Disability Program Navigator Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

Requisition No: 878408
Agency: Department of Education
Working Title: Hope Navigator-DOE - 48003580
Pay Plan: Career Service
Position Number: 48003580
Salary: 50,584.67 - 53,113.90
Posting Closing Date: 07/07/2026
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Florida Department of Education
Division of Public Schools
Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services
Location: Tallahassee Turlington
Position Title: Hope Navigator - (CS)
Salary Range: $50,584.67 - $53,113.90
CANDIDATES ARE TYPICALLY HIRED AT THE MINIMUM SALARY
This advertisement may be used to fill multiple vacancies up to six months.
APPLICATION INFORMATION & HIRING REQUIREMENTS
Application Information:

• Your Candidate Profile (application) must be complete in its entirety.
• Work History (in easy to review chronological order) Consists of:

• • Any position held by a State of Florida Agency
  • Any position held by a Florida University
  • All periods of employment from high school graduation
  • All periods of current or prior unemployment
  • Gaps 3 months or more must be accounted for*
  • Any Education
  • Any Volunteer Experience
  • Your resume and application must match
• *Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed - you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps.
• It is unacceptable to use the statement "See Resume" in place of entering work history. Your candidate profile will be converted to your official application.
• Include supervisor names and phone numbers for reference checks or the contact information for your Human Resources office to verify current or former employment.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.

Hiring Information and Requirements:

• The Bureau of Personnel Management reviews every application for prior State of Florida and Florida University work history in the People First system.

• If claiming Veteran's Preference, the candidate MUST attach supporting documentation such as the DD214 and your VA Letter that reflects level of disability if applicable. Applicable to career service positions only.
• If claiming Right to First Interview, the candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions. Applicable to career service positions only.

If you are missing any of the items above, your packet may be held up at the final review step.
NOTE: Responses to qualifying questions must be clearly supported by the state application and any omission, falsification, or misrepresentation in the answering of the qualifying questions will be cause for immediate elimination from the selection process.
OFFICE CONTACT:
Madison Strickland, 850-245-0950
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Program Specialist IV provides direct support to parents/guardians through the Hope Navigator Program. The services provided will include, but are not limited to:

• Intake-The FDOE Hope Navigator will interact with the parent to collect and record contact and background information.
• Needs Assessment-The FDOE Hope Navigator will help the parent of a child with disabilities by identifying barriers to their child getting services.
• Service Planning-The FDOE Hope Navigator will refer the parent to the local school district and organizations that deliver services to students with disabilities, including non-profit scholarship funding organizations that administer the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities. The Hope Navigator will also provide one-on-one support for the parent to develop a plan to achieve educational outcomes for his or her child. The Hope Navigator will collaborate closely with other partner agencies to ensure other barriers the family is facing can be addressed through Hope Florida community partners.
• Monitoring and Evaluation-FDOE will identify, measure and report Hope Navigator Program overall metrics which may include:
• Identification of students with disabilities and access to services.
• Parent satisfaction with exceptional student education services.
• Improved educational performance for students who receive support from Hope Florida.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides information, technical assistance and support related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to parents, families and stakeholders.
• Collaborates with other state agencies and partners to support parents/guardians in obtaining services through Hope Florida.
• Develops, produces or revises technical assistance documents and other reports, resource manuals and correspondence to foster the development and implementation of quality educational programs and parent services.
• Collaborates with local schools, districts and discretionary project staff in planning, development and evaluation of Hope Navigator services for the improvement of services; and provides technical assistance to schools, district level staff and instructional personnel regarding the needs of students with disabilities and their families.
• Manages assigned discretionary projects.
• Reviews, analyzes and interprets student data regarding the implications for improving student outcomes.
• Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the State Performance Plan (SPP) and participates as a team leader or team member in activities associated with specific SPP indicators.
• Assists in program reviews for compliance with state and federal regulations
• Assist other sections as related to their expertise.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR:
The employee must be productive under tight timeframes, balance multiple and competing priorities and maintain goal-directed behavior and performance sometimes under stressful conditions. The employee must interact courteously with others. The employee's performance and behavior must demonstrate consideration of the workload concerns of others and must not negatively affect the productivity and moral of the unit. Attendance is an essential function of this position.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to communicate effectively including verbal and written communication
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with multiple stakeholders

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Preference will be given to applicants who have excellent writing skills

EDUCATIONAL SUBSITITUIONS:
SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements.

• A bachelor's degree in education from an accredited college or university can replace years of direct experience working with students with disabilities.

THE MISSION STATEMENT
The Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services administers programs for students with disabilities. Additionally, the Bureau coordinates student services throughout the state and participates in multiple inter-agency efforts designed to strengthen the quality and variety of services available to eligible students with disabilities.
Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services Web Page
WORKING FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS BENEFITS!
* State Group Insurance coverage options+
(health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental option)
* Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (www.myfrs.com)
* Nine paid holidays and a Personal Holiday each year
* Annual and Sick Leave Benefits
* Student Loan Forgiveness Program (Eligibility required)
* Flexible Spending Accounts
* Tuition Fee Waivers (Accepted by major Florida colleges/universities)
* Ongoing comprehensive training provided
* Career Growth
* Highly skilled, professional environment
*Maternity and Parental Leave Benefits
For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.
* We care about the success of our employees.
* We care about the success of our clients.
* We are always improving our technology, our tools, our customer's experiences and ourselves.
* A rewarding experience for reliable, compassionate and professional employees.
LEAVE INFORMATION: (CS)

• Annual Leave - All full-time Career Service employees filling established positions earn annual leave in varying increments dependent upon years of creditable service. Employees with up to 5 years of creditable service earn 8.667 hours per month, with 5 to 10 years earn 10.833 hours per month and those with over 10 years of service earn 13 hours per month. Employees in Senior Management Service and Selected Exempt Service positions are credited with 176 hours of annual leave upon appointment. In subsequent years, the annual allotment is credited on the anniversary date of the initial appointment.
• Sick Leave - Career Service employees earn 8.667 hours of sick leave credits per month

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT
It is the policy of the Florida Department of Education that applicants for employment/volunteer undergo Level 2 background screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer. You will be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications. No applicant for a designated position will be employed, contracted or permitted to volunteer until the level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Department. Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, finger printing for all purposes and checks under this requirement, statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, federal criminal records check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local criminal records checks through local law enforcement.
SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM (SSS) AND REQUIREMENT
Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Other Personal Services (OPS) or Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS) unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.
For more information, please visit the Selective Service website.
If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287
Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.
The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.
VETERANS' PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans' Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans' Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here. All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.
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