Resource Navigator

Reading Area Community College; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 39,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Reading Area Community College invites applications for a Resource Navigator to support students in navigating campus and community resources. The role focuses on improving academic performance, retention, and graduation rates by addressing barriers such as illness, financial challenges, housing, and food insecurity, with Care Team collaboration.

The position involves outreach to at-risk students, intake assessments, and developing individualized plans.

Qualifications

• Masters degree in social work, psychology, counseling, rehabilitation, human services, or related field.
• Two years of experience working with low income, first generation, and returning adults/non-traditional students or two years social work/case management experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide social support to students to overcome barriers/challenges to academic success by helping them to identify resources and navigate campus and community systems and processes.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to identify students whose basic needs are not being met and facilitate connections with support services both on and off campus.
• Serve as a member of the Care Team to accept and follow-up on referrals from faculty and staff. Contact students by phone, email and appointment to assess the referral and identify the student concerns or issues that need to be addressed.
• Serve as the first point of contact for students that are in distress or crisis. Conduct initial intake and refer to crisis intervention if indicated. Utilize the student reporting software (Maxient) and student information system to accept student referrals and document follow-up.
• Conduct an intake meeting with students to evaluate academic, financial and personal challenges. Develop and individualized plan to help students stay focused on meeting their academic and career goals.
• Maintain and update college and community resources and contacts that serve as primary referral sources for students. This can include but is not limited to mental health providers, housing resources, food pantries, financial assistance, transportation, medical insurance, health care, childcare, and other related resources.
• Establish working relationships with community agencies and partners that provide support services to eligible college students.
• Follow up with students who were not eligible for the student emergency assistance funds to connect them with resources to assist in the crisis situation.
• Assist students who are hospitalized or require in-patient treatment services during the semester. Communicate with instructors to inform them of the students status while maintaining confidentiality of the students health issue.Assist students in changing their schedule or withdrawal from the semester if needed. Follow up with students after discharge to transition them back to the semester.
• Manage the daily operations of the RACC Food Pantry and the distribution of food to students. Train and supervise student staff that work or volunteer in the food pantry.
• Develop, promote and facilitate educational sessions to inform students of services and resources available.
• Maintain accurate records of interactions with all students and data for internal and external compliance requirements. Conduct an assessment of student utilization and outcomes.
• Participate in appropriate professional development activities as well as college meetings and committees.
• Submit reports and serve on relevant committees as required or requested.
• Perform other related duties as required or assigned.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Self-motivated

Independent work

Education

Masters degree in social work or related field

Tools

Internet software

Spreadsheet software

Word processing software

Job description

Title: Resource Navigator

10/29/2026

Apply by date: 11/11/2026

Application status: Accepting Applications

Position type: Full-time

$43,500 per year

Working Hours:

Working hours for this position consist of a 7.5 hour period per day Monday through Friday exclusive of a ½ or 1 hour lunch. Specific work hours to be agreed upon by the supervisor and employee prior to the onset of employment.

Summary:

The Resource Navigator’s primary responsibility is to provide support, assistance, and education to students to help them navigate and utilize campus and community resources that will improve academic performance, semester retention, and graduation rate. The Resource Navigator will collaborate with campus and community resources to assist students with the resources necessary to alleviate barriers and challenges to their academic experience. The Resource Navigator will reach out to students who may be at risk of stopping out due to illness, financial challenges, homelessness, food insecurity, mental health issues, and other barriers to student success. The Resource Navigator will serve as a member of the Care Team and provide support to students who are referred by faculty and staff for care and concern follow-up.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide social support to students to overcome barriers/challenges to academic success by helping them to identify resources and navigate campus and community systems and processes.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to identify students whose basic needs are not being met and facilitate connections with support services both on and off campus.
• Serve as a member of the Care Team to accept and follow-up on referrals from faculty and staff. Contact students by phone, email and appointment to assess the referral and identify the student concerns or issues that need to be addressed.
• Serve as the first point of contact for students that are in distress or crisis. Conduct initial intake and refer to crisis intervention if indicated. Utilize the student reporting software (Maxient) and student information system to accept student referrals and document follow-up.
• Conduct an intake meeting with students to evaluate academic, financial and personal challenges. Develop and individualized plan to help students stay focused on meeting their academic and career goals.
• Maintain and update college and community resources and contacts that serve as primary referral sources for students. This can include but is not limited to mental health providers, housing resources, food pantries, financial assistance, transportation, medical insurance, health care, childcare, and other related resources.Utilize the college website, portal and social media platforms tor promote an awareness of campus and community resources.
• Establish working relationships with community agencies and partners that provide support services to eligible college students.
• Follow up with students who were not eligible for the student emergency assistance funds to connect them with resources to assist in the crisis situation.
• Assist students who are hospitalized or require in-patient treatment services during the semester. Communicate with instructors to inform them of the student’s status while maintaining confidentiality of the student’s health issue.Assist students in changing their schedule or withdrawal from the semester if needed. Follow up with students after discharge to transition them back to the semester.
• Manage the daily operations of the RACC Food Pantry and the distribution of food to students. Train and supervise student staff that work or volunteer in the food pantry.
• Develop, promote and facilitate educational sessions to inform students of services and resources available.
• Maintain accurate records of interactions with all students and data for internal and external compliance requirements. Conduct an assessment of student utilization and outcomes.
• Participate in appropriate professional development activities as well as college meetings and committees.
• Submit reports and serve on relevant committees as required or requested.
• Perform other related duties as required or assigned.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required:

• Master’s degree in social work, psychology, counseling, rehabilitation, human services, or related field
• Two years of experience working with low income, first generation, and returning adults/non-traditional students or two years social work/case management experience in various environments

Preferred:

• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Two years of experience working with students in a post-secondary institution
• Experience in grant management
• Experience managing a food pantry

Computer Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of internet software; spreadsheet software and word processing software.

Other Qualifications:

Self-motivated.

Ability to function productively and independently.

Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to establish positive working relationships.

Excellent organizational skills.

Communication Skills:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints.Ability to write speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style. Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top administration, the public, students and/or boards of directors.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

FOR ANNUAL SECURITY AND CRIME STATISTICS REPORTS: