What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Educational and Career Navigator (internal posting) position at Walla Walla Community College?
INTERNAL POSTING. CURRENT WWCC EMPLOYEES ENCOURAGED TO APPLY BY MARCH 13, 2025.
Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) is seeking internal applicants for a full-time Lead Educational and Career Navigator position at the Walla Walla campus.
This position offers an exciting opportunity for a current Navigator at WWCC to continue their impactful work within the program they currently manage while taking on expanded leadership responsibilities and a broader professional scope.
This position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to applicants whose complete application has been received by March 13, 2025 @ 11:59pm PST. See Required Application Materials section for more information
General Description:
The Lead Educational and Career Navigator provides comprehensive educational planning and direct student support services. This role serves as a trusted guide for students navigating academic pathways, exploring career opportunities, and accessing resources to achieve their educational goals. This lead position provides training and mentoring for the Guided Pathways Navigators, specializing in academic advising for academic transfer programs. This position focuses on serving as the point person for advisor training and the dissemination of advising-related materials.
Essential Functions:
Direct Student Support, Advising, and Educational Planning
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities
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
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, overtime eligible professional position. Persons hired must be able to provide acceptable documentation of lawful authorization to work in the United States within three (3) days of employment. 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. Official college transcripts required at time of hire. Candidates may be subject to a criminal history background check as a condition of employment. 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. The college is a tobacco free institution.
Work is performed almost exclusively indoors in an office environment. Exposure to hazards is limited to those commonly found in office environments. This contract position work schedule will typically be Monday through Friday 8-hours each day. During the summer, work schedule is Monday through Thursday 10-hours each day.
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.
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 March 13, 2025 at 11:59 PM PST. To qualify for priority consideration, applicants must submit a complete application packet, which includes the following:
Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) is seeking internal applicants for a full-time Lead Educational and Career Navigator position at the Walla Walla campus.
This position offers an exciting opportunity for a current Navigator at WWCC to continue their impactful work within the program they currently manage while taking on expanded leadership responsibilities and a broader professional scope.
This position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to applicants whose complete application has been received by March 13, 2025 @ 11:59pm PST. See Required Application Materials section for more information
General Description:
The Lead Educational and Career Navigator provides comprehensive educational planning and direct student support services. This role serves as a trusted guide for students navigating academic pathways, exploring career opportunities, and accessing resources to achieve their educational goals. This lead position provides training and mentoring for the Guided Pathways Navigators, specializing in academic advising for academic transfer programs. This position focuses on serving as the point person for advisor training and the dissemination of advising-related materials.
Essential Functions:
Direct Student Support, Advising, and Educational Planning
- Develop tailored academic plans for students.
- Facilitate career exploration and provide guidance on career pathways.
- Support students in identifying and overcoming barriers to success.
- Engage directly with students to foster academic and personal growth.
- Provide educational planning, academic advising, and resource navigation.
- Assist students in establishing and achieving academic and career goals.
- Monitor students’ academic progress and implement retention strategies.
- Advocate for students by coordinating with instructors, administrators, and support services
- Oversee and coordinate advisor assignments for faculty and staff.
- Responsible for creating and updating Navigator training materials
- Provide Navigator training for new hires and assists with ongoing training
- Provide ongoing mentoring and coaching to Navigators
- Lead team meetings to ensure consistent advising practices
- Assist in developing and implementing strategic initiatives to support student, staff, and faculty success.
- Maintain and update the Canvas site and training materials for advisors.
- Facilitate advisor training sessions to promote professional growth and ensure consistent advising practices.
- Serve as the primary contact for advisor questions and concerns.
- Provide regular updates on advising policies, best practices, and institutional changes.
- Audit and distribute retention lists to support institutional retention efforts.
- Oversee student onboarding, eligibility verification, and intake processes.
- Maintain accurate enrollment, retention, and completion data.
- Coordinate with Financial Aid and Business Services to ensure timely awarding processes.
- Coordinate outreach and recruitment strategies for advising services.
- Serve as the primary contact for academic advising initiatives and policies.
- Communicate with the State Board and other stakeholders regarding program updates.
- Disseminate information about academic programs, degrees, and campus resources.
- Demonstrated excellent communication skills across various educational and cultural levels while using written, electronic, and verbal methods.
- Demonstrated skills in the ability to train and mentor others.
- Demonstrate knowledge of current theories (including student development theory), principles and operational practices related to academic advising and student success models.
- Strong interpersonal skills and cultural competency; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the college, the community, industry, and media contacts.
- Ability to foster a diverse, inclusive, and results-oriented team environment.
- Ability to plan and manage time effectively; identify and handle competing priorities in order to coordinate work outcomes and meet deadlines.
- Demonstrate respect and maintain confidentiality with knowledge of FERPA, HIPAA, and other applicable laws, rules, ordinances, and regulations related to students.
- Dedication to continuous professional growth and learning.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities
- This position functions as Lead Navigator.
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
- Experience in academic advising
- Current experience as a Navigator
- Experience working with underprepared students
- Experience collaborating with community partner agencies.
- Bilingual in English/Spanish.
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, overtime eligible professional position. Persons hired must be able to provide acceptable documentation of lawful authorization to work in the United States within three (3) days of employment. 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. Official college transcripts required at time of hire. Candidates may be subject to a criminal history background check as a condition of employment. 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. The college is a tobacco free institution.
Work is performed almost exclusively indoors in an office environment. Exposure to hazards is limited to those commonly found in office environments. This contract position work schedule will typically be Monday through Friday 8-hours each day. During the summer, work schedule is Monday through Thursday 10-hours each day.
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 on campus creating exposure to weather.
- Ability to sit, walk or stand for extended periods of time.
- Ability to operate a computer keyboard, multi-line phone, handle individual papers, write and take notes, prepare informational and marketing materials.
- Ability to hear normal speech, speak and hear on the telephone, and speak in person.
- Vision sufficient to read documents, computer screens, perform close up work; ability to adjust focus frequently.
- Some in-state travel, including travel between Walla Walla and Clarkston, is required. Travel may include occasional overnight stays.
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 March 13, 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 this position. Please describe any professional experience, training, or educational background that makes you an ideal candidate.
- Resume
- Names and contact information for three (3) 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
