Early Childhood Education Initiatives Navigator

General Description of the Position

The Initiatives Navigator will work under the direction of the Early Childhood Innovation Center (ECIC) Early Childhood Initiatives Officer to carry out a common vision for engagement, retention, and completion in a post-secondary education program for early learning professionals. This position will provide ongoing support to the ECIC Scholars actively serving as a role model and advocate. The Navigator will contact and correspond directly with ECIC Scholars, conduct ongoing retention and engagement sessions, travel to college/university campuses as needed, maintain accurate and confidential records of contact with scholars, and participate in research collection and review for the ECIC. The navigator will assist scholars in establishing and maintaining eligibility requirements including GPA, employment, and semester enrollment.

The role of the Initiatives Navigator is to assist scholars through all aspects of Institutes of Higher Education admissions processes and provide continued support to sustain enrollment and graduation. The ECIC Initiatives Navigator will assist and support prospective scholars through the ECIC’s application process as well as eligibility requirements to maintain the scholarship. The Navigator will provide advocacy and empowerment for ECE program college/university scholars. Our Navigators will provide one-on-one support for traversing the college/university system and help connect scholars to the resources provided by the college/university. Navigators reach out to scholars individually and in small groups to provide direct assistance and to inform scholars of college/university services and procedures. The Initiatives Navigator will also provide career advisement and development support under the direct supervision of the Career Advisement and Scholarship Coordinators. The role of the navigator may require non-traditional work hours to best meet the needs of the ECIC scholars.

Essential Functions & Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Essential Functions
The following are the functions essential to performing this job:

• Serve as a point of contact for potential scholars interested in an Early Childhood Associate or Bachelor’s degree program.
• Assist with recruitment and marketing activities of the scholarship program, by distributing flyers and brochures, providing verbal or written information to community partners and other organizations.
• Establish and maintain a close relationship with each ECIC Scholar.
• Support with post-secondary education processes such as Financial Aid, FASFA, FERPA, etc.
• Serve as a point of contact for campus student services such as tutoring, accommodations, registrar, etc.
• Advise scholars within the limits of the role on academic, social, and personal matters.
• Facilitate group and individual meetings to discuss topics related to program events and activities and any issues or concerns significant to the group.
• Be aware of scholars concerns such as post-secondary adjustment issues and show an interest in scholar goals and values.
• Assist scholars to create a schedule that is conducive to studying and completing program requirements.
• Be knowledgeable and provide information about campus and community resources and services. Refer scholars who need assistance to the appropriate campus agencies.
• Be familiar with college/university and departmental policies and regulations and be able to communicate them to scholars.
• Educate scholars on potential consequences of behavior that violates college/university policies, procedures, rules, or regulations.
• Provide an atmosphere of openness and acceptance for scholars to raise academic, personal, and social issues in an informal manner with an empathetic approach.
• Encourage scholars to set goals and find the motivation to work toward academic success and achieve academic excellence.
• Prepare necessary reports, logs, and evaluations.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Experience with coordinating efforts with various internal/external stakeholders and community partners to ensure projects/initiatives are executed in the most efficient way possible.
• The individual will be versatile, have strong technological, organizational, and writing skills, and create and maintain a positive tone throughout the team.
• Proactively alert leadership of potential anticipated issues.
• Ability to connect individuals seeking information on early childhood programs and services to the correct agency/person.
• Superior ability to problem-solve effectively and efficiently, while anticipating any potential barriers ahead of time before they affect project/program/reporting timelines.
• Excellent time management skills, with the ability to consistently produce results when up against tight deadlines.
• Perform other tasks that may be assigned by the Early Childhood Initiatives Officer.
• Understand the mission of DSU as a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).

Qualification Standards

• Education and Experience: Associate degree (bachelor’s preferred) in a related field or at least 5 years of relevant experience in academic advisement, counseling, mentoring, student services/support can be substituted for the degree requirement.
• Experience working with or supporting the Early Childhood Workforce preferred.
• Bilingual preferred.

Performance Standards & EEO Statement

The criteria for evaluation in this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
1.Demonstrated knowledge of the DSU core values.
2.Demonstrated ability to provide support to scholars that is timely and individualized and grounded in best practice and to connect with the early childhood community to ensure knowledge of the program.

EEO Statement

Delaware State University is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic global community. The University is dedicated to enhancing diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruitment and employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. The University is committed to achieving a diverse faculty and staff and encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply.

Equal opportunity employer/program'' and “auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities''.