Higher Education & Workforce Development Navigator
About The Position
The Higher Education & Workforce Development Navigator – CCR&R serves as a liaison for program and agency initiatives and provides technical, professional, and programmatic guidance, consultation, and support. The role focuses on connecting current and prospective early care and education professionals with professional development opportunities, higher education institutions, and suitable pathways to degrees, licenses, and credentials. The position works with ECE professionals, higher education stakeholders, other YWCA staff, and community representatives, primarily across DuPage, Kane, and Lake Counties. The Navigator supports awareness of higher education, scholarship, and grant opportunities; recruits and connects ECE workforce members with programs at two- and four-year institutions; and facilitates informational and educational sessions. The role also gathers and analyzes information about barriers to higher education, assists members with applications and connections to opportunities, and reports findings to support decision-making. Office duties include maintaining internal training spaces and supplies. This is a non-exempt, full-time position reporting to the Training & Professional Development Associate Director – CCR&R. The schedule is Monday through Friday, with some evening and weekend work potentially required and schedule variation based on agency needs. The position is field staff, with work conducted primarily outside the agency’s physical location.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- At least two years of work experience in early childhood care and education, counseling or social work, family support, adult education, or higher education.
- Ability to problem-solve and navigate the complexities of large higher education institutions.
- Ability to build relationships with student populations, community colleges, universities, and the childcare community.
- Ability to influence others without formal authority.
- Intermediate skills with Microsoft Office and Outlook.
- Skills in database management, spreadsheets, and internet search applications.
- Discretion in handling documents and member concerns.
- Demonstrated respect for and appreciation of a multi-ethnic and multicultural work environment.
- Ability to work effectively with members who may show stress and impatience.
- Completion of at least 15 hours of professional training related to early childhood and/or the position’s responsibilities annually.
Nice To Haves
- General knowledge of community resources.
- For a bilingual Navigator serving a foreign-language-speaking community: cultural competency with that community and fluency in English and the community’s language, both orally and in writing.
Responsibilities
- Work with the Training and Professional Development Associate Director and Family and Youth Potential leadership team to review, track, and support the educational needs of the early childhood workforce.
- Build awareness of higher education pathways and available funding opportunities for childcare providers and programs in DuPage, Kane, and Lake Counties.
- Identify, recruit, and connect incumbent early childhood care and education workforce members with appropriate ECE programs at two- and four-year institutions.
- Plan, publicize, and facilitate informational and educational sessions about higher education, scholarships, and grants for ECE workforce members and programs.
- Represent and serve as a liaison for program and agency initiatives, providing technical, professional, and programmatic guidance, consultation, and support to client constituencies.
- Use appropriate judgment when communicating client or member concerns to leadership.
- Collect information about barriers to higher education experienced by workforce members.
- Support needs assessments, information sharing, application completion, and connections to higher education opportunities through phone, email, and in-person or virtual meetings.
- Collect, analyze, and evaluate barriers; interpret and present findings in meaningful oral or written formats for varied audiences.
- Issue ongoing reports of findings and provide systematic follow-up on program functions.
- Help manage and update internal office training spaces, keeping areas clean, organized, and supplied with necessary materials.
- Participate in administrative and program meetings and trainings as appropriate.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
