Higher Education & Workforce Navigator - Lake County - YWCA Metropolitan Chicago

POSITION TITLE: Higher Education & Workforce Development Navigator – CCR&R STATUS: Non-Exempt, FT GRADE: 4 SALARY: $56,661K/yr

DEPT: Youth & Family Potential PROGRAM: Child Care Resource & Referral

REPORTS TO: Training & Professional Development Associate Director – CCR&R

SUPERVISES: N/A

SUMMARY: The Higher Education and Workforce Navigator – CCR&R serves as liaison with respect to program/agency initiatives, and provides technical, professional and programmatic guidance, consultation, and support to constituencies as appropriate. Position requires a maximum understanding of the larger implications of higher education as it relates to early care and education. Primary focus will be to support and connect early care and education professionals with higher education institutions. This position is responsible for recruiting and connecting potential and current early childhood care and education workforce members with appropriate professional development opportunities, Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs at 2- and 4-year institutions to obtain additional degrees, licenses, and credentials and to connect them with the best ECE pathway.

COLLABORATES WITH: The Higher Education and Workforce Development Navigator – CCR&R manages relationships with the potential and current ECE professionals, programs, key stake holders at higher education institutions, other YWCA staff members; and community representatives.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Member Contact: Work closely with Training and Professional Development Associate Director and Family and Youth Potential leadership team to review, track, and support educational needs of early childhood workforce. Build awareness of opportunities and pathways to higher education and funding opportunities available to childcare providers and programs in DuPage, Kane, and Lake Counties. Assists in identifying, recruiting and connecting incumbent early childhood care and education workforce members with appropriate Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs at 2- and 4-year institutions. Plan, publicize, and facilitate general informational/educational sessions on higher education and scholarship opportunities and grant opportunities for ECE workforce members and ECE programs in diverse communities. Serves as primary point of both internal and external representation and liaison with respect to program/agency initiatives, and provides technical/professional and programmatic guidance, consultation, and support to client constituencies as appropriate. Use appropriate judgment in upward communication regarding client or member concerns.

Administrative duties: Collect information on barriers to higher education experienced by workforce members. Provide support on assessing needs, sharing information, completing applications, and connection to higher education opportunities through phone calls, email, in-person / virtual meetings. Collect, analyze and evaluate barriers; organize, interpret and present it in meaningful oral or written form for varied audiences and provide solid analysis leading to sound decision-making. Issue reports of all findings on an ongoing basis and provides systematic follow up to all program functions.

Office Management: Assist with managing and updating the internal training spaces within the office. Ensuring areas are cleaned and organized with all materials needed.

NON-ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: Participate in administrative and program meetings and trainings as appropriate to stay informed on priorities, raise issues and provide feedback.

OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED: Other duties outside of the responsibilities of the position may be assigned, whether for a project, special needs task or other assignment.

QUALIFICATIONS: Bi-lingual preferred. The position requires the ability to problem solve and navigate complexities of large institutions of higher education and foster the required relationships with a variety of different student populations as well as community college, university, and child care community. Having the ability to influence others without formal authority is necessary to the role. Intermediate level of skills with MS Office and Outlook are required; skills with database management, proficiency with spreadsheets and internet search applications are necessary. A general knowledge of community resources is desirable.

Discretion is required for handling of documents and for member concerns. Demonstrated respect and appreciation for working in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural work environment must be evident. The Higher Education and Workforce Development Navigator must be able to work effectively with members who may show stress and impatience.

Professional Training Required: A minimum of fifteen (15) hours of professional training related to Early Childhood and/or to the responsibilities of the position is required annually.

*Note: A bilingual Higher Education Navigator who works with a foreign language speaking community must demonstrate cultural competency with that community and fluency in both English and the community’s language (oral and written).

EDUCATION REQUIRED: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university required. Must have at least two years of work experience in early childhood care and education, counseling/social work, family support, adult education, or higher education.

CERTIFICATION(s) REQUIRED: NA

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: NA

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Higher Education and Workforce Development Navigator position is considered “field staff”. Field staff refer to positions that require the main scope of their work to be conducted outside the physical agency location. The physical work environment includes offices; members and visitors may visit with children. The noise level is usually moderate. Movement requirements include walking, stooping or kneeling. There may be a need to reach, lift or move objects, such as packages, supplies and computers. Normal (or corrected) vision range; ability to see color and to distinguish letters, numbers and symbols are necessary to the work, which may require close viewing. Occasionally may need to lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Communication needs include seeing, hearing and speaking. While in the office, there will be periods of sitting, holding a telephone and using computers. Reasonable accommodation will be made for an incumbent to meet the essential responsibilities of the position.

WORK SCHEDULE: Monday – Friday, this position may require work on some evenings and weekends. schedule can vary depending on the needs of the agency.