Peer Advisor, Youth Exploration & Career Navigation Hub

Position Type: Part TimeSalary Range: $22.00 - $25.00 Hourly

Compensation: $22-$25/hour | Part-Time, Non-Exempt

Hours: Approximately 15–20 hours per week in-person; flexible scheduling with some evening hours as needed

Hiring Manager: Assistant Director, Career Exploration & Readiness Continuum

Location: Manhattan (with potential Bronx assignments) About The Door The Door has served as one of New York City's most trusted places for teens and young adults for more than 50 years. The Door's mission is to empower young people to reach their potential by providing comprehensive youth development services in a diverse and caring environment. A nationally recognized model for holistic youth support, The Door reaches up to 10,000 young people annually through a wide range of free, co-located services. Youth ages 12 to 24 can access health care and health education, mental health counseling and crisis intervention, legal services, career and education programming, housing supports, services for runaway and homeless youth, arts and recreational programming, and nutritious daily meals — all under one roof. The majority of youth served are navigating systemic barriers, including disconnection from school or work, housing instability, and involvement in foster care or the justice system. Within this model, The Door operates a robust Career and Education Services Department (CareerED), including general work-readiness training and 14 sector-based workforce programs aligned with high-demand industries such as construction, green jobs, healthcare, information technology, retail, culinary arts, theater production, and commercial driving. These programs combine technical training, industry-recognized credentials, paid internships, and job placement support, in partnership with institutions such as CUNY and leading employers. About the Youth Exploration & Career Navigation Hub In Fall 2026, The Door will launch NYC's first Youth Exploration & Career Navigation Hub (the Hub). The Hub addresses a longstanding citywide gap: while NYC has invested heavily in education, workforce, and youth services, the broader system remains fragmented, difficult to navigate, and not designed around how young people actually explore options, make decisions, and move forward over time. Over 106,000 young people ages 16 to 24 are disconnected from school and work in NYC, and there is currently no place where a young person can walk in and receive personalized exploration, navigation, and warm connections to best-fit opportunities citywide. The Hub is a welcoming, youth-centered space where young people walk in, get paired with a dedicated Citywide Career Navigator, explore their interests and goals through trust-based coaching, and receive warm referrals to best-fit education, training, and employment opportunities across NYC. Onsite, the Hub also offers a Career Exploration & Readiness Continuum: four immediate-entry, stackable pathways - immersive Virtual Reality career exploration with Transfr, a 9-session Career Readiness Certificate Program, the 6-week Transfr Trek cohort, and the 7-week Mesa Alumni Lab cohort - that allow young people to build skills, confidence, and clarity at their own pace. A defining feature of the Hub is its commitment to ongoing support and returnability. Young people are never excited by the program, never rejected, and always welcomed back without stigma when a pathway does not work out. The Hub operates on a "No Eject, No Reject" philosophy. The Hub is youth-informed and co-designed. Its model was shaped by a comprehensive research and design process that included 8 youth focus groups engaging approximately 75 young adults across diverse NYC populations, nearly 50 interviews with cross-sector leaders, assessment of 9 national Youth Engagement Centers, and a literature review of 50+ reports. The Hub will operate a paid Youth Advisory Council that plays an active, ongoing role in shaping the Hub's design, implementation, and continuous improvement - including naming programs, co-designing curricula, participating in staff hiring panels, and providing ongoing feedback on participant experience. Youth voice is not a one-time planning input; it is a core accountability mechanism. The Hub is also closely aligned with the Pathway Gap Collaborative, a 75+ organization cross-sector effort building shared infrastructure and tools to strengthen youth pathway navigation citywide. About the Peer Advisor Role The Peer Advisor is a core member of the Hub team. We are looking for young adults who have navigated complex systems and are ready to use that experience to support others. As a Peer Advisor, your lived experience is not background context - it is the most important thing you bring. Peer Advisors work alongside Citywide Career Navigators to welcome young people, co-facilitate career exploration experiences, support transitions into programs and opportunities, and serve as a real, consistent, trusted presence. Peer Advisors help bring the Hub's "No Eject, No Reject" commitment to life - making the Hub feel like what young people told us they need: a space that is welcoming, nonjudgmental, and designed around their realities, not around programs or systems. This is a part-time position with structured professional development, mentorship, and a clear pathway toward a full-time career in youth development, social services, workforce development, or a related field. We take the Peer Advisor role seriously - because we know that one supportive adult can change everything. Why This Role Matters Across every focus group we conducted in designing the Hub, young people said the same thing: they need staff who are "real," "consistent," and who "meet us where we're at." One negative interaction can push a young person away. One supportive adult can change the entire trajectory of their journey. Peer Fellows are that supportive adult for many young people walking through the Hub's doors for the first time. You will help build the trust that makes everything else possible - and your insights and experience will directly shape how this first-of-its-kind model continues to grow and improve.

