Student Navigator

Description

Job Overview

The Student Navigator supports the AVANCE to College program, which blends the Parent-Child Education Program model with coursework, training and exposure to post-secondary opportunities and workforce development. The Student Navigator is responsible for marketing and recruiting families for the AVANCE to College program. The Student Navigator will make home visits, observe the child using the toy made in the AVANCE toymaking class, and coach the participants – assisting them to address challenges they face in their education and careers as identified in their individual goal setting. The Student Navigator will support participating families by assisting with the search for appropriate childcare and providing appropriate referrals for needed services, when necessary.

Job Responsibilities

• Coordinates and conducts recruitment activities in partnership with ACC.

• Collaborates regularly with the AVANCE to College instructor(s) to support program implementation and ensure participants have access to college and community resources and services.

• Cooperates with in-house monitoring and National evaluation of program effectiveness during the intake and exit process.

• Maintains accurate reports, including attendance, participants’ progress, Participant Status Form, and other programmatic reporting, as needed.

• Assists families in identifying childcare options for their children and enrollment process.

• Conducts home visits to observe participant’s engagement with their child at home using the AVANCE toys and completes the home visit observation form.

• Conducts case management for participants by maintaining their file, documenting progress toward established goals, resolving family needs and providing appropriate referrals to community resources as needed.

• Maintains knowledge of current parent-child education practices.

• Assesses and creates individual education/employment plans to provide or coordinate services to help navigate and enable participants to enter or re-enter academic tracks and/or enter post-secondary education, employment, or training.

• Tracks and monitors participant progress from entry to completion of workforce development programs including but not limited to ESL classes, HSC completion, and secondary and post-secondary education or employment.

• Assists in the preparation of resumes, applications and other items needed by participants to successfully enroll in educational/employment activities.

• Conducts one-on-one follow-up with participant either virtually or in person, as needed to make progress on educational and career goals.

• Ensures high standards of ethics by maintaining high standards for participant confidentiality.

• Assist in procurement and management of materials and supplies for the parenting and toy making classes, in collaboration with the ACC AVANCE to College instructor (s).

• Coordinates with Program Assistant to create purchase orders for class and food supplies and keeps proper documentation of receipts.

• 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, major day, graduation etc.

• Maintains communication and completes tasks as directed by the Continuing Education Coordinator and Program Director. • Perform 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:

o Associate degree in education, social work, psychology or a related field.

Preferred:

o Bachelor’s degree in education, social work, psychology or a related field.

o Graduate of AVANCE to College Program or AVANCE Parent-Child Education Program.

License/Certification

Required:

o Valid Texas Driver’s License and current personal vehicle insurance.

Testing

Required:

o Post offer drug screen and criminal background check.

Work Experience

Required:

o Social work, volunteer or paid experience with community groups, church or schools. Experience teaching and/or working with adult learners and children with diverse cultural and economic backgrounds. Knowledge of available career pathways and skills to help learners make informed decisions. Strong literacy and effective communication skills.

Preferred:

o 2-3 years of experience with teaching/working with adult learners.

o 1-2 years of experience working in career readiness and workforce development in any capacity.

Additional Skills

• Must be able to speak and read well in both Spanish and English.

• Must be familiar with the community and community support agencies.

• Must have personal transportation.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to maintain records.

• 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.

• Able to work effectively under time pressure and/or deadlines.

• 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.

Travel

• This position can require up to 60% of local travel. The Student Navigator will conduct travel to and from home visits, to the ACC campuses to support the participants and instructor, and to AVANCE Austin sites as required.

Equipment

• Work is generally performed in various work environments.

• 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:

o Telephone

o Personal Computer (monitor, keyboard, and mouse) or Tablet

o Printer/Photocopy Machine

o Calculator

o 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; sitting, walking, climbing, 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. Work evenings and weekends as needed.

Environmental Factors

Occasional exposure to biological hazards (communicable diseases, bacteria, insects, mold, fungi, etc.). Occasional expose to weather related conditions when working in outside environment/neighborhoods and events