Project Navigator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description

Job Overview

The Student Navigator supports the AVANCE to College program, which blends the Parent-Child Education Program model with coursework, training and exposure to post-secondary opportunities and workforce development. The Student Navigator is responsible for marketing and recruiting families for the AVANCE to College program. The Student Navigator will make home visits, observe the child using the toy made in the AVANCE toymaking class, and coach the participants - assisting them to address challenges they face in their education and careers as identified in their individual goal setting. The Student Navigator will support participating families by assisting with the search for appropriate childcare and providing appropriate referrals for needed services, when necessary.

Job Responsibilities

• Coordinates and conducts recruitment activities in partnership with ACC.
• Collaborates regularly with the AVANCE to College instructor(s) to support programimplementation and ensure participants have access to college and community resourcesand services.
• Implements designated parent-child education curriculum within the classroom environmentin a professional manner which facilitates interactive activities with program participants.Duty involves preparing, reviewing, and modifying, if necessary, lesson plans, class lectures,and other support material for each lesson.
• Encourages participant attendance and retention by contacting parents before class andfollowing up on absences.
• Meets with Program Director / Program Manager on a regular basis to discuss parentingclasses, toy making projects, and support parents' needs and progress.
• Assist the Parent Educator /ACC instructor in conducting all intake paperwork withparticipants with all intake paperwork and pre and post assessments.
• Cooperates with in-house monitoring and National evaluation of program effectivenessduring the intake and exit process.
• Maintains accurate reports, including attendance, participants' progress, Participant StatusForm, and other programmatic reporting, as needed.
• Assists families in identifying childcare options for their children and enrollment process.
• Conducts home visits to observe participant's engagement with their child at home using theAVANCE toys and completes the home visit observation form.
• Conduct case management for participants by maintaining their file, documenting progresstoward established goals, resolving family needs and providing appropriate referrals tocommunity resources as needed.
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• Maintains knowledge of current parent-child education practices.
• Assesses and creates individual education/employment plans to provide or coordinate services to help navigate and enable participants to enter or re-enter academic tracks and/or enter post-secondary education, employment, or training.
• Tracks and monitors participant progress from entry to completion of workforce development programs including but not limited to ESL classes, HSC completion, and secondary and post-secondary education or employment.
• Assists in the preparation of resumes, applications and other items needed by participants to successfully enroll in educational/employment activities.
• Conducts one-on-one follow-up with participant either virtually or in person, as needed to make progress on educational and career goals.
• Ensures high standards of ethics by maintaining high standards for participant confidentiality.
• Assist in procurement and management of materials and supplies for the parenting and toy making classes, in collaboration with the ACC AVANCE to College instructor (s).
• Coordinates with Office Coordinator to create purchase orders for class and food supplies and keeps proper documentation of receipts.
• Attends scheduled meetings, training, and/or conferences to enhance professional growth and ensure well-coordinated and effective delivery of project services.
• Assist with organizing and planning special events, ex. holiday party, major day, graduation etc.
• Maintains communication and completes tasks as directed by the Director of Programs.
• Performs other duties as assigned

AVANCE Core Competencies

• Execution & Accountability
• Problem Solving & Decision-Making
• Communication & Influence
• Collaboration & Teamwork
• Stakeholder Focus
• Adaptability & Continuous Learning

Requirements

Education

Required:

• Associate degree in education, social work, psychology or a related field. 

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree in education, social work, psychology or a related field.
• Graduate of AVANCE to College Program or AVANCE Parent-Child Education Program.

Work Experience

Required:

• 1+ years of experience working in college and career readiness or workforce development in any capacity. 

Preferred:

• N/A

Additional Skills

• Must be bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Must be able to speak and read well in both Spanish and English.
• Must be familiar with the community and community support agencies.
• Must have personal transportation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to maintain records.
• Working knowledge of MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and basic Internet research techniques.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize, organize, problem solve and exercise good judgment with minimal supervision.
• Ability to demonstrate flexibility and creativity.
• Great follow-up skills.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Able to work effectively under time pressure and/or deadlines.
• Must exhibit a willingness to assist in the personnel development of low- income families.
• Must be flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of the families and the program.

Travel

• Ability to travel to various sites: Dependable transportation is required daily with a valid driver's license, a clean driving record (subject to annual MVR (Motor Vehicle Report) check and policy), current auto liability insurance and be bondable by AVANCE, Inc.
• This position can require up to 80% of local travel. The Student Navigator will conduct travel to and from partner and AVANCE Austin sites as required.

Working Conditions

• Work is generally performed in a virtual/hybrid work environment (home, on site, off site). 
• Noise level in the work environment is moderate to occasionally loud (examples: business office with computers and printers, light to moderate traffic, human voices). 
• Standard office equipment generally used includes:
• Telephone
• Personal Computer (monitor, keyboard, and mouse) or Tablet
• Printer/Photocopy Machine
• Calculator
• May be required to operate a motor vehicle during the course of duties.  

Mental and Physical Demands

Maintain emotional control under stress; work with interruptions and deadlines; walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling and pushing, use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; occasional: lifting/carrying, pulling/pushing 10-30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Factors

Occasional exposure to: biological hazards (communicable diseases, bacteria, insects, mold, fungi, etc.). Occasional expose to weather related conditions when working in outside environment/neighborhoods and events. 

ADA/ADAAA Statement

AVANCE is committed to equal opportunity in employment for persons with disabilities and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, and any other applicable state and federal laws. Accordingly, AVANCE does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in regard to application, hiring, advancement, discharge, compensation, training or other terms, conditions and privileges of employment. Moreover, it is AVANCE's policy to provide reasonable accommodations in employment to qualified individuals with disabilities so that they can perform the essential functions of the job, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of AVANCE's business or would change the essential functions of the position. Retaliation against an individual with a disability for utilizing this policy or seeking a reasonable accommodation is prohibited. Individuals with any questions or requests for accommodation should contact the Human Resources Department.