Career Navigator

Company: San Diego Youth Services
Location: San Diego
Posted on: April 2, 2026

Job Description:

Full-time Description San Diego Youth Services JOB ANNOUNCEMENT Career Navigator San Diego Youth Services seeks a Career Navigator in the TAY Works! program to be based in San Diego. This is a full-time & non-exempt position reporting to the Program Manager. San Diego Youth Services: Who we are San Diego Youth Services has helped improve the lives of more than 840,000 homeless, runaway and vulnerable youth since its beginning in 1970. We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing to more than 28,000 youth every year at 100 community and school locations. Through prevention, early intervention and treatment, we also help youth before they need higher levels of care or become homeless. We aim to: Meet the basic needs of youth. Hunger, poverty and youth homelessness are on the rise for many youth and their families today. We help meet these basic needs for youth. What could be more vital than food and shelter? We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing. Create positive connection. We help youth focus on positive life changes and healthy relationships as part of providing needed resources and services. San Diego Youth Services has long provided foster homes and adoption support services for families considering adopting a youth in the foster care system. Help youth develop life skills. In addition to a range of safe and stable housing options, we offer support to help youth develop the independent living skills necessary to become self-sufficient and keep off the streets. Promote overall health and well-being. Early intervention and care for the whole child are critical. We provide a broad continuum of services to help youth overcome trauma and challenges that put them at risk, including case management, counseling, mental health treatment and educational support and resources. SDYS has a staff of approximately 250 employees and 80 volunteers working across San Diego County and an annual budget of approximately $24 million. You can learn more about us at www.sdyouthservices.org CONTEXT OF THE POSITION Accountable to TAY WORKS! Program Manager. TAY WORKS! is a strengths-based approach which identifies and develops individual youth’s assets while simultaneously building protective factors and resiliency. The TAY Works! program will serve eligible youth 16-24 years old primarily within Central and East San Diego who are homeless, justice engaged, have a history of justice engagement, or at risk of the juvenile justice system. Partnering with the Council for Supplier Diversity leadership ambassador who will deliver entrepreneurship workshops. Examples of PYD activities that are part of TAY WORKS! are: Youth Focused Housing First – all youth in TAY WORKS! will be stably housed; Supportive services to work with youth to develop a plan and set personal goals; Connection to education, employment, or entrepreneurial opportunities; Healthy recreational and social activities based on youth’s interests. Education to support development of life skills; Mentoring, coaching to support development of personal connections. Recruiting local businesses and connecting participants to paid work experience opportunities. Support in overseeing and training youth at the Ground Up Coffee shop. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The development, implementation, and evaluation of an integrated treatment approach for youth experiencing homelessness and quality trauma informed youth programs that adhere to and uphold the rigorous standards of San Diego Youth Services as mandated by its mission, purpose, guiding principles and standards of quality. Complete assessment, goal setting and individualized service strategy (ISS) development phase of the program. The ISS will identify the timeframe in which participants are expected to reach their goals and outcomes, at least one of which must be linked to a WIOA performance outcome. Facilitate access to BEST Basic and Essential Skills Training sessions for participants. Work with participants individually to help them research education and training options. Refer youth to courses at career centers. Support Program Manager in assessing youth on their; academic levels, basic skills levels, occupational skills, prior work experience, employability, interests and aptitudes, areas of strength and development. Work with participants to develop their career vision and identify short and long-term education and/or employment goals that represent key milestones that the participant is committed to achieving and which represent meaningful and measurable progress goals. Provide referrals to programs and resources that are aligned with their specific needs and circumstances, and which would prepare the youth for future program participation. Monitor participant progress and maintain accurate documentation including data entry into approved database. Manage recruitment, placement and engagement of participants throughout their duration in the project and provide follow-up support for 12 months after exit. The CN will have weekly contact with participants on their caseload. Prepare and submit required reports. Transport participants when necessary. Work independently and as a team member to create innovative ways to meet goals and provide a high level of service that is engaging and meets the needs of the participants. Participate in and attend all staff meetings, SDYS staff development events and appropriate agency-wide committees, and San Diego Workforce Partnership trainings and collaboratives. SDYS EXPECTATIONS: Adhere to and uphold the rigorous standards of SDYS as mandated by its mission, purpose, guiding principles and standards of quality. Maintain confidentiality and privacy standards of service partner protected health information and other applicable information and material in accordance to agency and center policies, and applicable regulations and laws including HIPAA. Welcome and support SDYS volunteers and assist them in accomplishing their services whenever applicable. Effectively communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Receive and give supportive feedback to foster equity and inclusion in working relationships. Recognize, nurture, and learn from strengths in co-workers. Maintain warm, welcoming and safe work environments. Possess flexibility to accomplish job responsibilities in several work environments, whether it be from home, on the road, or in an office. REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree in social work or related field with two years equivalent experience. Minimum 3 years of experience working within the workforce development sector, preferably with at-risk youth and within a WIOA funded project. Must be willing to work nights and weekends. Must be willing to develop or possess working knowledge of trauma-informed care and dual diagnosis treatment; experience working in trauma-informed and dual diagnosis programs preferred. Able to work in a very diverse setting with people of all backgrounds, culture and orientation. Demonstrated leadership and problem-solving abilities, training skills, creativity, and public speaking. Ability to provide quality trauma-informed services in a fast-paced environment, specializing in crisis intervention and de-escalation, motivational interviewing, and Seeking Safety. Ability to (re) prioritize and multi-task is a must. Able to be cleared to drive and have valid driver’s license with own transportation (mileage reimbursed). Maintain certification in CPR and First Aid. Employment is subject to required clearances which include tuberculosis test, fingerprinting, background checks, and drug testing. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to lift 20lb and operate a vehicle. STRATEGIC IMPACT: Our goal is to divert youth from initial or repeat engagement with the juvenile justice system and support young adults who identify as homeless by connecting them to supportive individuals in the community through peer mentoring, case management and on-the-job training at local businesses. TAY Works! Strives to prepare our participants for the workforce by understanding their needs and collaborating to support them in reaching their goals. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: This position does not have supervisory responsibilities. Hourly Pay Range: $21-$23 To apply, please send resume and cover letter through job posting on SDYS website. SDYS offers a comprehensive benefits package to full time employees that includes generous PTO, personal holidays, health, vision, dental, life insurance, parental leave and a 403(b)-retirement plan with matching contribution. SDYS is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) employer. All are welcome at San Diego Youth Services. As an organization working to meet the basic needs of youth, create positive connections, help youth develop life skills, and promote overall health and well-being, SDYS believes its practices and actions must reflect the highest level of commitment to access, equity, and social justice. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent that our members invest in their work represents not only part of the SDYS’ culture, but the SDYS’ reputation and achievements as well. SDYS remains open to feedback from all communities it touches and knows that input from those with direct experience of issues will make the SDYS more effective in achieving its goals. SDYS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. In compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act as amended, all new employees must verify their eligibility to work in the United States. SDYS is proud to be a kindness certified company. Salary Description $21-23 an hour

Keywords: San Diego Youth Services, San Diego , Career Navigator, Social Services , San Diego, California