Educational Support Specialist (Navigator)

Job description

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.

Application

First Name
Last Name
Phone
Email
Highest education level
Relevant Certificates or licenses
Resume
Maximum file size: 5mb
Cover letter
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Additional documents
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Disclosure

All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. 

It is the belief and the policy of the State of Rhode Island that the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, handicap/disability, age (subject to certain limitations established by law) or veteran status of an individual should neither serve as a barrier to his or her equal opportunity for employment nor be the basis of harassment in the workplace. The Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education fully endorses this basic policy of nondiscrimination.