College Student Support Specialist - Northeast Region of MA

Easter Seals of Massachusetts Inc•Danvers, MA

10h•Hybrid

About The Position

ESMA is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that children and adults with disabilities have equal opportunities to live, learn, work, and play. The College Navigator program is expanding, and this role provides on-campus and virtual support to college students with disabilities as they adjust to academics without IEP accommodations and navigate campus living. The position requires onsite presence at NorthShore Community College (mainly Danvers, occasionally Lynn) and potentially other nearby colleges in the Northeast region of Massachusetts. The program offers a supportive environment with comprehensive new hire training, including job-shadowing with experienced team members, to ensure the success of new hires and the students they support.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in related field required; and/or Master's degree in related field
Experience with young adults with disabilities preferred
Knowledge of pertinent academic areas and learning situations including but not limited to secondary educational systems such as Blackboard, Moodle, Canvas, etc.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams) and Zoom video conferencing
Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
TB test and health documentation clearing for work
Ability to work independently or in groups with minimal supervision
Able to work standard hours between 8 am and 5 pm
Ensure accurate administrative reporting as required
Completes all assigned tasks and projects in a timely and thorough manner
Ability to relate to students, families, and professionals in a positive manner
Flexible and able to work well with others
Maintain open and effective communication
Ability to communicate effectively by phone and in person with professionals and clients with various disabilities
Able to adapt communication style to effectively communicate with all individuals, including those with different communication abilities
Ability to organize projects, prioritize workflow, and complete multiple tasks simultaneously and accurately
Accepts assignments in a positive and proactive manner
Accepts constructive feedback and modifies actions accordingly

Nice To Haves

COVID-19 vaccine (strongly preferred due to campus policies)

Responsibilities

Develop action plans each semester that addresses each student’s goals as they relate to their transition into college.
Provide 1:1 coaching to develop and support concrete goals in areas of higher education and independent living to meet each student's unique needs and encourage independence in all phases of the student’s program.
Support the student with executive functioning skills such as time management, organization, scheduling, etc.
Identify potential barriers and problem-solve around them with students and college staff.
Create a supportive environment between the college and the student.
Advocate for the student by identifying their needs and explain them to college staff.
Maintain ongoing documentation related to monitoring and evaluating client progress on goals.
Communication with referring agencies and program manager including monthly notes, weekly check-ins, and identifying and problem-solving challenges with clients.
Ability to meet expectations, standards, and protocols of work sites and referring agencies.
Assist students with navigating online learning platforms including, but not limited to Blackboard, Canvas, and Moodle.
Help students understand the current college culture and expectations.
When applicable, assist clients in the consistent and appropriate use of assistive technology as outlined in the action plan to develop greater self-sufficiency and functioning.
Review and discuss with the program manager potential referrals for other ESMA programs and services.
Provide ongoing program ideas for improvement to the program manager.
Attend transition-related conferences and represent Easter Seals Transition Services in local and state meetings, as requested by the program manager and/or director.
Resolves routine administrative problems.
Adapt communication style to effectively communicate with all individuals, including those with different communication abilities.
Regular interfacing with students, families, disability professionals, and educators.