Description

Job Overview

This Career Navigator is responsible for carrying out day-to-day workforce service activities, including delivery of direct services with program participants, recruiting within programs, and markets the program. The Career Navigator coordinates training efforts and works with Continuing Education Coordinator, program staff and community partners. Responsible for coaching program participants, assisting them to address challenges they face in their education and careers as identified in their individual goal setting during home visits. Provides support to participants before and after securing educational advancement.

Job Responsibilities

• Provides explanation of scope of services regarding educational and career services to AVANCE-Austin parents.
• Schedules presentations on AVANCEs Workforce Pathways and opportunities throughout AVANCE program sites.
• Registers parent into the client databases for case tracking and reporting purposes.
• Develop participants’ database and maintains accurate reports, including attendance, participants’ progress, and other programmatic reporting, as needed. Cooperates with in-house monitoring and independent evaluation of program effectiveness.
• Assesses and creates Individual Education/Employment Plans (IEP) to provide or coordinate services to help navigate and enable parents to enter or re-enter academic tracks and/or enter post-secondary education, employment, or training.
• Tracks and monitors progress from entry to completion through the implementation of AVANCE-Austin’s workforce development programs including but not limited to ESL classes, HSC completion, AIMS and other educational and other foundational, secondary and post-secondary education or employment and workforce development programs.
• Connects parents to the necessary community resources that meet their assessed needs.
• Coordinates with outside agencies, organizations, and businesses to provide direct services or referrals that meet parent educational/career needs.
• Assists with parent success through collaborative case management support to meet individual goals.
• Responsible for managing reminders and follow up calls for continuity of parent engagement.
• Provides follow-up services and tracks performance of parents, in reporting databases, throughout the enrollment process until completion of program or graduation.
• Assists with developing and maintaining strategic collaborations with other community-based programs, agencies, organizations, and educational institutions to create opportunities for parents.
• Coordinates and effectively communicates with partners to ensure clear collaboration and integrative services to ensure success of program and participants.
• Coordinates onsite classes; sets up orientation and introductory meetings, application days and weekly classes with AVANCE Partners to ensure smooth operations of the AIMS program.
• Assists in the preparation of resumes, applications and other items needed by participants to successfully enroll in educational/employment activities.
• Assists with parent follow-up, attendance, advocacy, and resources, to include case management alongside AVANCE-Austin’s Home Educators.
• Includes travel to onsite training program, and one-to-one goal setting meetings, and group case management meetings.
• Conducts one-on-one follow-up, with parent either virtually or in person, as needed.
• Uses the equipment provided for daily communication, i.e., computer, phone, email.
• Assists with the identification and recruitment of families who are interested in pursuing parenting and early childhood education, with recruitment efforts including collaboration with schools and community agencies.
• Coordinates Alumni events and special programming that may require some evenings and weekend classes.
• Recruits Alumni to join special programs and events.
• Provides developmentally appropriate learning experiences for young children as required.
• Assist in procurement and management for materials and supplies for the events and alumni classes.
• Drives AVANCE van.
• Makes purchase orders for class and food supplies and keep proper documentation of receipts.
• Works collaboratively with other agencies ex. EGBI, YWCA, ACC etc. to enhance services to families.
• Maintains knowledge of current parent-child education practices.
• Attends scheduled meetings, training, and/or conferences to enhance professional growth and ensure well-coordinated and effective delivery of project services.
• Assist with organizing and planning for special events, ex. Holiday Party, Dia de los ninos, graduation etc.
• Establishes and maintains an environment conducive to positive morale and directed towards achievement of the project mission.
• Ensures high standards of ethics by maintaining high standards for participant confidentiality.
• Facilitates effective resolution of conflicts.
• Maintains a positive attitude.
• Works well with a team and independently.
• Provides special services /projects as authorized and trained by the Associate Program Director and Deputy Director.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

AVANCE Core Competencies

• Accountability
• The AVANCE Way
• Demonstrates Ability to Learn
• Fosters Innovation
• Takes Initiative
• Recovers from Setbacks

Qualifications

Education

Required:

• Associate’s degree in education, social work, psychology or related field.

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Psychology Social work or related field.
• Graduate of AVANCE to College Program AVANCE Parent-Child Education Program.

Work Experience

Required:

• 1 years of experience working in college and career readiness or workforce development in any capacity.

Preferred:

• N/A

License/Certification

Required:

• N/A

Additional Skills

• Must be familiar with the community and community support agencies.
• Must possess an understanding of career readiness and workforce development strategies and resources for at-risk populations.
• Must have knowledge in resume building, interviewing, networking and social media.
• Working knowledge of MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and basic Internet research techniques.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize, organize, problem solve and exercise good judgment with minimal supervision.
• Ability to demonstrate flexibility and creativity.
• Great follow-up skills.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills are required.
• Able to work effectively under time pressure and/or deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Enthusiasm for the mission of AVANCE.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish Oral and Written)
• Knowledge of child development and effective parenting techniques.
• Must exhibit a willingness to assist in the personnel development of low- income families.
• Must be flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of the families and the program.
• Ability to maintain emotional control under stress

Travel 

• Ability to travel to various sites: Dependable transportation is required daily with a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record (subject to annual MVR (Motor Vehicle Report) check and policy), current auto liability insurance and be bondable by AVANCE, Inc.
• This position can require up to 25% of local travel. The Student Navigator will conduct travel to and from partner and AVANCE Austin sites as required.

Equipment

• Work is generally performed in a virtual/hybrid work environment (home, on site, off site).
• The noise level in the work environments can be moderate to occasionally loud (examples: business office with computers and printers, light to moderate traffic, human voices).
• Standard office equipment generally used includes:
• Telephone
• Personal Computer (monitor, keyboard, and mouse) or Tablet
• Printer/Photocopy Machine
• Calculator
• Fax Machine
• May be required to operate a motor vehicle during the course of duties.

Working Conditions 

Mental and Physical Demands  

Maintain emotional control under stress; work with interruptions and deadlines; walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling and pushing, use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; occasional: lifting/carrying, pulling/pushing 10-30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Factors