Woodcraft Rangers
Career & Life Skills Specialist
Woodcraft Rangers, Los Angeles, California, United States, 90079
Job Title : Career & Life Skills Specialist
Reports to : Director of Lifecraft College & Career Pathways
Status :Full-Time; Non-exempt
Hourly Range : $28.00/hr - $33.00/hr
Location : Los Angeles County and Remotely (Little Tokyo Office)
Who We Are : In 1922, Woodcraft Rangers opened its doors in Los Angeles and began its mission of guiding young people as they explore pathways to purposeful lives. As a progressive organization, Woodcraft has always been responsive to the evolving needs of the communities served, and is notably inclusive, youth-led, and rooted in the Woodcraft Way, a holistic framework that develops body, mind, spirit, and service. Continuously at the forefront of expanded learning opportunities, Woodcraft Rangers has a rich history of making a significant impact in the greater Los Angeles area, believing that all youth are innately good, deserve the opportunity to realize their full potential, and should be an active participant in defining their own path.
What We Do : Woodcraft Rangers provides TK-12 expanded learning programs, including before and after school, specialty enrichment, and summer learning. In the past few years, Woodcraft has expanded its menu of services beyond traditional afterschool programs and summer camps to include early learning, environmental and social justice, college access, and inclusion services for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Additionally, we offer Lifecraft, a college and career advancement program to support the development of approximately 1,000 staff. Today, Woodcraft Rangers serves more than 20,000 youth ages 4-18 annually in and from 140+ Title I schools across LA County.
About Woodcraft Rangers & WRAP COYA : Woodcraft Rangers has a 100-year history of guiding young people as they explore pathways to purposeful lives. The Woodcraft Rangers Apprenticeship Pathways (WRAP) California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship initiative builds on this legacy by launching an early education and expanded learning pre-apprenticeship pipeline for high school youth in the form of a student-led and -guided club, known as Future Rising: an Educators Club, which feeds directly into the Together Rising Los Angeles (TRLA) Registered Apprenticeship Program for young adults. The COYA grant emphasizes opportunity youth, students who may not see college in their future or have been disconnected from school and career pathways. The Life Skills Trainer plays a critical role in WRAP COYA by preparing students for life beyond the classroom. This full-time position supports both 16-18-year-old high school participants in the Future Rising Educators Club and 18-24-year-old young adults in the TRLA apprenticeship by designing and facilitating dynamic, trauma-informed workshops that center healing, purpose, and professional growth. In addition, this role expands services to include the broader population of COYA-eligible high school youth, those who may not be formally enrolled in a club but still benefit from access to life skills, personal development, and career readiness workshops; and may also function as recruitment events. These students may be identified through site referrals, alternative education programs, or those on the margins of traditional school and workforce systems. Topics include resume writing, job readiness, email etiquette, self-regulation, conflict resolution, 21st-century professionalism, and navigating systems with confidence. The ideal candidate brings both lived and professional experience, deep empathy for young people who have faced adversity, and an unwavering belief in their capacity to thrive. This position is central to cultivating the soft and hard skills needed to succeed in education, employment, and life.
Ideal Candidate : The Career & Life Skills Specialist is a creative, youth-focused role responsible for, but not limited to:
Design and deliver year-round calendar of career, life, and soft-skills training for high school and young adult participants Develop and facilitate workshops on topics like career exploration, interpersonal communication, professionalism, and goal-setting, using trauma-informed curriculum that reflects real-life scenarios Provide individualized coaching and build relationships with students and staff Assist in recruitment efforts for both Future Rising and the TRLA apprenticeship program Collaborate with other specialists to embed training within program activities and recruitment pipelines, and to support wraparound student services Coordinate guest speakers, alumni panels, and workforce partner-led sessions Serve as a backup for the Success & Outreach Specialists ensuring consistent youth support
Key Responsibilities :
Design and deliver comprehensive training calendar focused on career, life, and soft skills Facilitate in-person and virtual workshops, and develop trauma-informed curriculum aligned with youth development principles and 21st-century skills Provide one-on-one coaching and small-group follow-up to students Lead summer bootcamps and support the cross-site implementation of life skills trainings Partner with Success & Outreach Specialist to support recruitment and wraparound services Coordinate and host guest speakers and alumni panels Support student showcases, family engagement nights, and intergenerational events Track participation, engagement, and workshop attendance. Contribute content and updates for grant reporting and student success highlights Manage work hours flexibly to cover evening and weekend events as needed
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in facilitation, youth development, adult education, or career/life coaching Demonstrated ability to connect with youth who have faced systemic barriers Knowledge of trauma-informed and culturally responsive pedagogy Strong organizational and interpersonal skills Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred Must hold valid LIVE Scan, TB Clearance, and CPR Certification, or be willing to obtain them Valid California driver's license, proof of auto insurance, and an annual DMV check
Work Environment & Schedule:
Based in Los Angeles with frequent travel to local high schools and community sites Occasional evening or weekend events required Hybrid schedule possible with supervisor approval
Physical Demands:
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the following physical demands may be essential for the effective performance of this position. Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions:
Frequent standing is required during working hours The ability to travel across the Greater Los Angeles area is necessary several times per month Regular use of hands for various tasks, such as operating a computer and handling objects, is essential Effective communication skills are required, necessitating the ability to speak clearly and hear well Occasional lifting and/or moving of objects weighing up to 40 pounds may be required
Woodcraft Rangers is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals with lived experience, particularly those from communities served by WRAP COYA, are encouraged to apply. Woodcraft Rangers provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without discrimination with regard to race, religious belief, color, sex, sex stereotype, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including breastfeeding), age, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, transgender status, transitioning status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, genetic information, family care, marital status, enrollment in any public assistance program, status as military, a veteran or qualified disabled veteran, status as an unpaid intern or volunteer, or any other classification protected by law. We also prohibit discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.
