Carrer Navigator

Description

San Diego Youth Services seeks a Career Navigator in the TAY Works! program to be based in San Diego. This is a full-time, temporary, non-exempt position reporting to the Program Manager, with an end date of June 31, 2027.

San Diego Youth Services: Who we are

San Diego Youth Services has helped improve the lives of more than 834,000 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 16,000 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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. Complete initial assessment and program enrollment to provide career navigation that includes meeting goals, program participation, and job placement. The TAY Works! program will serve eligible youth 16-24 years old primarily within San Diego. 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. Support in overseeing and training youth at the Ground Up Coffee shop. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Complete intake appointment for program enrollment and initial assessment to develop service plan goals.
• Conduct and verify eligibility using Apricot and maintain spreadsheet updates.
• Conduct internal monitoring and ensure compliance with SDYS and contract requirements.
• Assess youth on their; academic levels, basic skills levels, occupational skills, prior work experience, employability, interests and aptitudes, areas of strength and development.
• Provide referrals to programs and resources that are aligned with their specific needs and circumstances.
• Monitor participant progress and maintain accurate documentation including data entry into Apricot and all required spreadsheets.
• Transport participants when necessary to support with reaching employment goal.
• 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.
• Complete assessment, goal setting and individualized service plan to support and empower youth to reach goal of employment through programing.
• Responsible for a case load of 50.
• Maintain contact with youth during follow up.
• Support with coffee shop coverage and other duties.
• Facilitate group and individual workshop sessions for participants.
• Workshop check ins to discuss understanding and use tools to meet goals.
• Schedule check ins and sessions to maintain engagement throughout the program phases.
• Create a workshop outreach and encouragement plan to support attendance.
• Assess youth needs and request supportive services for items that will support their employment goal.
• Meet with participants individually or in small groups for guidance and planning relating to core program activities, and to coordinate or track access to supportive services. Discuss and plan for their work-experience, job shadowing, internship, pre-apprenticeship, on-the job training, skills training activity.
• 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 participants with tools to gain necessary pre-employment skills and job retention.
• Manage recruitment, placement and engagement of participants throughout their duration in the program The CN will have weekly contact with participants on their caseload.
• Track all youth spending on Apricot tracking dashboard.
• Prepare and submit required reports in a timely manner.
• Participate in and attend all staff meetings, SDYS staff development events and appropriate agency-wide committees, and San Diego Workforce Partnership trainings and assigned collaboratives.
• Communicate effectively through email, scheduled check ins and updates with other providers and SDYS program staff.
• Work closely with the team lead to fill job and internship openings.
• Support team lead with helping the youth gather all right to work documents.
• Collect signed timesheets and ensure Paylocity timesheet submissions must are completed on time by OJT youth.
• Track youth OJT hours and update all OJT spreadsheets.
• Conduct worksite visits to lend support and ensure placements are successful.
• Support employers with filling learning gaps to assist with youth completing OJT successfully.
• Outreach and event tabling are required for recruitment.
• Eligible for remote work only on scheduled days. This includes meeting with youth and completing field work. Scheduled office days must be completed in office and staff must return to office after any approved scheduled meeting with youth etc.
• Available to work later shifts to complete intakes and workshops.
• Available to work weekends to support with outreach, participate in events, assist with coffee shop, and complete trainings.
• Maintain a trauma informed approach while working with youth and families of different populations and needs.
• Plan weekly contacts and schedule in person check ins to provide career navigating support and discuss progress within programing.
• Collaborate with participants on creating short term and long term goals to support with finding employment.
• Have a clear understanding of the youths career goals, challenges, and strengths.
• Develop meaningful goals based on challenges participants present during programing and track progress.
• All other duties as assigned by Program Manager.

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 Wage Range: $20 - $22

FULL-TIME STAFF BENEFITS: 

• PTO: 18 days PTO + 2 floating holidays + 12.5 paid holidays (32.5 paid days off)
• 403b with 2% employer match 
• Medical, dental, vision, pet insurance
• Mileage reimbursement 
• $2,000 annual bonus for staff who are fully bilingual in Spanish
• $1,500 annual bonus for staff with proficiency in Spanish

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.

To apply, please send resume and cover letter through job posting on SDYS website.