College Navigator, TRIO Student Support Services

McLennan Community College•Waco, TX

About The Position

The College Navigator provides academic, personal, career, and transfer advising and coaching to a cohort of students who are first-generation, low-income, and/or have a documented disability. The position develops positive working relationships with program participants to support student and program success, assists with TRIO Student Support Services programs, and assesses student success and program effectiveness. The position reports to the Project Director of TRIO Student Support Services and has no supervisory responsibilities. It is grant-funded, and continued employment is contingent upon continued grant funding. This is a security-sensitive position, and an appropriate background investigation will be conducted for applicants under strong consideration. The work is primarily sedentary desk work in a standard office setting, with occasional field trips for college or program activities. The role also includes leading and accompanying students on monthly college tours and educational trips, including one or two overnight trips annually.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
At least two years of relevant professional experience working with populations similar to those served by federal TRIO programs.
Knowledge of advising, coaching, and student success best practices grounded in developmental and theoretical frameworks.
Knowledge of transfer pathways, career exploration, financial aid processes, economic literacy, and student support resources.
Knowledge of academic, social, and systemic barriers affecting first-generation, low-income, and students with disabilities.
Knowledge of TRIO program goals, grant requirements, and retention-focused programming.
Knowledge of student communication and engagement technologies, including online learning platforms and Microsoft Office applications.
Skill implementing student success programming that promotes persistence, academic progress, and completion.
Skill conducting individualized interventions to support academic standing, goal attainment, and student retention.
Skill building and maintaining effective, trust-based relationships with diverse student populations.
Skill organizing, documenting, and managing caseloads in a grant-funded environment.
Skill delivering recruitment presentations and participating in campus committees and outreach activities.
Ability to conduct student intake and needs assessments and develop individualized education plans.
Ability to advise students on course selection, degree requirements, transfer pathways, and academic and career goals.
Ability to monitor student academic progress, evaluate outcomes, and adjust support strategies as needed.
Ability to connect students with appropriate internal and external resources to support academic success and transfer.
Ability to use advising software, student information systems, and technology to support student services.
Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with students, faculty, staff, and community partners.
Ability to interpret and apply federal, institutional, and TRIO-specific policies and procedures.
Ability to collect, analyze, and report data to support program evaluation and grant compliance.
Ability to provide caring, high-quality service with professionalism and empathy.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Responsibilities

Provide academic, personal, career, and transfer advising and coaching to program participants.
Develop positive working relationships with students to support student and program success.
Assist with TRIO Student Support Services programs and assess student success and program effectiveness.
Conduct student intake and needs assessments and develop individualized education plans.
Advise students on course selection, degree requirements, transfer pathways, and academic and career goals.
Monitor academic progress, evaluate outcomes, and adjust support strategies as needed.
Connect students with internal and external resources that support academic success and transfer.
Organize, document, and manage student caseloads in a grant-funded environment.
Deliver recruitment presentations and participate in campus committees and outreach activities.
Collect, analyze, and report data to support program evaluation and grant compliance.
Interpret and apply federal, institutional, and TRIO-specific policies and procedures.
Lead and accompany students on monthly college tours and educational trips, including one or two overnight trips annually.
Provide caring, high-quality service by creating welcoming experiences, communicating proactively, addressing needs professionally and empathetically, and connecting people with appropriate resources.