Pathways Navigator - walk alongside rangatahi and their futures

Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers; Whangarei; On-site; NZD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

I Have a Dream is seeking a Pathways Navigator in Whangārei to walk alongside rangatahi and their futures. You will build trusted relationships with Dreamers, support through senior years and connect with kura, mentors and providers to turn aspirations into concrete steps.

Responsibilities include planning After School Programme sessions, supporting tertiary/training pathways, and maintaining ongoing encouragement after kura. Strong collaboration and cultural respect are essential.

Qualifications

• Relevant experience in youth development work, education or career development is highly desirable.
• A relevant qualification is welcomed, although equivalent practical experience will be considered.
• Comfortable working independently in a high-trust environment with team accountability.

Responsibilities

• Build genuine, consistent relationships with Dreamers and understand their strengths and goals.
• Support Dreamers with academic engagement, wellbeing, goal setting and personal development.
• Maintain classroom presence and collaborate with kura staff.
• Plan and deliver After School Programme (ASP) sessions.
• Help Year 12–16 Dreamers explore tertiary study, training or employment pathways.
• Assist with applications, enrolments, scholarships and work experience opportunities.
• Maintain connections with Dreamers after kura and provide ongoing encouragement.
• Work with whānau, mentors, kura, providers, employers and community organisations.
• Keep records and follow through on agreed actions and commitments.
• Advocate for Dreamers while upholding their voice, mana and ownership.

Job description

Pathways Navigator - walk alongside rangatahi and their futures

Pathways Navigator - walk alongside rangatahi and their futures

In partnership with Tikipunga High School | Full-time | Whangārei

I Have a Dream is looking for a Pathways Navigator to join our team and work alongside Dreamers, whānau and Tikipunga High School.

This is a relationship-based role for someone who genuinely believes in young people and understands that meaningful change comes from being present, consistent and willing to walk alongside a young person over time.

As a Pathways Navigator, you will support a cohort of Dreamers through their senior years at kura and into their next chapter, whether that is tertiary study, training, employment or another meaningful pathway.

You will be the person who helps connect the dots between Dreamers, whānau, kura, mentors, tertiary providers, employers and community partners, making sure aspirations don't just stay as ideas, but become achievable next steps.

About I Have a Dream

Our vision: Tamariki and rangatahi reach their full potential, find pathways to successful futures and realise their dreams.

Our mission: To empower tamariki and rangatahi to overcome barriers and connect with opportunities through long term support in partnership with whānau, kura and community.

Our purpose: To inspire tamariki and rangatahi to have the courage, confidence and capability to drive positive growth in themselves, their whānau and their communities

About the role

The Pathways Navigator is an enhanced Navigator role with a particular focus on future pathways and post-school transition.

You will build strong, trusted relationships with Dreamers while also holding responsibility for the practical mahi that helps them move forward.

Your mahi will include:

Building genuine, consistent relationships with Dreamers and understanding their strengths, aspirations and support needs.

Supporting Dreamers with academic engagement, wellbeing, goal setting and personal development.

Maintaining purposeful classroom presence and working positively alongside kaiako and kura staff.

Planning and delivering engaging and consistent After School Programme (ASP) sessions.

Supporting Year 12–16 Dreamers to explore and progress towards tertiary study, training, employment and other meaningful pathways.

Supporting applications, enrolments, scholarships, work experience and other pathway opportunities.

Maintaining connections with Dreamers after they leave kura and providing ongoing encouragement, accountability and problem-solving support.

Working alongside whānau, mentors, kura, tertiary providers, employers and community organisations.

Keeping accurate records and following through on agreed actions and commitments.

Advocating for Dreamers while keeping their voice, mana and ownership at the centre.

What we're looking for

We are looking for someone who can combine strong relationships with strong follow-through.

You will be someone who:

Builds trusting and respectful relationships with rangatahi.

Is warm, approachable and genuinely enjoys working with young people.

Communicates clearly and responds to people in a timely way.

Is reliable, punctual, organised and accountable.

Can manage their own workload and follow through without needing constant prompting.

Is confident working alongside teachers and kura staff.

Can plan and deliver quality programmes for ākonga.

Understands the strengths, needs and circumstances of young people.

Can have meaningful conversations about education, careers, aspirations and the future.

Is comfortable connecting with tertiary providers, employers and other organisations.

Can advocate for a young person while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.

Works in ways that honour identity, culture, whakapapa and mana.

Is reflective, open to feedback and committed to ongoing learning.

Relevant experience in youth development work, education or career development is highly desirable. A relevant qualification is welcomed, although equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

You will need to be comfortable working independently in a high-trust environment while also being accountable to your team, your commitments and the Dreamers you support.

What does great practice look like?

A great Pathways Navigator is:

Relational — Dreamers know you, trust you and know that you believe in them.

Reliable — you do what you say you will do, communicate early when something changes and can be counted on.

Organised — the important things don't get lost. You plan, record, follow up and keep people informed.

Present — you are actively engaged in kura and alongside Dreamers, not simply available when something goes wrong.

Purposeful — your programme delivery, conversations and actions have a clear reason and connection to Dreamer outcomes.

Strengths-based — you see what is possible in every Dreamer, build on their strengths and hold high expectations. You encourage, challenge and hold Dreamers accountable in ways that build confidence, independence and belief in themselves.

Future-focused — you help Dreamers see possibilities, understand their options and take practical steps towards their next chapter.

Why join I Have a Dream?

You will be joining a team that believes relationships matter, mana comes first and young people deserve people around them who will show up for them consistently.

This is an opportunity to do work that is deeply relational and genuinely purposeful, supporting young people not just to get through school, but to imagine and build a future they can be proud of.

You will work alongside a passionate team of Navigators, kura staff, whānau, mentors and community partners, with opportunities for professional development, supervision and continued learning.

The practical bits

Role: Pathways Navigator
Location: Tikipunga, Whangārei
Partnership: I Have a Dream & Tikipunga High School
Hours: Full-time
Reports to: Navigator Manager / Team Lead / General Manager – Operations, as applicable

Applications close: Tuesday 13th October