In-school youth program navigator

Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania and North Central West Virginia is a nonprofit organization that funds job training, education, and other community programs by selling donated clothing and household items in Goodwill stores and online. We offer life-changing work on a mission-minded team. We are 1,000 working as one and each of us is essential to helping our community thrive. For three years running, Goodwill has been named to Forbes’ list of America’s “Most Inspiring Companies”.

We offer a wide range of career opportunities ranging from entry-level to management in retail, human services, and administrative fields. Learn more about working at Goodwill. https://www.goodwillswpa.org/work-at-goodwill/ You can help. We can show you how.

DIVISION OVERVIEW:

Goodwill SWPA’s Human Services division is responsible for making Goodwill’s overarching vision a reality: enhancing people’s dignity and quality of life by strengthening communities and helping those with barriers to employment reach their full potential through workforce education and support. The Human Services division fulfills this mission providing high quality, outcome-oriented services for program participants by utilizing a comprehensive service delivery model covering a broad array of social programs.

PROGRAM SUMMARY:

The In-School Youth Program Navigator demonstrates strong leadership, mentorship, and facilitation skills while ensuring high-quality program implementation, service delivery, and compliance. The role is responsible for developing and maintaining employer partnerships that create opportunities for internships, job shadowing, job tours, classroom speakers, paid work experiences and work-based learning experiences. This position plays a critical role in improving outcomes for youth by ensuring timely access to resources, addressing barriers to participation, and fostering supportive relationships across school, workforce, and community systems. The In-School Youth Program Navigator aligns program services with school-day priorities while ensuring accurate documentation, performance tracking, and adherence to all program and funder requirements. The ideal candidate is passionate about youth development, skilled in facilitation and case management, and committed to helping young people build the skills necessary for long-term academic and career success.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The In-School Youth Program Navigator provides career exploration, work readiness training, and case management support to in-school youth enrolled in the YouthWorks’ HIRE Me program. HIRE Me is designed to equip students with the skills necessary to identify and pursue early career goals while successfully navigating school and work experiences. This position requires regular travel to partner schools and paid work experience sites to deliver programming and provide direct support to participants.

Status: Regular, Full-time, Non-exempt.

Location: Lawrenceville WDC. Pittsburgh, PA 15201

External Hiring Range: $20.00-$20.80

Schedule: 8:00am-4:00pm some night and weekends

Travel: Local travel may be required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Included but not limited to:

Daily Operations:

• Develop and deliver engaging educational, work readiness, recreational, and social-emotional learning activities that promote positive youth development, align with school-day priorities, and reinforce TANF youth program elements.

Relationship Management

• Maintain accurate, timely, and comprehensive documentation of participant progress, attendance, and service delivery, including case notes, assessments, and outcome tracking, to support program reporting and compliance.
• Safeguard all participant files and personally identifiable information, ensuring information is shared strictly on a need-to-know basis and in compliance with confidentiality requirements.
• Prepare and maintain records and reports, such as participation data, or other information needed to gauge effectiveness of services.
• Communicate with host business to ensure adequate work sites so that students will participate in 3 rotations over the course of the school year to build marketable, competitive skills.

Service Delivery:

• Implement individualized employment plans by assisting participants with job search activities, job identification, application submission, and placement services.
• Deliver job search, placement, and career development services utilizing labor market information, employer partnerships, and job search technologies (including CareerLink, JSS, and supplemental workshops).
• Communicate job-specific expectations, workplace standards, and employer requirements to participants; maintain ongoing communication with employers and internal teams to ensure alignment with business and program needs.
• Provide job-specific training, guidance, and support to promote workplace readiness, performance, and safety.

Outreach:

• Participate in required program meetings with internal Goodwill departments and external community partners to support coordinated and effective service delivery.
• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with participants, employers, funders, community partners, and internal stakeholders to support program effectiveness, participant engagement, and successful outcomes.
• Collaborate with school personnel, program partners, and employers to support participant engagement, address barriers to participation, and facilitate successful connections to work-based learning opportunities, post-secondary education, and career pathways.

Case Management:

• Develop, implement, and regularly update individualized employment and service plans aligned with participant goals.
• Monitor participant progress through ongoing face-to-face meetings and goal reviews, adjusting strategies in accordance with program and contract guidelines.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of assessments, service plans, case notes, and outcomes in applicable data systems, ensuring compliance with organizational, funder, and confidentiality requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Years of Experience:

• High School diploma AND 4+ years of relevant experience.
• Associates degree AND 2+ years of relevant experience.
• Bachelors degree AND 1+ years of relevant experience.

Required:

• Experience related to working with youth and/or young adults, with low-income and at-risk youth.

REQUIRED CLEARANCES, LICENSES, AND CERTIFICATIONS:

• Qualified candidates must have a valid driver's license, active insurance policy, and reliable transportation for local travel.
• Candidates are expected to complete background checks assigned by Goodwill SWPA, including a National Criminal Background check, prior to their first day of employment.
• Candidates are expected to provide current, valid clearances (Child Abuse Clearance, FBI Fingerprints Clearance, and PATCH) prior to their first day of employment.