Basic Needs Student Support Specialist

City Colleges of Chicago; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 61,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Pension plan with SURS

Generous leave and holidays

Job summary

City Colleges of Chicago—Truman College seeks a Basic Needs Student Support Specialist to connect students with essential resources, community partners, and government programs. You will meet with students to assess needs and help enroll in benefits, while coordinating campus-based food programs and partnerships.

The role also oversees the Healthy Food Market operations, staff supervision, and data reporting, with occasional after-hours commitments as needed to support campus services.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related field required.
• Two years of work experience in social services or basic needs support or program development.
• Experience providing basic needs programming or facilitating access to services as a caseworker desirable.
• Must obtain a Food Services Sanitation Manager Certificate within 60 days of hire.
• Knowledge of community resources and public assistance programs.

Responsibilities

• Maintain relationships with community partners and host resource fairs, enrollment events, informational tabling programs, and other opportunities to connect students with community resources.
• Meet with students to identify needs including food, housing, and access to medical care; provide information on resources and referrals.
• Oversee day-to-day operations of the Healthy Food Market and coordinate food distribution events.
• Ensure compliance with food safety requirements and coordinate monthly food orders with GCFD.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Organizational skills

Microsoft Office 365

Cultural competency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related field

Food Services Sanitation Manager Certificate

Job description

BASIC NEEDS STUDENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST
TRUMAN COLLEGE

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

The Basic Needs Student Support Specialist also oversees the operations of the campus' Healthy Food Market and other programming that connects students with food resources, such as grocery gift cards or on-campus free meals. Performs related duties as required.

NOTE: Position is expected to occasionally work outside of normally scheduled hours to

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Basic Needs Support Services

• Maintains relationships with community partners and hosts resource fairs, benefits enrollment events, informational tabling programs, and other opportunities to connect students with community resources in collaboration with the Wellness Center.
• Meets with students experiencing basic needs insecurity to identify their specific needs including food, housing, and access to general medical and health care and provides them with information to available resources and referrals to community and government organizations.
• Maintains data and provides reports on number of students requesting information, meeting with staff, and receiving services through the basic needs support initiative.
• Identifies trends and best practices in providing services to students with basic needs and adapting campus services to meet those needs.

Healthy Market Food Pantry

• Oversees the day-to-day operations of the Healthy Food Market to include implementing work procedures; coordinating food distribution events with Facilities; and data collection and reporting.
• Works alongside staff on food delivery days, assisting and overseeing staff loading and transporting food deliveries to pantry site with the use of dollies, and organizing, shelving, and inventorying 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 Food Market to operate; and ensures compliance with all food safety requirements.
• Works with the Dean’s office and GCFD to place monthly food orders and with Facilities Department to schedule the delivery, unloading, and transporting of food orders to food pantry area.
• Provides information on the operations and services of the Healthy Food Market.
• Implements plans to publicize the Healthy Food Market to encourage student participation.
• Implements and monitors procedures for the registration of individuals receiving food pantry services and the maintenance of records as required by the GCFD.
• Supervises staff including work study students, pantry workers, and volunteers; provides orientation and training to all food market workers.
• Ensures adherence to cleaning and storage protocols for the Healthy Food Market operations and to food safety protocols.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

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

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work or a related field required
• Two years of work experience in social services or basic needs support or program development
• Experience providing basic needs programming or facilitating access to services as a caseworker in a social work, healthcare, or human services setting highly desirable
• Must obtain a Food Services Sanitation Manager Certificate from an approved training program within 60 days of hire
• Knowledge of community resources, service providers, social service agencies, and public assistance programs, including housing, food security, and financial aid
• Excellent customer service skills, with the ability to engage with people from diverse backgrounds
• Demonstrated organizational and time management skills
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with students, faculty, staff, and external partners
• Ability to work with and relate to a culturally diverse student body, 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 collective bargaining agreement and applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.

WE OFFER:

• Excellent health and welfare benefit package and long-term savings and investment programs including 403(b) & 457(b) Investment Plans and a pension plan with the State University 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 Professional Employee Union.

Chicago residency is required for all full-time employees within 6 months of hire.
We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.
Thank you for your interest in City Colleges of Chicago!