Career Navigator (Community Housing)

Northern Virginia Family Services; West Falls Church (VA); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS) is seeking a Career Navigator to join the Community Housing team’s RSSP in Northern Virginia. You will guide TANF clients toward meaningful employment through individualized coaching, job search strategies, and connections to training and resources.

You will build employment plans, support resume development, and connect clients with providers and employers while ensuring program compliance and confidentiality.

Qualifications

• At least 2–3 years of related experience in coaching, adult education, workforce development, or building relationships.
• Experience serving diverse, low-income or vulnerable populations; non-English speakers welcome.
• Fluency in English required; bilingual skills (e.g., Spanish, Amharic, Arabic) are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide Career Navigation and Employment Support: assess client skills, goals, barriers; create personalized employment plans; assist with resumes, applications, and interview prep; provide ongoing coaching to build professionalism and confidence.
• Support Clients and Community Partnerships: build trusting relationships; identify barriers; connect clients to resources; collaborate with employers and training providers to expand opportunities.
• Maintain High-Quality Services and Program Compliance: document TANF eligibility; explain services; maintain confidential records; track outcomes and ensure compliance with guidelines.

Skills

Career coaching

Employment readiness

Customer service

Resume writing

Relationship building

English fluency

Tools

Apricot

Job description

Join the NVFS Family:

We are looking to hire a Career Navigator to join our Community Housing team's Rental Subsidy & Services Program (RSSP)! In this role, you will help individuals and families eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) achieve meaningful employment, economic stability, and long-term self-sufficiency. Through individualized career coaching, employment readiness support, and connections to education, training, and community resources, you will empower clients to overcome barriers and build pathways toward sustainable employment.

Why This Role Matters:

Meaningful employment is an important step toward financial independence and long-term stability. As a Career Navigator, you will play a meaningful role in helping individuals and families identify their strengths, develop career readiness skills, and access opportunities that support their professional growth. Your work will help clients build confidence, overcome employment barriers, and achieve greater economic independence, contributing to stronger families and communities throughout Northern Virginia.

Benefits and Compensation:

We want you to be well, have work/life flexibility, grow your career with us, and have the resources and support you need. Check out our comprehensive benefit offerings here in support of various dimensions of your wellbeing.

This position has a starting salary in the low 50s and is a hybrid position.

In this role, you will:

Provide Career Navigation and Employment Support:

• Conduct individualized assessments to identify clients' skills, interests, employment readiness, career goals, and barriers to employment.


• Develop personalized employment plans with realistic goals, milestones, and action steps to support career advancement.


• Assist clients with resume and cover letter development, job applications, interview preparation, and job search strategies.


• Provide ongoing career coaching to strengthen workplace professionalism, confidence, self-advocacy, and job retention skills.


• Connect clients to employment, education, workforce training, and credentialing opportunities aligned with their goals.

Support Clients and Community Partnerships:

• Build trusting relationships with clients and provide individualized guidance to support their employment and career goals.


• Identify barriers to employment, including transportation, childcare, housing, financial challenges, and technology access.


• Connect clients with community resources, including financial counseling, education, childcare, housing, transportation, and other supportive services.


• Collaborate with employers, training providers, community organizations, and internal NVFS teams to expand employment opportunities and coordinate services.


• Coordinate and facilitate workshops focused on career readiness, employment skills, and client needs.


• Represent NVFS at community outreach events to increase awareness of available workforce development services.

Maintain High-Quality Services and Program Compliance:

• Determine and document TANF eligibility during intake and outreach activities in accordance with program guidelines.


• Explain program expectations, participation requirements, and available services to clients.


• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential client records, employment plans, and required program documentation.


• Track client engagement, employment placements, job retention, credential attainment, and other program outcomes.


• Monitor client progress and adjust employment plans as needed to support successful outcomes.


• Ensure services comply with TANF regulations, funding requirements, and NVFS guidelines.

Your Background:

We understand that you may obtain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences.

• At least two to three (2–3) years of related experience in coaching, adult education, workforce development, or demonstrated success building relationships.


• Experience serving individuals facing significant barriers, low-income or vulnerable populations, non-English-speaking individuals, or adults with limited literacy skills. This may include volunteer, internship, or personal lived experiences.


• Demonstrated ability to build trusting relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds while maintaining professional boundaries.


• Experience using customer management or case management systems, such as Apricot.


• Oral and written fluency in English required; bilingual fluency in Spanish, Amharic, Arabic, or other client languages a plus.


• Certification in workforce development or resume writing a plus.


• Familiarity with government-funded programs a plus.

Additional Requirements:

• Successful completion of background checks upon hire.


• Must have reliable transportation to visit designated community locations for client meetings, as needed.


• May be called upon to work beyond normal working hours.

Working at Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS) means doing work that matters every day because of the difference you will make in the lives of children and families in Northern Virginia. NVFS’ breadth, depth and scope of services offer the resources and support to ensure that everyone in need, at every stage of life, maximizes their potential and fully contributes to a thriving community. At NVFS, we value every team member’s contribution and our collective impact on our clients and the community. NVFS is an equal opportunity employer, E-Verify participant and drug-free workplace.