Career Pathways Navigator

Youth Opportunities Unlimited; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Life insurance

Retirement plan

Paid holidays

Professional development

Job summary

Youth Opportunities Unlimited in Cleveland seeks a Career Pathways Navigator to support 16–24-year-olds with career guidance and LAUNCH referrals. The role includes registering youth, conducting orientations, and documenting activities in Salesforce and ARIES.

The navigator will work with CCMEP staff and partner organizations, engaging ISY and OSY participants to identify goals, capture information, and connect them with LAUNCH training providers and career pathways.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in Social Work, Psychology, Education, or related field.
• Experience with youth services and program intake is a plus.
• Ability to pass a background check and work with at-risk youth.

Responsibilities

• Welcome ISY & OSY participants and coordinate service delivery with LAUNCH partners.
• Conduct and update LAUNCH Orientations for participants at the One Stop and in the community.
• Determine TANF/WIOA eligibility according to CCMEP standards.
• Document interactions in Salesforce and ARIES; upload eligibility documents within 5 days.
• Build relationships with LAUNCH partners and support referrals and warm handoffs.

Skills

Clear communication

Relationship building

Time management

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

High School Diploma or equivalent

4 years work experience substituted for degree

Tools

Salesforce

ARIES

Microsoft Office

Job description

Description

Since 1982, over 160,000 youth have been helped with Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.) programs. Y.O.U. helps teens and young adults, ages 14-24 living in economically distressed communities succeed by providing educational and workforce opportunities, skills development, and access to career pathways. We offer school-based and community-based programs designed to meet the needs of Northeast Ohio employers, with a focus on those industry sectors that provide the most opportunities for career success. At Y.O.U., we are dedicated to excellence and continuous improvement of the quality of our services to youth, employers, and the community.

Job Purpose

The Career Pathways Navigator (CPN) will work with the Manager of Comprehensive Case Management and Employment Program (CCMEP) and provider staff from LAUNCH collaborative to staff the One Stop and provide a welcoming environment for 16 – 24-year-olds in-school youth (ISY) and out-of-school youth (OSY) who visit in search of career support. The CPN will register youth in Y.O.U.’s database, conduct LAUNCH Orientations, CCMEP Eligibility appointments, and Career Pathway Navigation workshops to help OSY participants identify career aspirations, and the best LAUNCH training provider that will help them achieve their goals. The CPN will document these decisions in Salesforce and in the State of Ohio’s system of record, ARIES. While primarily based at the LAUNCH One Stop, the CPN will also work collaboratively with Greater Cleveland Works and LAUNCH partners to attend specified outreach events and with internal Y.O.U. programs to help transition program participants from ISY programming into LAUNCH programming.

Responsibilities

• Welcome ISY & OSY participants to the One Stop and coordinate service delivery with LAUNCH program partners.
• Build and maintain positive development relationships with young adults interested in and participating in LAUNCH programming.
• Conduct and/or update LAUNCH Orientations for participants at the One Stop and in the Community.
• Determine Eligibility for TANF/WIOA according to CCMEP standards.
• Utilize Y.O.U.’s database system, currently Salesforce, and the State’s system of record, currently ARIES, to document all necessary interactions with participants.
• Upload all Eligibility documents no later than 5 days after intake appointment
• Reach out to and follow up with potential participants who have expressed interest in LAUNCH services.
• Host outreach and recruitment events as needed.
• Meet with young adults (ages 16-24) to determine personal goals, career aspirations, barriers, and other information.
• Conduct Career Pathway Navigation workshops with ISY & OSY participants to help guide them towards their career goals and the best possible LAUNCH partner referral.
• Communicate with ISY & OSY participants’ RSS about necessary supportive services, coaching, and barrier remediation to ensure young adults have access to resources to help resolve barriers to achieve success.
• Document all conversations (including, but not limited to emails, interviews, meetings, phone calls, text messages, and video conferences) with clients in Y.O.U.’s data management systems.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with LAUNCH partner organizations so referrals can be made and connections as needed for ISY & OSY participants. Will be collaborating with internal youth facing departments for referrals and warm handoffs.
• Additional support on main floor, welcoming and checking in walk‑ins or participants with appointments to ensure presence from all agencies housed in One Stop.
• Responsible for incorporating the Y.O.U. RSS in intake/enrollment appointments for any ISY participants
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision benefits available with coverage beginning the first of the month following date of hire.
• Company paid life insurance, AD&D, Short-Term Disability, Parental Leave, Employee Assistance Program and Long-Term Disability
• Retirement Plan with generous employer contributions
• Generous paid time off package including 19 paid holidays
• Professional Development Assistance Program

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Social Work, Psychology, Education) from an accredited college or university preferred.
• An additional 4 years of work experience as detailed below can be substituted in lieu of a bachelor’s degree. High School Diploma or equivalent required.

Requirements

• 1-2 years of experience in human services, networking, social work, case management, education in a school setting, or related field.
• 1-2 years of experience working with at‑risk youth and/or young adults as a coach, mentor, teacher, counselor, or other related position.
• Familiar with Cleveland’s network of social service providers
• Must have valid transportation to/from Y.O.U. offices, partner organizations, and other community‑based locations to meet with clients.
• Must pass a background BCI/FBI check as a condition of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Belief and commitment to Y.O.U.’s mission, vision, and values.
• Ability to communicate clearly, professionally, and respectfully, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to build effective working relationships and collaborate with colleagues, participants, partners, and other stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and time‑management skills, with the ability to manage priorities, meet deadlines, and follow through on responsibilities.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, identify and resolve problems, and seek guidance when appropriate.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities, responsibilities, and organizational needs while maintaining effectiveness and professionalism.
• Ability to appropriately handle confidential and sensitive information and exercise discretion in carrying out job responsibilities.
• Proficiency with standard workplace technology, including Microsoft Office applications, databases, and other systems relevant to the position. Ability and willingness to learn and effectively use new software, technology, and organizational systems as required.
• Demonstrated active listening skills.
• Ability to build relationships with the area’s network of social service providers and organizations that target young adults 16-24 years of age.
• Understanding modern recruitment strategies job search, recruitment, and retention strategies.
• Knowledgeable of principles and practices of youth development.
• Solution‑oriented, adaptable, and flexible.

Work Environment

• This position is based primarily in‑office at the One Stop office. The position may also include occasional travel to off‑site locations for meetings, programs, events, or activities as part of assigned responsibilities.
• Flexibility to work community events after work hours and on weekends, as needed.
• Work is generally fast‑paced and requires extended computer use, including periods of up to two hours of sustained computer or phone work, lifting up to 25 lbs periodically and carrying office supplies, standing, and walking throughout the office buildings.
• Social interaction with team members, vendors, partners and/or participants frequently.
• The environment in which the job is performed outside a normal office space may include exposure to extreme temperature, noise, or other hazards.
• When working remotely, employees must maintain a professional, secure, and reasonably distraction‑free workspace that supports confidentiality, productivity, and participation in meetings.

All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, parental status, veteran status, military service, family medical history, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.