Academic Navigator

University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Lincoln (NE)

On-site

USD 40,000 - 49,000

Full time

4 days ago

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Job summary

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln seeks an Academic Navigator to support undergraduates, focusing on persistence and degree completion for first-generation, low-income, and underserved students. You will work within a ten-member team to identify needs and connect students with academic resources and services.

Responsibilities include triaging student concerns, partnering with housing, faculty, advisors, and career services, and maintaining detailed outreach records.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and two years of full-time professional experience with secondary to post-secondary aged individuals from underserved populations.
Ability to build relationships in 1:1 advising/coaching/mentoring settings.
Experience providing academic and/or social supports for first-generation, low-income, and/or underserved ethnic minority populations.
Evidence of teamwork and collaboration with other units.
Strong oral and written communication skills; ability to maintain confidentiality.

Responsibilities

Manage a case-management workflow to triage student concerns (personal, academic, or financial).
Collaborate with campus partners to connect students with relevant resources.
Proactively engage with referrals from faculty and staff to support retention efforts.
Use analytics and contacts in a notes system to coordinate outreach to targeted student populations.
Apply inclusive advocacy strategies, considering cultural/contextual factors to support all students.

Skills

Relationship building

Advising

Team collaboration

Verbal communication

Written communication

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Academic Navigator

Position Information

Working Title | Academic Navigator
Department | Undergraduate Educ & Student Success-8450
Requisition Number | S_260684
Posting Open Date | 08/24/2026
Application Review Date: (To ensure consideration, please submit all application materials before review date) | 09/08/2026
Posting Close Date |
Open Until Filled | Yes

Description of Work

The Academic Navigator is dedicated to University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) undergraduates’ persistence and degree completion, especially historically underserved first generation, low-income, and ethnic minority college students. The position will be part of a ten (10) member team that is responsible for supporting the creation of an ecology of validation by utilizing UNL reporting and student information systems to identify students in need of academic support and serving as a validating agent. This position reports to the Director of the Academic Navigator program with a dotted line report to the colleges of UNL.

Responsibilities will include facilitating a case management model that includes triaging student concerns (i.e. personal, academic, or financial) and collaborating with campus partners to facilitate communication and connections with appropriate resources. Proactively engaging with students identified by campus stakeholders including responding to referrals made by faculty and staff across campus and supporting their retention efforts. Using provided university analytics and data to coordinate appropriate outreach and response using a variety of methods (i.e. in-person, email, text, phone, etc.) to targeted student populations and recording contacts in digital notes system. Be able to understand how cultural context, differences, and institutional/social barriers influence the student experience to best employ inclusive advocacy strategies to all students. Engaging in a community of collaborative relationships with student success stakeholders across student and academic affairs including University Housing, UNL faculty, academic advisors, and University Career Services. Engaging in continuous training and professional development to remain informed on existing and emerging strategies to promote student persistence and academic success.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. See https://equity.unl.edu/notice-nondiscrimination/.

Minimum Required Qualifications

Bachelors Degree and two (2) years of fulltime professional experience working with secondary to post-secondary aged individuals from underserved populations in a social work, educational support or achievement setting required. Ability to build relationships with individuals in 1:1 advising/coaching/mentoring settings. Must have experience providing academic and/or social supports for first generation, low-income, and/or underserved ethnic minority populations. Evidence of working collaboratively within a team environment and with other units required. Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills necessary. Knowledge surrounding academic and/or social supports for first-gen, low-income, and/or underserved ethnic minority populations and be able to understand how cultural context, differences, and institutional/social barriers influence student experiences to best apply inclusive advocacy strategies to all students. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills. Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks and maintain confidentiality. Strong interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Four years of fulltime professional experience working with secondary to post-secondary aged individuals from underserved populations in a social work, educational support or achievement setting. Demonstrated case management, advising, and/or counseling skills desirable. Evidence of applying retention and student development strategies into student intervention programs and practices preferred. Evidence of reviewing multiple forms of data to utilize case-based management protocols preferred. Demonstrated ability to develop and/or deliver programs preferred. Demonstrated ability to learn and stay current of complex program requirements, policies and procedures preferred.

Additional Requirements

Pre-Placement Driving Record Review Required | No

Physical Required | No

Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) required. Subject to DOT approved pre-employment & random testing for alcohol and controlled substances. | No

Criminal History Background Check Required | Yes

Compensation and Work Details

Posted Salary | $44,500/yr. minimum

Job Category (old) | Managerial/Professional

Job Type | Full-Time

Alternate Work Schedule (if other than 8-5) |

Work Location (City, State) | Lincoln, NE

Position funded by grant or other form of temporary funding? | Yes