Program & Safety Navigator

Position Type: Full-Time (40 hours/week), Non-Exempt
Reports To:
Director of Program Operations
Location: 100% In-Person at LYRIC, San Francisco
Hourly Wage: $30.58/hour (LYRIC uses an equity-based, non-negotiable pay structure)
Union Position: Represented by OPEIU Local 29

Founded in 1988, the Lavender Youth Recreation & Information Center (LYRIC) serves over 2,000 LGBTQQ+ youth annually. We build community and inspire positive social change through education, health promotion, career training, and leadership development. LYRIC centers racial, gender, and economic justice while offering wraparound support and affirming spaces for queer and trans youth, particularly youth of color.

The Program & Safety Navigator is a dynamic, multifaceted role that blends direct service, crisis intervention, case management, and safety oversight at LYRIC. Serving as both a trusted youth advocate and first point of contact for safety and access, you’ll engage youth in need of support, guide them through intake processes, provide case management, and ensure the safety and security of our drop-in spaces. Additionally, you’ll lead LYRIC’s safety systems and work to cultivate a culture of safety, care, and empowerment for youth and staff alike.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a passion for youth development, safety, and community-centered work, looking to contribute to a mission-driven organization in a fast-paced environment.

• Provide immediate support to youth accessing services, ensuring they feel welcomed and safe.
• Conduct brief intakes to assess youth needs and match them with appropriate resources.
• Refer youth to relevant programs, services, and staff for follow-up appointments.
• Provide crisis intervention and de-escalation as needed in youth spaces.

• Lead the daily implementation of LYRIC’s safety and security policies, ensuring they are followed by both staff and youth.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for staff and youth during safety-related incidents.
• Coordinate and conduct quarterly safety drills and facilitate safety training for staff and interns.
• Collaborate with the Director of Program Operations, VP of People and Programs, and Executive Director to review safety protocols, emergency plans, and incident response strategies.
• Maintain safety signage, emergency resources, and relevant safety documentation across LYRIC’s spaces.
• Build partnerships with community safety providers to expand LYRIC’s safety resources and network.

• Greet youth, staff, and visitors with warmth and professionalism as the first point of contact at LYRIC’s front desk.
• Check youth into programs, ensuring they understand community agreements and safety expectations.
• Direct calls and inquiries to the appropriate staff, managing voicemail and general inbox.
• Offer hospitality supplies (snacks, tea, hygiene kits) and help orient youth to the space.
• Monitor drop-in spaces for safety, addressing inappropriate behavior and documenting incidents.
• Ensure front desk coverage is consistent and flag any issues with building access or facilities.
• Various duties as assigned

• Experienced in youth advocacy, case management, or wraparound support services (2+ years preferred).
• Skilled in conflict de-escalation, trauma-informed care, and restorative justice practices.
• Comfortable facilitating groups, building trust with marginalized youth, and navigating complex systems.
• Strong communicator (verbal and written), able to stay calm under pressure.
• Deeply committed to creating safe, accessible, and equitable spaces for youth.
• Familiar with LGBTQQ+ youth issues, particularly those affecting youth of color, disabled, undocumented, or housing-insecure youth.
• Tech-savvy with experience using platforms such as Google Workspace, Zoom, and digital calendars.
• CPR/first responder experience required.

• Youth development and youth-adult partnership models, as well as harm reduction strategies.
• Familiarity with San Francisco Bay Area resources for LGBTQQ+ youth of color
• Experience in a front-line safety/security role (community safety, school safety, shelter/respite care).
• Ability to facilitate training sessions and create educational tools on emergency preparedness.
• Lived experience or a background working with:
  • Transgender and nonbinary youth
  • Youth of color
  • Youth living with HIV
  • System-impacted youth
  • Youth engaged in sex work or survival economies
  • Immigrant and undocumented communities
  • Youth with disabilities or mental health challenges

• Hourly Wage: $30.58/hour at 40 hours per week (non-exempt, union position)
• Compensation Model: Fixed wage per role and tenure; non-negotiable to ensure equity.
• Benefits Include:
  • $800/year health & wellness cash supplement
  • $1,000/year external professional development stipend
  • 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision & acupuncture/chiropractic
  • Optional Health FSA and commuter benefits
  • 403(b) retirement plan with up to 4% employer match
  • Paid Time Off:19 paid holidays (including birthday + winter break)
    • 19 vacation days
    • 18 sick days
    • 1 personal day
    • Critical incident, bereavement, and jury duty leave

• Make an impact as a daily presence in a space where LGBTQQ+ youth find belonging and support.
• Shape a culture of safety, healing, and justice within a passionate, multiracial, multigenerational team.
• Grow your career in a mission-driven environment that prioritizes youth power, equity, and accountability.

Submit your resume and a brief cover letter via our application portal.No phone calls or email inquiries, please.

LYRIC is an equal opportunity employer. Applications are strongly encouraged from women, people of color, immigrants, young people, LGBTQQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and bilingual/bicultural individuals. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.