Basic Needs Student Support Specialist

City Colleges of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 61,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

Truman College seeks a Basic Needs Student Support Specialist to connect students with basic needs resources and community partners. You will support enrollment in public benefits and coordinate on-campus partnerships through the Wellness Center.

You will oversee the Healthy Food Market operations, manage partner collaborations, and publicize food resource programs to enhance student well-being and access to food assistance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work or a related field is required.
• Two years of work in social services or basic needs support.
• Experience facilitating access to services as a caseworker is desirable.
• Must obtain a Food Services Sanitation Manager certificate within 60 days of hire.
• Knowledge of housing, food security, and financial aid resources.

Responsibilities

• Connect students to basic needs programming and community resources.
• Assist enrollment in public benefits programs and referrals.
• Coordinate presence of campus basic needs partners with the Wellness Center.
• Oversee Healthy Food Market operations and food resource programs.

Skills

Customer service

Interpersonal skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Time management

Organizational skills

Cultural competence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related field

Food Services Sanitation Manager Certificate (within 60 days)

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Job description

BASIC NEEDS STUDENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

TRUMAN COLLEGE

Truman College is seeking a Basic Needs Student Support Specialistto join our team. The Basic Needs Student Support Specialistis responsible for connecting students to basic needs programming,community partners, and government agencies for basic needsresources. Key responsibilities include meeting with students toidentify their needs and provide information on available resourcesand referrals for additional support services; assisting them withenrolling in public benefits programs; and coordinating thepresence of basic needs community partners on campus.

The Basic Needs Student Support Specialist also oversees theoperations of the campus' Healthy Food Market and other programmingthat connects students with food resources, such as grocery giftcards or on-campus free meals. Performs related duties asrequired.

NOTE: Position is expected to occasionally work outside ofnormally scheduled hours to accommodate GCFD food deliveries.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Basic Needs Support Services

• Maintains relationships with community partners and hostsresource fairs, benefits enrollment events, informational tablingprograms, and other opportunities to connect students withcommunity resources in collaboration with the Wellness Center.
• Meets with students experiencing basic needs insecurity toidentify their specific needs including food, housing, and accessto general medical and health care and provides them withinformation to available resources and referrals to community andgovernment organizations.
• Maintains data and provides reports on number of studentsrequesting information, meeting with staff, and receiving servicesthrough the basic needs support initiative.
• Identifies trends and best practices in providing services tostudents with basic needs and adapting campus services to meetthose needs.

Healthy Market Food Pantry

• Oversees the day-to-day operations of the Healthy Food Marketto include implementing work procedures; coordinating fooddistribution events with Facilities; and data collection andreporting.
• Works alongside staff on food delivery days, assisting andoverseeing staff loading and transporting food deliveries to pantrysite with the use of dollies, and organizing, shelving, andinventorying packaged and refrigerated food items.
• Maintains working relationships with campus administration,Facilities staff, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD);coordinates the scheduling of days per week/month for Healthy FoodMarket to operate; and ensures compliance with all food safetyrequirements.
• Works with the Dean’s office and GCFD to place monthly foodorders and with Facilities Department to schedule the delivery,unloading, and transporting of food orders to food pantryarea.
• Provides information on the operations and services of theHealthy Food Market.
• Implements plans to publicize the Healthy Food Market toencourage student participation.
• Implements and monitors procedures for the registration ofindividuals receiving food pantry services and the maintenance ofrecords as required by the GCFD.
• Supervises staff including work study students, pantry workers,and volunteers; provides orientation and training to all foodmarket workers.
• Ensures adherence to cleaning and storage protocols for theHealthy Food Market operations and to food safety protocols.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands are representative of those that must be metby an employee to successfully perform the essential functions ofthe job. The job requires lifting, bending, carrying, unloading,and moving of food items. Must be able to lift and carry up to 30lbs. in the performance of duties.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university inSocial Work or a related field required
• Two years of work experience in social services or basic needssupport or program development
• Experience providing basic needs programming or facilitatingaccess to services as a caseworker in a social work, healthcare, orhuman services setting highly desirable
• Must obtain a Food Services Sanitation Manager Certificate froman approved training program within 60 days of hire
• Knowledge of community resources, service providers, socialservice agencies, and public assistance programs, includinghousing, food security, and financial aid
• Excellent customer service skills, with the ability to engagewith people from diverse backgrounds
• Demonstrated organizational and time management skills
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communicationskills
• Ability to communicate effectively with students, faculty, staff,and external partners
• Ability to work with and relate to a culturally diverse studentbody, faculty, and staff
• Ability to handle situations with tact and diplomacy
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel,PowerPoint, Outlook)

Additional Information:

The salary range for this position is $61,006.00–$67,106.60.

Offered salary will be determined by the respective collectivebargaining agreement and applicant's education, experience,knowledge, skills and abilities.

WE OFFER : Excellent health and welfare benefit package andlong-term savings and investment programs including 403(b) &457(b) Investment Plans and a pension plan with the StateUniversity Retirement System (SURS) Plan. Generous vacation,holiday, personal and sick days, and tuition reimbursement.Benefits information is found at https://www.ccc.edu/departments/Benefits/

This position is represented by the Local 1600 ProfessionalEmployee Union.

Chicago residency is required for all full-time employees within6 months of hire.

We are an equal opportunity and affirmative actionemployer.

Thank you for your interest in City Colleges ofChicago!