Career Navigator - Young Adult Services

At Working Wardrobes, we help people overcome barriers to gainful employment.

Working Wardrobes is an established nonprofit known throughout Southern CA as the premier provider of workforce readiness services. Niche services include individualized employment plans, career development, workshops, and professional wardrobe. 

Imagine yourself having a direct, positive impact on the lives of people in our community as they overcome extraordinary barriers so they can achieve a meaningful and productive livelihood. 

Position location: Santa Ana, CA   

Status: Non-Exempt, Full-time (1-year contract) 

Salary Range: $ 24 - $26/hr  

Reporting to: Client Services Manager  

Travel requirements: 15% Local travel by car  

Remote Work:                 This position is eligible for occasional remote work based on business needs.  

9/80 Work Schedule:   This position is eligible for a 9/80 Alternative Work Schedule. 

Help Youth Find Their Path. Change Lives – Including Your Own. 

Are you looking for more than just a job? Do you feel called to do work that aligns with your values and creates real change? If your heart has been telling you there’s something more meaningful out there for you—something that lets you help others, grow personally, and contribute to a greater cause—this is your moment. 

At Working Wardrobes, we believe everyone deserves the dignity of work. As a Career Navigator, you’ll play a vital role in supporting underserved young adults, ages 16-24, who are navigating immense challenges—homelessness, involvement in justice or foster care systems,  and financial hardships. These youth are full of potential, and you will help them realize it. 

This role is more than employment support—it's empowerment. It’s about walking alongside young people as they build confidence, learn new skills, and gain access to life-changing opportunities.  

What You'll Do – Your First 90 Days 

• Learn the structure and purpose behind our grant-funded youth programs and the measurable outcomes that drive long-term success. 

• Conduct thoughtful, trauma-informed intake and assessments to understand each client’s lived experience, needs, and goals. 

• Design customized Individual Employment Plans (IEPs) to support each client’s unique career journey. 

• Assist clients in applying for WIOA based programs like certification trainings and secondary education programs. 

• Build strong relationships with employers in industries aligned with youth interests and talents, securing meaningful employment pathways. 

• Cultivate partnerships with community organizations to strengthen referral pipelines and support networks. 

• Represent Working Wardrobes at community events and advocacy meetings, serving as a passionate ambassador for youth empowerment. 

• Outreach to potential clients by meeting them where they are, including conducting programming inside local correctional facilities. 

• Create systems for internal communication and resource sharing to ensure programs work in alignment, not in silos. 

• Lead small-group career readiness workshops focused on soft skills, interview preparation, resume development, and more. 

Who You Are – The Heart Behind the Work 

You may have lived experience or deep empathy for the challenges our clients face. Either way, you believe in second chances and the resilience of young people. You understand that tru