Carrer Navigator

SAN DIEGO YOUTH SERVICES • San Diego, CA

2d • $20 - $22 • Hybrid

About The Position

San Diego Youth Services is hiring a Career Navigator for its TAY Works! program in San Diego. This full-time, temporary, non-exempt position reports to the Program Manager and has an end date of June 31, 2027. The program serves eligible youth ages 16–24, primarily in San Diego, and supports them in setting goals, participating in the program, and obtaining employment. Services include individualized career navigation, connections to education, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities, supportive services, and healthy recreational and social activities. The role also supports supervision and training of youth at the Ground Up Coffee shop.

The Career Navigator manages a caseload of 50 participants and supports them through intake, assessment, service planning, workshops, job placement, work-based learning, and follow-up. The position includes maintaining program records and reporting, coordinating with employers and providers, tracking on-the-job training activity, and conducting outreach. Work takes place across office, remote, and field settings on scheduled days. The role requires availability for later shifts and weekends.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field and two years of equivalent experience.
• At least three years of experience in workforce development, preferably with at-risk youth and in a WIOA-funded project.
• Willingness to work nights and weekends.
• Ability to work in a diverse setting with people of all backgrounds, cultures, and orientations.
• Demonstrated leadership, problem-solving, training, creativity, and public-speaking skills.
• Ability to provide trauma-informed services in a fast-paced environment, including crisis intervention, de-escalation, motivational interviewing, and Seeking Safety; ability to reprioritize and multitask.
• Ability to be cleared to drive, a valid driver’s license, and personal transportation; mileage is reimbursed.
• Must maintain CPR and First Aid certification.
• Must pass required clearances, including tuberculosis testing, fingerprinting, background checks, and drug testing.
• Must be able to lift 20 pounds and operate a vehicle.

Nice To Haves

• Working knowledge of trauma-informed care and dual diagnosis treatment; experience working in trauma-informed and dual diagnosis programs is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intake appointments, program enrollment, initial assessments, and eligibility verification; develop individualized service plans and goals.
• Assess participants’ academic and basic skills, occupational skills, work history, employability, interests, aptitudes, strengths, and development needs.
• Provide referrals and coordinate access to resources and supportive services aligned with participants’ needs and employment goals.
• Manage a caseload of 50 participants and maintain weekly contact, follow-up, scheduled check-ins, and participant engagement throughout program phases.
• Facilitate individual and group workshops, conduct workshop check-ins, and create outreach and encouragement plans to support attendance.
• Help participants develop career visions and short- and long-term education and employment goals, and provide tools for pre-employment skills and job retention.
• Discuss and coordinate work experience, job shadowing, internships, pre-apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and skills training.
• Manage participant recruitment, placement, and engagement; work with the team lead to fill job and internship openings and help youth gather right-to-work documents.
• Collect signed timesheets, ensure OJT youth submit Paylocity timesheets on time, track OJT hours, and update OJT spreadsheets.
• Conduct worksite visits, support employers in addressing learning gaps, and help placements succeed.
• Support coverage and other duties at the Ground Up Coffee shop, and transport participants when necessary to help them reach employment goals.
• Maintain accurate participant documentation and data in Apricot and required spreadsheets, track youth spending, conduct internal monitoring, and prepare required reports.
• Communicate and coordinate with other providers, SDYS program staff, employers, and the team lead through email, check-ins, and updates.
• Participate in staff meetings, staff development events, agency committees, Workforce Partnership trainings, and assigned collaboratives.
• Conduct outreach and event tabling for recruitment.
• Use a trauma-informed approach with youth and families from diverse populations, and perform other duties assigned by the Program Manager.

Benefits

• 18 days of PTO, two floating holidays, and 12.5 paid holidays (32.5 paid days off).
• 403(b) retirement plan with a 2% employer match.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Pet insurance.
• Mileage reimbursement.
• $2,000 annual bonus for staff who are fully bilingual in Spanish.
• $1,500 annual bonus for staff with Spanish proficiency.
• Life insurance and parental leave.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) employer.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level