsheet tools (Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets)
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy, security and confidentiality
• Genuine interest in youth development, social impact, or the nonprofit sector
• Reliable, self-directed, and able to manage multiple tasks with guidance

Professional Skills: 

• Strong problem solving skills, curiosity and persistence
• Demonstrates self-awareness skills to identify and evaluate strengths, biases, and growth areas, and to generate innovative ideas or strategies based on a deep understanding of oneself.
• Takes the initiative to proactively learn, grow, creatively contribute, and take responsibility for one’s contribution to the team.
• Demonstrates strong organizational and time management skills that enhance productivity, efficiency, and goal attainment.
• Excellent collaboration and teamwork skills. Uses empathy and communication to collaborate effectively with individuals of diverse personalities, identities, and experiences to achieve common goals.
• Excellent oral, written, and non-verbal communication skills. Employs active listening, tailors communication to different audiences, and can provide and receive constructive feedback.
• Forward thinking and adaptable to change, challenges, and new responsibilities. Sees change as opportunities. 
• Consistently demonstrates creativity, curiosity, and innovative strategies to developing products and communicating ideas to clients.

PREFERRED-BUT-NOT-REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Currently enrolled in or recently completed a degree program in mathematics, data science, public policy, nonprofit management, social work, statistics, business, or a related field
• Prior experience with Airtable (or willingness to learn quickly — training will be provided)
• Familiarity with data visualization concepts or tools (e.g., charts, dashboards)
• Experience with data entry or database management in any context
• Basic understanding of program evaluation or outcomes measurement

REQUIREMENTS:

• 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. 
• Provide the general support to NEST fundraising efforts expected of all staff by: speaking articulately and accurately about how we accomplish our mission
• 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
• Ability to sit for long periods of time performing desk-based computer tasks.

*The job offer will be contingent upon the successful completion and passing of a background check.

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.  

Please refer to our career page for more information on how to apply for reasonable accommodations