Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner seeks Educational Support Specialist (Navigator) candidates, who assist non-traditional age students who are re-enrolling or enrolling in college or in workforce training.
Serve as a Navigator point-of-contact for adult students referred by the RI Reconnect website and from various projects. Facilitate network development, including but not limited to increasing on- and off-campus connections/collaborations; outreach to students; assessment of need; student support; follow-up, communications, and data collection/record-keeping with non-traditional age students who are re/enrolling in college or in workforce development activities to facilitate completion; facilitate education or training enrollment, persistence, and completion for students with targeted outreach to under-represented populations; cultivate and nurture partnerships for student resources.
Duties
Network Representative – Adult Student Coaching
- Be available to work 19 hours per week including afternoon, evenings and weekend hours, and to travel locally, as required.
- Be available to represent RI Reconnect throughout Rhode Island.
- Provide engaged, proactive, and strategic coaching services aimed toward developing and maintaining working relationships with adult students to maximize their achievement, retention, persistence, and educational and/or workforce training goal attainment.
- Conduct comprehensive needs assessment, identifying and addressing barriers to program completion.
- Engage adult learners through portal referrals, walk-ins, appointments, and workshops to assist students with enrollment processes utilizing a variety of contact methods (email, phone call, in‐person, classroom presentations, etc.)
- Support students with financial aid applications and processes.
- Communicate promptly and consistently with students, using a variety of methods (email, phone call, in‐person, classroom presentations, etc.).
- Refer students to academic support services, appropriate campus services, public benefits, and community-based resources, as needed.
- Advocate for students and teach self-advocacy skills.
- Complete all required data and record keeping and ensure that it is kept up-to-date for all students served, including progress notes, contact sheets, intake questionnaire, etc.
- Assist students with external barriers to enrollment and persistence.
Occasional Job Functions
- Provide coverage for other project staff as needed
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor’s degree or current lived experience as a non-traditional college student pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
- Experience in social services and/or higher education, or in a relevant field.
- Ability to establish professional relationships with students, co-workers, and all referring agencies.
- Excellent organizational skills; strong verbal and written communications skills, including presentation skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-performing team environment.
- Knowledge of and ability to utilize computer applications, such as Microsoft Office, in an educational environment.
- Proven ability to effectively interact and communicate with a diverse group of students, alumni, and staff.
- Willingness to pursue appropriate and ongoing professional development.
- Able to plan, organize and administer multiple activities and meet deadlines.
- Strong respect and desire to support diverse and inclusive communities.
- This position will occasionally require travel to locations throughout Rhode Island. Must have access to and use of own transportation.
Desired skills
- Proficiency in English and Spanish
- Experience working with grants
- Lived experience as an adult college student preferred
- Experience in early childhood education
This is a part-time, grant-funded, non-union position. The salary is $23/hour and the position reports to the educational support coordinator. OPC will accept applications until the position is filled.