Education & Career Navigator

Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) is seeking applicants for a full-time, Education and Career Navigator position for the WWCC Correction Education program located at the Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) in Walla Walla, Washington.

This position is filled to fulfill a contract awarded to Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (WSBCTC) to operate a correctional education program at WSP in accordance with an interagency agreement with the Department of Corrections. Walla Walla Community College and its employees working in a correctional education program are expected to follow all Department of Corrections (DOC) Policies, IT and other Security requirements, follow DOC Operational Memorandums, and comply with the Superintendent’s directions. 

At Walla Walla Community College, we inspire all students to discover their potential and achieve their goals by providing relevant, equitable, and innovative learning opportunities and services. As an organization, we value learning opportunities, a sense of community, diversity, health and humor, excellence, integrity, teamwork, innovation, personal and professional growth, and sustainability.

This position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to applicants whose complete application has been received by February 24, 2025 @ 11:59pm PST. See Required Application Materials section 

General Description: 
The Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) Educational and Career Navigator is responsible for supporting incarcerated students through advising and creating pathways for students in adult basic education, vocational, and academic programs. The Navigator also assists incarcerated individuals seeking employment/education services upon release into the community. The Navigator assists students in identifying a clear educational pathway and supports the student through completion of their education credential. Support services might include assisting students in continuing their education upon release from prison; accessing financial aid and scholarship funds; navigating Pell Grant funding and the Washington College Grant; assisting graduates in job searching and referrals related to their training and qualifications; connecting students with living-wage, high demand job opportunities for students by working directly with employers who are interested in hiring formerly justice-involved individuals.

Essential Functions: 

• Participate in facility orientations and provide ongoing guidance on accessing postsecondary and/or pre-apprenticeship programs available to students during incarceration.
• Guide reintegration into higher education, vocational, and/or apprenticeship settings post-release including two- and four-year colleges.
• Develop educational plans with students to be incorporated into the Individual Reentry Plans (IRP) with counselors, the Department reentry navigators, community corrections staff, and multidisciplinary teams in accordance with RCW 72.09.270.
• Assist students with applying for college including completing and submitting financial aid and scholarship applications, coordinating phone calls or virtual meetings with colleges and/or apprenticeships in the community, assist students with student loan repair process and selective service requirements.
• Engage incarcerated students who complete their high school equivalency to explore additional pre-apprenticeship and postsecondary education opportunities, including access to employment data on specific programs.
• Assist students with acquiring high school and postsecondary transcripts from previous educational programs.
• Coordinate with Community-Based Education Navigators to facilitate a smooth transition from prison to postsecondary education and apprenticeship programs including two- and four-year colleges.
• Utilize the Department-provided Monthly Education Assistance data report to identify and engage in outreach to incarcerated individuals close to release and provide education resources as needed.
• Document case notes and navigation services provided to students in OMNI, including Chronos and Scorecard regularly.
• Participate in Board Navigator meetings, the Department Reentry Navigators meetings, and other trainings/meetings as assigned to facilitate sharing information, resources, and best practices to enhance the effectiveness of the navigator program.
• Promote and present information on student education programs and pathways through orientations and classroom visits inside the facility.
• Create and provide informational materials on college programs and reentry resources for students.
• Assist the Assistant Director with onsite advising.
• Serve as liaison with Department of Corrections (DOC), Walla Walla Community College, and community program personnel.
• Prepare and submit quarterly Navigator reports.
• Perform all other duties and tasks as assigned.

• Excellent interpersonal skills that exhibit clear communication and listening, flexibility, emotional intelligence and seeking positive resolutions.
• Ability to build constructive working relationships characterized by a high level of acceptance, cooperation, and mutual respect.
• Prioritize actions that must occur and establish communication with affected parties.
• Results and outcomes focused with the ability to identify what needs to be done and proactively take appropriate action. 
•  Consistently demonstrate independence and self-motivated work ethic.
• Act as a reliable information source, providing an effective communications link. Keep concerned parties informed of changes or new developments and ensure that they receive clear communication.
• Ability to work in a team environment, effectively communicate, and support collaborative and supportive workgroups.
• Engage, remain current, and foster practices that infuse equity, diversity, and inclusive practices that support student and workplace success. 

Qualifications: 
Any combination of education, experience, and/or training that provides the applicant with the knowledge and skills to perform the job may be considered by the college.

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in education, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, or related field, OR Associate’s Degree and two years of related experience.
• Two years of experience working in an educational and/or vocational workforce setting with an emphasis on student development and advising.
• A combination of education and experience necessary to successfully fulfill competencies.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience working in a correctional environment.
• Ability to use existing workplace technologies (Microsoft Office and DOC OMNI) and learn and remain current in evolving educational forms and software; for example, FAFSA and Accuplacer.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English).

You don’t check every qualification listed? Please apply anyway! Studies have shown that traditionally marginalized communities - such as women, LGBTQ and people of color - are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification - even if they might be a great fit for the role! If you’re excited about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every single qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider applying. This position is in a bargaining unit for which AFT is the exclusive representative. 

This is a full-time exempt position located inside the Washington State Penitentiary, an adult male prison. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The typical work area includes office setting, classrooms, partner institutions, and co-location sites for outreach and marketing activities.Position requires movement between various buildings at the prison creating exposure to weather.The work schedule for this overtime eligible professional position will typically be Monday through Friday 8-hours each day. Some in-state travel is required and may include occasional overnight stays.Ability to sit, walk, or stand for extended periods of time. Ability to operate a computer keyboard, multi-line phone, manage paperwork, files, and computer document files using effective file management skills, write and take notes, and prepare informational and marketing materials

Department of Correction positions are grant funded and funding is not guaranteed. Upon loss of grant funding, the position will end. WWCC does not absorb the cost to fund DOC grant positions. 

Persons hired must be able to provide acceptable documentation of lawful authorization to work in the United States within three (3) days of employment and official college transcripts. WWCC participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. All Walla Walla Community College staff members employed at one of the Correction Education facilities must be cleared by an FBI background check before being hired into such positions and successfully complete a 3-week corrections training program. Information from the background check may not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.

Compensation: 
Annual salary range for initial placement based on the represented exempt salary schedule is PR03, Step A-F: $62,457 – $70,664, with scheduled salary increment increases every 12 months until you reach the top of the scale. The college has an excellent benefit program including paid sick leave; paid vacation leave; medical, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance; retirement and two optional deferred compensation programs.  All full-time employees will automatically have 3% of taxable income deferred into the State of Washington Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). All administrative exempt staff set aside 1% of their gross salary in a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) (VEBA). All exempt employees are required to participate in this program. Walla Walla Community College requires all employees to participate in direct deposit for payment of salary.This position is open until filled with priority consideration given to those applicants who submit a complete application by February 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM PST. To qualify for priority consideration, applicants must submit a complete application packet, which includes the following: 

• Online NEOGOV application.
• Cover letter:
  • In your cover letter please detail your interest in the Education & Career Navigator position at Washington State Penitentiary. Please describe any professional experience, training, or educational background that makes you an ideal candidate. 
• Resume
• Names and contact information for three professional references
• Answers to three (3) supplemental questions
• Unofficial transcripts for application purposes; official transcripts are required prior to an official start date.

Salary : $62,457 - $70,664