DCFS Workforce Navigator

COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT•Los Angeles, CA

8h•Onsite

About The Position

The DCFS Workforce Navigator is a frontline career specialist who plays a key role in guiding foster youth ages 18 to 21 as they transition from care to employment, education, and lasting stability. This is a City of Los Angeles initiative, in partnership with the LA County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), co-located at the Youth Engagement Section (YES) and supported by the City’s network of workforce and education providers. The Workforce Navigator will serve as a consistent, care and healing-centered guide who works in partnership with youth to identify their goals, explore career pathways, and access wraparound services. Navigators will support a caseload of youth who self-identify as ready to pursue employment, education, or training opportunities. Services will include one-on-one coaching, group workshops, hands-on assistance with job readiness, and connections to paid employment programs, training, or apprenticeships. The role requires empathy, flexibility, cultural humility, and a strong understanding of both trauma-informed youth engagement and Los Angeles’ workforce development system. The Navigator will also play a key role in sharing youth-centered feedback and tracking employment outcomes to improve systems, inform policy, and ensure the City and County workforce systems evolve to meet the needs of transition-age foster youth.

Requirements

2–3 years of experience working with transition-age youth, preferably foster youth or those impacted by public systems.
Demonstrated ability to provide direct services using trauma-informed, relational approaches.
Familiarity with workforce development systems, college access, and employment programs in Los Angeles County, including knowledge of apprenticeship pathways and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Experience presenting or leading workshops with diverse youth audiences.
Proficiency with digital tools, including Google Workspace (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Forms, and Calendar).
Bachelor’s degree in social work, Youth Development, Public Administration, or related field preferred but equivalent lived/professional experience strongly valued.
Must have a valid driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual (Spanish, Armenian, or other common LA County languages) preferred but not required.
Culturally responsive and trauma-informed in both mindset and practice.
Youth-oriented and healing-centered—able to hold space for both vulnerability and ambition.
Confident navigating public systems (child welfare, workforce, education, housing) and simplifying access for youth.
Skilled at building rapport quickly and maintaining professional, nonjudgmental relationships.
Comfortable working in field-based and mobile environments (some travel to partner sites or youth locations required).
Embraces uncertainty with a can-do attitude; demonstrates the confidence to take initiative and the humility to ask for help when challenges arise.
Collaborates effectively to problem-solve and move work forward, even when conditions are unclear.
Open to giving and receiving feedback and continuously improving service delivery.

Responsibilities

Establish strong, trusting, and youth-centered relationships through regular check-ins and follow-ups (virtual and in-person).
Conduct confidential, one-on-one interviews and assessments to determine each youth’s career readiness, goals, and support needs.
Co-design individualized “Pathway Plans” that outline immediate next steps and long-term aspirations.
Encourage youth to explore job, education, or training opportunities aligning their interests and talents.
Provide warm handoffs to City YouthSource Centers, AJCCs, training providers, and support services (e.g., transportation, childcare, legal docs). Continue to do ongoing follow-ups for two years.
Use creative, youth-friendly communication tools (text, visuals, direct messages) to maintain engagement and accountability.
Demonstrate emotional regulation and self-awareness, especially in high-stress or emotionally charged situations, to provide stable and supportive guidance to youth navigating complex challenges.
Remain a consistent support person through moments of uncertainty, emotional hardship, or transition even when progress is non-linear.
Assist youth in job search, application, and interview preparation, including resume creation, cover letters, and onboarding paperwork.
Facilitate group and one-on-one workshops on labor rights, budgeting, workplace expectations, digital literacy, and job retention.
Support youth in accessing certifications, internships, apprenticeships, and subsidized employment programs (e.g., LARISE, Hire LA, workforce programs).
Help youth navigate forms and procedures related to onboarding (I-9s, W-4s, etc.) and understand their workplace rights.
Track youth outcomes, including employment status, salary growth, credential attainment, and job retention.
Conduct regular check-ins and maintain detailed notes on youth progress.
Share youth feedback and outcomes with DCFS Youth Engagement Section (YES) and the City’s AJCC to inform programming.
Report systemic barriers, success stories, and opportunities for improvement that emerge from youth experiences.
Help define and monitor youth-centered success metrics, including career satisfaction, well-being, and retention.
Incorporate youth voice into ongoing program design and service improvements, ensuring services stay relevant and responsive.