Job Title: Career Navigator

Organization: The Father Center of New Jersey

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Location: On-site in Trenton, NJ with regular travel to Camden, NJ

Compensation: $65,000 annually, plus benefits

Position Summary

The Father Center of New Jersey is seeking a mission-driven, trauma-informed Career Navigator

to lead participant engagement, workforce development coordination, and individualized case

management for the expansion of the Bridges2Success® program.

The Career Navigator serves as the primary point of contact for participants throughout their

workforce development journey, including recruitment, enrollment, credential completion, job

placement, and retention support. This position combines workforce coaching, case

management, employer coordination, and participant advocacy to ensure fathers receive the

tools, guidance, and support necessary to achieve sustainable economic mobility.

Key Responsibilities

Participant Outreach & Enrollment

 Conduct community outreach and recruitment efforts throughout Trenton and Camden

to engage eligible fathers and high-barrier participants.

 Facilitate participant intake, assessments, orientation, and enrollment processes.

 Build trusting relationships with participants using trauma-informed and culturally

responsive engagement practices.

 Maintain consistent communication and follow-up to support participant retention and

engagement.

Workforce Development & Career Navigation

• Develop individualized career and employment plans aligned with participant goals and

labor market opportunities.

• Coordinate participant enrollment into industry-recognized credentialing programs

including HVAC, OSHA-30, Forklift, CDL, Welding, CPR/BLS, ServeSafe, and related

workforce pathways.

• Support participants with resume development, interview preparation, job readiness

training, and digital literacy skills.

• Coordinate referrals to technology and career advancement opportunities through

strategic partners such as Hopeworks Camden and County One-Stop Career Centers.

• Track participant progress toward certifications, employment placement, and retention

milestones.

Trauma-Informed Case Management & Barrier Removal

• Provide ongoing case management and individualized support to participants facing

barriers related to housing, transportation, legal involvement, child support, financial

instability, or mental health challenges.

• Connect participants to wraparound support services through community partners

including healthcare providers, legal aid, transportation resources, and financial

counseling organizations.

• Administer and track participant support resources including work clothing,

transportation assistance, safety equipment, and other barrier-removal services.

• Support participants in navigating systems related to child support compliance,

expungement services, and reentry stabilization.

Employer & Partnership Coordination

• Coordinate workforce pipelines and employment opportunities with employer and

training partners including Job One Contracting and regional hiring partners.

• Advocate for inclusive and second-chance hiring practices with employers and

workforce stakeholders.

• Collaborate with Rider University Student Fellows and other program partners to

support participant success and program expansion.

• Participate in community meetings, workforce collaborations, and strategic partnership

activities to strengthen referral and placement networks.

Data & Reporting

• Maintain accurate participant records, case notes, and outcome documentation within

the Apricot database system.

• Track key performance indicators including enrollment, credential completion, job

placement, retention, and supportive service utilization.

• Assist with program reporting, grant compliance, and data collection processes required

by funders and evaluation partners.

• Support organizational quality improvement and program evaluation efforts in

collaboration with academic and research partners.

Confidentiality Expectations

Due to the nature of this role, the Career Navigator will have access to sensitive participant

information, including employment records, legal histories, financial information, and case

management documentation. The individual in this role is expected to maintain strict

confidentiality, exercise sound professional judgment, and handle all participant and

organizational information with discretion and integrity. Maintaining participant trust and

confidentiality is essential to the success of this position and the mission of The Father Center

of New Jersey.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in social work, human services, counseling,

criminal justice, workforce development, or a related field.

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in workforce development, case management,

reentry services, fatherhood programming, or community-based social services.

• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with the ability to engage diverse

populations in a respectful and empowering manner.

• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple participant cases

and deadlines simultaneously.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with high-barrier populations, including justice-

involved individuals and low-income families.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and case

management/database systems.

• Reliable transportation and willingness to travel regularly between Trenton and Camden

program locations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience utilizing trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, or strengths-

based coaching approaches.

• Familiarity with workforce systems, vocational training programs, apprenticeship

pathways, or One-Stop Career Centers in New Jersey.

• Experience working with fatherhood programs, reentry populations, or community

stabilization initiatives.

• Experience with Apricot or other case management databases.

Key Competencies

• Trauma-Informed Engagement: Demonstrated ability to build deep, credible

relationships with high-barrier fathers using trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and

strengths-based approaches that sustain long-term engagement and retention.

• Career Pathway Design: Skilled in translating labor market demand into individualized

career plans, guiding participants through credentialing pipelines, job readiness,

placement, and retention in family-sustaining employment.

• Systems Navigation: Proven capacity to identify, prioritize, and dismantle systemic

barriers to employment through coordinated wraparound support.

• Partnership & Employer Coordination: Ability to collaborate effectively with a complex

ecosystem of employers, training providers, legal partners, academic institutions, and

community organizations to drive participant outcomes and inclusive hiring practices.

• Data Discipline: Strong commitment to accurate documentation, case management,

and performance tracking, with the ability to manage KPIs, maintain Apricot records,

and support grant compliance, evaluation, and continuous improvement.

• Mission Alignment: A deep, authentic commitment to The Father Center of New

Jersey’s mission of advancing economic justice, strengthening families, and breaking

generational cycles of poverty through dignity-centered workforce development.

Why Join The Father Center of New Jersey?

The Father Center of New Jersey has a long, proud history of supporting fathers and families.

This role offers a unique opportunity to directly impact the lives of fathers working to overcome

systemic barriers while contributing to a growing, innovative workforce initiative. We offer an

environment where team members can grow professionally while directly expanding the

organization’s impact in the community.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

The Father Center of New Jersey is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and

are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment

decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without

regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran,

or disability status.

Pay: From $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Mileage reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

APPLY ON INDEED