Career Navigator & College Access Advocate

Goodwill of North Georgia; Decatur (GA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Goodwill of North Georgia is seeking a Navigator to provide vocational and academic guidance, advocacy, training, and case management to Career Services program participants. You will liaison between technical and community colleges, Goodwill, and partners within the CollegeCareerCatalyst (C3) Initiative.

You’ll guide participants through applications, financial aid, registration, transcripts, and all college-system processes, while helping recruit eligible funded participants and delivering

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in education, rehabilitation counseling or a counseling-related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in education, vocational rehabilitation or a counseling-related field with one year experience in college counseling, linking with community resources, special education or instruction.
• Associate’s degree in an education or vocationally related field and two years’ experience in college setting in counseling, linking with community resources, special education or instruction.
• Strong analytical, writing and communication skills
• Experience with medical, psychological, social, and vocational aspects of disability and low-income populations.
• Knowledge of postsecondary education, community resources, occupational information and job readiness.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to facilitate positive actions and growth of participants in a flexible geographic environment where self-direction, prioritizing and organizational skills will be crucial to success.
• Strong ability to exercise sound judgment, patience and maintain positive working relationships with a wide variety of organizations and individuals.
• Reliable transportation.

Responsibilities

• Act as liaison, advisor, and navigator for program participants dually enrolled with technical colleges, Goodwill, and various partners associated with the CollegeCareerCatalyst (C3) Initiative.
• Provide vocational and academic guidance, assistance with applications, financial aid, registration, transcripts and/or all aspects of the college systems, through case management and related services to participants in support of the program’s financial, mission, training, continuous quality improvement and marketing goals.
• Assist in recruiting eligible participants qualified for funding to ensure financial sustainability of program.
• Ensure that highest quality, individualized services are delivered to program participants, with a focus on the mission of Goodwill of North Georgia, Inc.
• Conduct orientation to program, services, and policies and procedures for new participants.
• Maintain regular contact with technical colleges, high schools, referring counselor/agency.
• Teach life skills, work adjustment, pre-employment skills, or other related curricula to caseload.
• Prepare reports and summaries required for applicable funding and regulatory sources.
• Ensure smooth transition of cases across services, programs, and agencies, as appropriate.
• Spend time observing and meeting with participants on the job in community-based work sites, in the high schools, and the colleges.
• Within the parameters of the program, support and advocate for the program participants and their right to a higher quality of life through work and education.
• Ensure protection and confidentiality of participant rights.
• Work with participants and program team members to identify barriers to employment and barriers to education to develop and implement individual plans.
• Ensure ongoing supportive counseling and crisis intervention, as needed, by coordinating referral to and utilization of community resources.
• Ensure and maintain accurate documentation of program operations. Open, review and maintain participant case files and documents according to Career Services policies and procedures.
• Prepare professional development plan (PDP) and engage in quarterly updates on progress in achieving goals.
• Comply with Agency, Career Services, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), federal and grant regulations, policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and the Agency’s safety and security policies and procedures.
• Participate or lead program advisory council, community advisory boards and/or associations related to trade, as assigned.
• Maintain quality relationships with community partners.
• Participate in college, high school, community and Goodwill meetings as needed or as assigned.
• Attendance at the majority of quarterly targeted training forums (TTF)
• Completed all Career Services core training
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

Analytical skills

Writing skills

Communication skills

Judgment & patience

Reliable transportation

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

Master’s degree in education, rehabilitation counseling or a counseling-related field

Bachelor’s degree in education, vocational rehabilitation or a counseling-related field with 1 year college counseling experience

Associate’s degree in an education or vocationally related field with 2 years college counseling experience

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Goodwill of North Georgia is seeking a Navigator to provide vocational and academic guidance, advocacy, training, and case management to Career Services program participants. You will liaison between technical and community colleges, Goodwill, and partners within the CollegeCareerCatalyst (C3) Initiative.

You’ll guide participants through applications, financial aid, registration, transcripts, and all college-system processes, while helping recruit eligible funded participants and delivering