Primary Responsibilities: Welcoming & Outreach Greet and welcome young people as they enter the Hub, helping set a tone that is warm, nonjudgmental, and genuine Conduct light outreach in partnership with Hub staff to connect young people in the community to Hub services Co-Facilitation & Programming Co-facilitate Virtual Reality career exploration sessions using Transfr headsets, helping young people engage with immersive, day-in-the-life career simulations across multiple industries Support facilitation of the 9-session Career Readiness Certificate Program, including resume workshops, mock interviews, and workplace readiness sessions Assist with cohort-based programs (Transfr Trek and Mesa Alumni Lab), supporting group activities, encouraging participation, and helping participants stay engaged across multiple weeks Help create an environment in all programming where young people feel comfortable taking risks, asking questions, and being honest about where they are Navigation Support & Transitions Accompany young people to external programs, training sites, and partner organizations when needed, helping ease transitions and ensuring referrals lead to real engagement Follow up with young people after referrals to check in, offer encouragement, and reconnect them with their Navigator if needed Help young people who leave or step away from a program or opportunity feel genuinely welcome returning to The Door - actively reinforcing the Hub's "No Eject, No Reject" commitment Youth Advisory Council & Continuous Improvement Participate in the paid Youth Advisory Council or support its activities as appropriate Share observations and insights from day-to-day interactions with young people to inform continuous improvement of Hub programming and operations Contribute to staff meetings, team reflections, and learning conversations as a valued team member Documentation & Administrative Support Assist with intake, tracking attendance, documenting participant interactions, and supporting data entry as needed Complete required trainings, including trauma-informed care, youth development best practices, and Hub-specific onboarding Qualifications Required You are between 18 and 26 years old You have lived experience navigating systems similar to those The Door's members navigate, including but not limited to workforce programs, alternative education, foster care, the justice system, housing instability, or immigration You are someone young people trust - real, consistent, and genuinely invested in their success You are reliable and committed to showing up; consistency matters deeply to the young people we serve You are comfortable in a fast-paced, open-door environment where no two days look exactly the same You are committed to working with young people navigating complex circumstances with empathy, respect, and without judgment Preferred You have previously participated in a program at The Door or a similar youth-serving organization You have experience in peer support, mentoring, tutoring, facilitation, or youth work in any setting — formal or informal. You are enrolled in or have completed a high school equivalency program, vocational training, or college — or are actively working toward one You speak a language in addition to English; Spanish, Mandarin, Wolof, French, and other languages are assets reflecting the communities we serve You have experience co-facilitating workshops, groups, or programming with young people What You'll Gain Competitive hourly pay and part-time experience Formal onboarding and ongoing professional development in peer support best practices, trauma-informed care, career navigation, and facilitation Access to The Door's full suite of wraparound services, including health care, mental health support, legal services, and education programs, depending on age at hire date. Mentorship from senior Hub staff with deep experience in workforce development and youth services Participation in the paid Youth Advisory Council and an active role in shaping a first-of-its-kind NYC model A clear pathway to full-time employment in youth development, social services, career navigation, or a related field - The Door is committed to growing talent from within The opportunity to see your lived experience and your voice directly impact the young people who come through our doors The Door is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Door is committed to building a diverse workforce and strongly encourages individuals with lived experience and those reflective of the communities we serve to apply. Your background — all of it — is welcome here.