College Student Support Specialist - Northeast Region of MA

Easter Seals of Massachusetts Inc•Bedford, MA

49d•$26 - $29•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, offering on-campus and virtual support to college students with disabilities. This role focuses on helping students adjust to college academics without IEP accommodations and navigate campus life. The position requires onsite presence at Middlesex Community College (Bedford and occasionally Lowell campuses) and potentially other nearby colleges in the Northeast region of Massachusetts. The College Navigator team provides a supportive environment with comprehensive new hire training, including job-shadowing with experienced team members, to ensure success for both new hires and the students they support.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in related field required; and/or Master's degree in related field
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

Experience with young adults with disabilities preferred
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