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Serve where you’re needed mostOrganizational Development Specialist
Community Economic Development
Education
Job highlights
- Gain hands-on experience supporting a nonprofit while deepening your understanding of Mexico’s rich culture.
- Develop marketable skills in impact evaluation, strategic planning, and donor mapping with a social justice lens.
- Practice your Spanish language skills as you engage with community leaders driving social change.
Mexico • North America
In partnership with: The Mountaintop (La Cima, I.A.P).
Get answers live — every weekday at .
Apply by
October 15, 2026Know by
December 1, 2026Depart on
May 10, 2027Duration
12 monthsAbout the project
La Cima IAP, a nonprofit in Mexico, is seeking professionals experienced in strengthening an organization’s internal structure for sustainable growth.
For the past six years, La Cima has supported young women from rural communities by providing dignified housing, nutritious meals, quality education, and professional development. In addition to scholarships, La Cima offers a program that promotes personal growth through educational, social, cultural, and recreational experiences. This holistic approach aims to break the cycle of generational poverty and transform beneficiaries into agents of change. La Cima is at a pivotal stage where strengthening internal capacity is essential for long-term sustainability and scalable impact. The nonprofit still lacks several critical components: standardized processes for student selection and donor management; a 5-year strategic plan to guide growth and diversify revenue; and a method for evaluating impact to refine interventions based on measurable outcomes. Although the team has foundational skills in evaluation and planning, they would greatly benefit from collaborating with a highly experienced practitioner.
As Organizational Development Specialist, you will collaborate with La Cima’s staff to strengthen operations, enhance program effectiveness, and expand its reach—ultimately transforming the lives of young women and their communities across Mexico.
Learn more about what Volunteers do in country by visiting our Mexico project page.
Required skills
Qualified candidates will have the following criteria:
Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, including social science, education, business, management and organizational development.
AND
Three or more years of technical expertise in organizational capacity development and training, strategic planning, or results-based project management and reporting.
Language: Spanish
A. Completed 4 years of high school Spanish coursework in the past 8 years
B. Completed college-level Elementary II Spanish semester (Elementary III in quarter system) within the past 6 years
C. Score between 50-62 on the Spanish College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exam in the past 6 years
D. Score Novice-High or Intermediate-Low on official American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in Spanish within the past 6 years
Required behavioral competencies
These competencies are essential for all service assignments and are assessed in the application and interview process:
Motivation for and commitment to service
Adaptability and open-mindedness
Problem solving and resourcefulness
Behavioral maturity and professionalism
Photos from Mexico
How you and the community will make an impact together:
Conduct a comprehensive review and classification of beneficiary records from 2019–2026.
Facilitate in-depth interviews with students, alumnae, and families to document program impact.
Develop and implement a formal alumnae follow-up protocol to measure long-term outcomes.
Analyze program results through a Human Rights and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) lens.
Lead strategic planning sessions with the board and executive team to formalize the 2027–2032 strategic plan and key performance indicators (KPIs).
Map and identify international donors aligned with La Cima’s mission to support revenue diversification.
Document and standardize critical internal processes, including student selection and donor management.
Deliver weekly professional English and employability workshops for beneficiaries, including business language and mock interviews.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as English conversation clubs and team building or leadership workshops.
The Volunteer will live in a mid-sized city in central Mexico with access to all types of services, including electricity, internet, healthcare, supermarkets, and recreational spaces. Housing typically consists of a small independent apartment or a loft with a private entrance on a family’s property. Commutes generally range from 30–60 minutes with public transportation available, including city buses, intercity buses, and taxis.
Learn more about the living conditions, including detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics on our Mexico country page. You can also delve into stories about local communities by reading our blog or Volunteer stories.
Meet a Volunteer in Mexico
Douglas C.
English Language Facilitator
"I appreciate that for my current engagement the discussions have become increasingly valuable as we’ve become better acquainted and as I’ve learned to be more of an active listener."
See full Volunteer profile
After a 3-week orientation on topics such as health and safety, you will move to an urban or semi-urban community where you will collaborate with the staff at La Cima. You will work with the partner and your community to assess the local needs and develop a work plan in line with their established goals.
Peace Corps/Mexico will equip you with Spanish language resources and you may work with a local tutor who can help you build basic language skills to connect with the community.
No couples are accepted for this position.
Application process
From application to departure takes around nine months. Learn about the application process for Volunteer opportunities.
Medical/legal clearance
You will need to be cleared medically and legally in order to serve in Mexico. Review information on medical clearance and legal clearance to learn about the process.