Who We Are : In 1922, Woodcraft Rangers opened its doors in Los Angeles and began its mission of guiding young people as they explore pathways to purposeful lives. As a progressive organization, Woodcraft has always been responsive to the evolving needs of the communities served, and is notably inclusive, youth-led, and rooted in the Woodcraft Way, a holistic framework that develops body, mind, spirit, and service. Continuously at the forefront of expanded learning opportunities, Woodcraft Rangers has a rich history of making a significant impact in the greater Los Angeles area, believing that all youth are innately good, deserve the opportunity to realize their full potential, and should be an active participant in defining their own path.
What We Do : Woodcraft Rangers provides TK-12 expanded learning programs, including before and after school, specialty enrichment, and summer learning. In the past few years, Woodcraft has expanded its menu of services beyond traditional afterschool programs and summer camps to include early learning, environmental and social justice, college access, and inclusion services for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Additionally, we offer Lifecraft, a college and career advancement program to support the development of approximately 1,000 staff. Today, Woodcraft Rangers serves more than 20,000 youth ages 4-18 annually in and from 140+ Title I schools across LA County.
About Woodcraft Rangers & WRAP COYA : Woodcraft Rangers has a 100-year history of guiding young people as they explore pathways to purposeful lives. The Woodcraft Rangers Apprenticeship Pathways (WRAP) California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship initiative builds on this legacy by launching an early education and expanded learning pre-apprenticeship pipeline for high school youth in the form of a student-led and -guided club, known as Future Rising: an Educators Club, which feeds directly into the Together Rising Los Angeles (TRLA) Registered Apprenticeship Program for young adults. The COYA grant emphasizes opportunity youth, students who may not see college in their future or have been disconnected from school and career pathways. The Life Skills Trainer plays a critical role in WRAP COYA by preparing students for life beyond the classroom. This full-time position supports both 16-18-year-old high school participants in the Future Rising Educators Club and 18-24-year-old young adults in the TRLA apprenticeship by designing and facilitating dynamic, trauma-informed workshops that center healing, purpose, and professional growth. In addition, this role expands services to include the broader population of COYA-eligible high school youth, those who may not be formally enrolled in a club but still benefit from access to life skills, personal development, and career readiness workshops; and may also function as recruitment events. These students may be identified through site referrals, alternative education programs, or those on the margins of traditional school and workforce systems. Topics include resume writing, job readiness, email etiquette, self-regulation, conflict resolution, 21st-century professionalism, and navigating systems with confidence. The ideal candidate brings both lived and professional experience, deep empathy for young people who have faced adversity, and an unwavering belief in their capacity to thrive. This position is central to cultivating the soft and hard skills needed to succeed in education, employment, and life.
Ideal Candidate : The Career & Life Skills Specialist is a creative, youth-focused role responsible for, but not limited to:
Design and deliver year-round calendar of career, life, and soft-skills training for high school and young adult participants Develop and facilitate workshops on topics like career exploration, interpersonal communication, professionalism, and goal-setting, using trauma-informed curriculum that reflects real-life scenarios Provide individualized coaching and build relationships with students and staff Assist in recruitment efforts for both Future Rising and the TRLA apprenticeship program Collaborate with other specialists to embed training within program activities and recruitment pipelines, and to support wraparound student services Coordinate guest speakers, alumni panels, and workforce partner-led sessions Serve as a backup for the Success & Outreach Specialists ensuring consistent youth support
Key Responsibilities :
Design and deliver comprehensive training calendar focused on career, life, and soft skills Facilitate in-person and virtual workshops, and develop trauma-informed curriculum aligned with youth development principles and 21st-century skills Provide one-on-one coaching and small-group follow-up to students Lead summer bootcamps and support the cross-site implementation of life skills trainings Partner with Success & Outreach Specialist to support recruitment and wraparound services Coordinate and host guest speakers and alumni panels Support student showcases, family engagement nights, and intergenerational events Track participation, engagement, and workshop attendance. Contribute content and updates for grant reporting and student success highlights Manage work hours flexibly to cover evening and weekend events as needed
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in facilitation, youth development, adult education, or career/life coaching Demonstrated ability to connect with youth who have faced systemic barriers Knowledge of trauma-informed and culturally responsive pedagogy Strong organizational and interpersonal skills Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred Must hold valid LIVE Scan, TB Clearance, and CPR Certification, or be willing to obtain them Valid California driver's license, proof of auto insurance, and an annual DMV check
Work Environment & Schedule:
Based in Los Angeles with frequent travel to local high schools and community sites Occasional evening or weekend events required Hybrid schedule possible with supervisor approval
Physical Demands:
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the following physical demands may be essential for the effective performance of this position. Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions:
Frequent standing is required during working hours The ability to travel across the Greater Los Angeles area is necessary several times per month Regular use of hands for various tasks, such as operating a computer and handling objects, is essential Effective communication skills are required, necessitating the ability to speak clearly and hear well Occasional lifting and/or moving of objects weighing up to 40 pounds may be required
Woodcraft Rangers is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals with lived experience, particularly those from communities served by WRAP COYA, are encouraged to apply. Woodcraft Rangers provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without discrimination with regard to race, religious belief, color, sex, sex stereotype, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including breastfeeding), age, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, transgender status, transitioning status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, genetic information, family care, marital status, enrollment in any public assistance program, status as military, a veteran or qualified disabled veteran, status as an unpaid intern or volunteer, or any other classification protected by law. We also prohibit discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.