Job Description

Job Location Main Plant - San Jose, CA 95112 Position Type Full Time Education Level 4 Year Degree Salary Range $28.00 - $32.00 Hourly

Travel Percentage Up to 50% Job Shift Day

This is a Full-Time in-person position at the Goodwill Headquarters in San Jose, CA.

The Career Navigator will be part of the Expandability Program in the Mission Services Program.

More about the program: https://goodwillsv.org/mission-services/

At Mission Services of Silicon Valley, our purpose is simple and powerful: to help people build skills, find meaningful work, and thrive in our community. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been a trusted partner in connecting opportunity with people’s potential. By working hand in hand with local experts, employers, and community members, we create pathways to education, employment, and lasting economic mobility.

As a team, we are committed to:

• Empowering one another to do our best work and grow together.

• Building strong partnerships and serving as a driving force for economic opportunity in Silicon Valley.

• Modeling teamwork, integrity, and cultural intelligence in everything we do.

• Acting with mutual respect—for each other, our community, and the environment we share.

The Career Navigator supports MSSV’s mission to help individuals facing barriers to employment—including veterans, individuals with disabilities, those experiencing homelessness or housing instability, trainees in technical programs, and Mission Services employees—prepare for, secure, and retain meaningful employment.

This role requires a data-driven professional who can balance compassionate individualized support with strategic employer relationship management. Success requires achieving measurable employment outcomes while continuously innovating program delivery methods based on the labor market and participant feedback. Blends individualized career coaching, training facilitation, employer engagement, and case management to help participants transition into sustainable, living-wage careers.

Job Responsibilities

• Employment Outcomes & Career Development (40% of role)

• Design and execute individualized employment plans with measurable milestones toward sustainable, living-wage careers

• Achieve and track placement rates, retention metrics, and wage growth outcomes using CRM systems

• Conduct systematic 30/60/90-day retention check-ins with both participants and employers, intervening proactively when placement stability is at risk

• Analyze time-to-placement data and employment barriers to identify process improvements

• Training Excellence & Participant Development (35% of role)

• Facilitate employment readiness curriculum achieving 90%+ completion rates through engaging adult learning methodologies

• Measure and document participant skill development using pre/post assessments and standardized evaluation tools

• Innovate and implement 2-4 curriculum enhancements annually based on labor market trends, employer feedback, and participant outcomes

• Maintain 4.5/5.0+ participant satisfaction through responsive program adjustments and high-quality service delivery

• Employer Partnerships & Community Engagement (25% of role)

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with 50+ active hiring partners through systematic outreach, site visits, and value-added consultation

• Achieve 40% conversion rate from employer meetings to participant placements through effective needs assessment and candidate matching

• Educate employers on hiring incentives, ADA accommodations, and inclusive hiring practices

• Represent Goodwill at 12+ community networking events annually, positioning the organization as a premier workforce development partner

• Operational Excellence

• Maintain 95%+ bi-weekly contact frequency with assigned caseload

• Submit all required documentation with 98%+ on-time completion rate

• Ensure 90%+ of case management meetings result in actionable participant progress

• Collaborate cross-functionally with case managers, peer mentors, and community partners to address participant barriers

• Conduct intakes, assessments, and individualized employment plans addressing short- and long-term career goals.

• Provide job readiness training, including resume development, interview practice, workplace etiquette, and soft skills.

• Facilitate group workshops and individualized coaching sessions to strengthen job search and career development skills.

• Develop and maintain employer partnerships across industries; conduct outreach, site visits, and presentations to secure placements.

• Advocate for participants with employers, educating them on hiring incentives and best practices for retention and inclusion.

• Match participants with training, apprenticeships, or employment opportunities aligned with their skills and goals.

• Collaborate with internal staff, case managers, and community partners to address barriers such as housing, transportation, and wraparound services.

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of services, outcomes, and case notes in program databases.

• Represent Goodwill in community events, employer meetings, and networking opportunities.

• Professional Development: Participate in ongoing professional development opportunities (Workforce best practices, labor market trends, equity-focused models)

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in program databases aligned with funders, CARF, and internal compliance standards.

Responsibilities may be added, deleted or changed at any time at the discretion of management, formally or informally either orally or in writing.

Qualifications

Required

Qualifications/Experience

The ideal candidate possesses the following qualifications, skills, and abilities:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Human Services, Education, or related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).

• Minimum 2 years of experience in workforce development, career coaching, job placement, or related services.

• Equivalent experience may include teaching, academic advising, recruiting, training facilitation, case management, or other roles requiring individualized coaching, employer engagement, and measurable outcome achievement.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and CRM/case management systems and workforce development management platforms

Preferred

Qualifications/Experience

• Experience working with diverse and underserved populations (veterans, unhoused, individuals with disabilities, or trainees).

• Familiarity with ADA requirements and reasonable accommodations, and ability to support participants and employers in applying inclusive workplace practices.

• Proven track record of building and maintaining professional networks that generate tangible business results,

• Experience using data to inform program requirements and decision-making

• Familiarity with OKR (Objectives and Key Results) or similar goal-setting frameworks

• Knowledge of labor market trends, hiring incentives, and workforce development best practices.

• Strong communication, presentation, and employer relationship-building skills.

Aptitudes/skills/temperament

• Data analysis and interpretation skills to identify trends and inform strategy

• Comfort with ambiguity and ability to balance competing priorities in dynamic environments

• Strategic thinking with ability to connect daily activities to broader organizational mission

• Continuous improvement or Growth mindset with willingness to experiment and learn from both successes and failures

• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build trust with diverse populations, accountability, empathy, and cultural awareness.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Ability to collaborate across teams and community partners.

Job Requirements:

• Reliable transportation

• Possess a valid California Driver’s License.

• Must be computer literate.

• Knowledge of MS Office required.

Key Performance Indicators

• Maximize Sustainable Employment Outcomes

• Deliver High-Impact Training & Participant Development

• Build Employer Partnerships & Community Presence

• Strengthen Collaboration, Quality, & Innovation (Cross-Functional)

Working and Physical Requirements:

• Location: Goodwill of Silicon Valley's headquarters in San Jose. There is regular contact with the public, business, and community agencies. The position requires minimal supervision.

• The job involves sedentary work, frequently sitting for an extended period in front of a computer monitor.

• This position may occasionally require lifting objects up to 20 lbs.

Mission Services of Silicon Valley is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer encouraging diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability unrelated to ability, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, transgender, sex stereotyping, order of protection status, protected veteran or military status, or an unfavorable discharge from military service, and other categories protected by federal, state or local law.