DCFS Workforce Navigator

SUMMARY

The DCFS Workforce Navigator is a frontline career specialist who plays a key role in guiding foster youth ages 18 to 21 as they transition from care to employment, education, and lasting stability. This is a City of Los Angeles initiative, in partnership with the LA County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), co-located at the Youth Engagement Section (YES) and supported by the City’s network of workforce and education providers. 

The Workforce Navigator will serve as a consistent, care and healing-centered guide who works in partnership with youth to identify their goals, explore career pathways, and access wraparound services. Navigators will support a caseload of youth who self-identify as ready to pursue employment, education, or training opportunities. Services will include one-on-one coaching, group workshops, hands-on assistance with job readiness, and connections to paid employment programs, training, or apprenticeships. 

The role requires empathy, flexibility, cultural humility, and a strong understanding of both trauma-informed youth engagement and Los Angeles’ workforce development system. The Navigator will also play a key role in sharing youth-centered feedback and tracking employment outcomes to improve systems, inform policy, and ensure the City and County workforce systems evolve to meet the needs of transition-age foster youth.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct Youth Engagement and Navigation 

• Establish strong, trusting, and youth-centered relationships through regular check-ins and follow-ups (virtual and in-person).
• Conduct confidential, one-on-one interviews and assessments to determine each youth’s career readiness, goals, and support needs.
• Co-design individualized “Pathway Plans” that outline immediate next steps and long-term aspirations.
• Encourage youth to explore job, education, or training opportunities aligning their interests and talents.
• Provide warm handoffs to City YouthSource Centers, AJCCs, training providers, and support services (e.g., transportation, childcare, legal docs). Continue to do ongoing follow-ups for two years.
• Use creative, youth-friendly communication tools (text, visuals, direct messages) to maintain engagement and accountability.
• Demonstrate emotional regulation and self-awareness, especially in high-stress or emotionally charged situations, to provide stable and supportive guidance to youth navigating complex challenges.
• Remain a consistent support person through moments of uncertainty, emotional hardship, or transition even when progress is non-linear.

Workforce Development & Skills Readiness

• Assist youth in job search, application, and interview preparation, including resume creation, cover letters, and onboarding paperwork.
• Facilitate group and one-on-one workshops on labor rights, budgeting, workplace expectations, digital literacy, and job retention.
• Support youth in accessing certifications, internships, apprenticeships, and subsidized employment programs (e.g., LARISE, Hire LA, workforce programs).
• Help youth navigate forms and procedures related to onboarding (I-9s, W-4s, etc.) and understand their workplace rights.

Workforce Development & Skills Readiness

• Assist youth in job search, application, and interview preparation, including resume creation, cover letters, and onboarding paperwork.
• Facilitate group and one-on-one workshops on labor rights, budgeting, workplace expectations, digital literacy, and job retention.
• Support youth in accessing certifications, internships, apprenticeships, and subsidized employment programs (e.g., LARISE, Hire LA, workforce programs).
• Help youth navigate forms and procedures related to onboarding (I-9s, W-4s, etc.) and understand their workplace rights.

Performance Tracking & Systems Improvement

• Track youth outcomes, including employment status, salary growth, credential attainment, and job retention.
• Conduct regular check-ins and maintain detailed notes on youth progress.
• Share youth feedback and outcomes with DCFS Youth Engagement Section (YES) and the City’s AJCC to inform programming.
• Report systemic barriers, success stories, and opportunities for improvement that emerge from youth experiences.
• Help define and monitor youth-centered success metrics, including career satisfaction, well-being, and retention.
• Incorporate youth voice into ongoing program design and service improvements, ensuring services stay relevant and responsive.

PREFERRED CHARACTERISTICS

• Culturally responsive and trauma-informed in both mindset and practice. Youth-oriented and healing-centered—able to hold space for both vulnerability and ambition.
• Confident navigating public systems (child welfare, workforce, education, housing) and simplifying access for youth.
• Skilled at building rapport quickly and maintaining professional, nonjudgmental relationships.
• Comfortable working in field-based and mobile environments (some travel to partner sites or youth locations required).
• Embraces uncertainty with a can-do attitude; demonstrates the confidence to take initiative and the humility to ask for help when challenges arise. Collaborates effectively to problem-solve and move work forward, even when conditions are unclear.
• Open to giving and receiving feedback and continuously improving service delivery.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 2–3 years of experience working with transition-age youth, preferably foster youth or those impacted by public systems.
• Demonstrated ability to provide direct services using trauma-informed, relational approaches.
• Familiarity with workforce development systems, college access, and employment programs in Los Angeles County, including knowledge of apprenticeship pathways and entrepreneurial opportunities.
• Experience presenting or leading workshops with diverse youth audiences.
• Proficiency with digital tools, including Google Workspace (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Forms, and Calendar).
• Bachelor’s degree in social work, Youth Development, Public Administration, or related field preferred but equivalent lived/professional experience strongly valued.
• Bilingual (Spanish, Armenian, or other common LA County languages) preferred but not required.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.
• This is not a work from home position. This role reports to the office 5 days a week.