Professional Development Navigator

COLUMBIA GORGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE • The Dalles, OR

26d

About The Position

Outreach, academic advising, and student navigation services to support early childhood care and education professionals in accessing, persisting in, and completing higher education and professional development opportunities across the five-county region (Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman, Wasco, and Wheeler Counties). This position serves as a liaison for prospective and current students, supporting engagement in credit and non-credit coursework, degree and certificate pathways, workforce-aligned credentials, and the Oregon Registry professional development system.
This role reports directly to Child Care Partners’ Director, a department at Columbia Gorge Community College. The Navigator works collaboratively with community partners, early learning employers, and the community college to remove barriers to enrollment, persistence, and completion, and to connect education to meaningful career and employment outcomes.

Requirements

• Strong knowledge of the higher education systems and programs.
• Develop basic knowledge of the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credentialing system.
• Develop strong knowledge of the Oregon Registry Online (ORO) professional development system.
• Maintain and continue increasing their knowledge in the Early Childhood Field.
• Maintain knowledge of the Early Childhood State System in Oregon.
• Work respectfully with individuals of all cultures, backgrounds, perspectives, and abilities.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to follow through to completion of assigned tasks.
• Ability to meet schedules and timelines.
• Ability to work without close supervision.
• Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development and Family Studies, or a related field, or Oregon Registry Step 10, required.
• Minimum of two years of experience working with computer software applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Google Workspace, and Canva.
• Minimum of two years of experience working with adults.
• Minimum of two years working in a community college or university system.
• Must have reliable transportation, a driver’s license, and insurance.
• Ability to pass a background check.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual, bi-literate in Spanish/English.
• Oregon Registry Master Trainer, preferred or willingness to work toward a Master Trainer Credential.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Outreach, relationship building & networking: Conduct outreach and recruitment to increase participation in higher education and professional development opportunities, including engagement with high schools, early learning programs, employers, and community partners across the diverse service region.
• Academic advising & educational planning: Provide comprehensive academic advising and educational planning aligned with degree and certificate requirements, transfer pathways, and the Oregon Registry professional development system.
• Student navigation & case management: Serve as a single point of contact for prospective and enrolled students by providing navigation and case management support.
• Enrollment, onboarding, & transition support: Support student enrollment, onboarding, and transitions by assisting with admissions applications, FAFSA or ORSAA completion, scholarship applications, placement processes, orientation, and proactive re-engagement of students who stop attending.
• Career, transfer, and workforce pathway guidance: Guide students in career, workforce, and transfer pathways by connecting educational goals to regional labor market opportunities.
• Data tracking & reporting: Track, document, and report student engagement, enrollment, resource utilization, and outcomes to support retention, completion, and grant reporting requirements for the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC).

Benefits

• excellent benefits including generous employer contributions to medical, dental, and vision premiums, and participation in the Oregon PERS retirement system

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree