WIOA Career Navigator

Elgin Community College serves over 9,000 students at every stage of their educational journeys, including university transfer programs, career and technical education, continuing education classes, and adult basic education. As a community, we pride ourselves on nurturing a welcoming campus where every person—students, staff members, faculty members, and campus visitors—feels valued.

About the role

An employee in this classification performs work of moderate difficulty identifying eligible students to participate in WIOA Adult programs and providing tools for students to assess their potential for completing their academic and career goals. Work is distinguished by the ability to maintain documentation for program files and individual student records. General supervision is received by the assigned manager.

Responsibilities

• Assist with increasing WIOA enrollment through the expansion of recruitment activities including participating in community events, building relationships with community resources, and developing new recruiting plans and activities that lead to cohort minimums.
• Review and determine eligibility of potential participants.
• Enroll new participants and complete proper paperwork with participants as required by the funding agency.
• Meet with and review case files with participants regularly.
• Add case notes of all participant activities and youth goals into the required data entry system.
• Collaborate with various college departments to ensure participants' success (financial aid, student accounts, bookstore, and registration).
• Conduct professional ongoing case management/career/life counseling for grant clients through the four steps of participation: recruitment, enrollment, carry-over, and follow up.
• Identify community resources and support services that would benefit the student; housing, daycare, emergency food, rental assistance, utility assistance.
• Assist Kane County with coordination of services and monitoring of student success in areas of education, employment, and personal development through workshops, supportive services and training.
• Identify and connect community resources and services that would benefit the participant.
• Track all payments made for the program.
• Assist with production of required grant reports as well as development of activities and programming for current and future cycles.
• Maintain required training, licensure and/or certifications.
• Maintain confidentiality of privileged information and adhere to applicable privacy laws.
• Demonstrate sensitivity, understanding and respect of diverse populations within the workplace.
• Maintain an understanding of the work of colleagues to effectively provide backup and/or support for co-workers during times when the division is short-staffed or experiencing an increased volume of work.
• Adhere to department guidelines for attendance and punctuality.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned which pertain to the job description.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule which includes days/evenings/weekends as needed by the department.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in counseling, sociology or a related area with a minimum of two years working with at-risk or low-income populations or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Considerable skill in the use of the Microsoft Office Suite, including but not limited to Word, Excel, Access and Publisher.
• Considerable skill in organizing work to meet established deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.
• Considerable skill in interpersonal interaction to be applied to a variety of individuals with differing education, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Considerable skills in verbal and written communication.
• Working skill in operating a personal computer, applicable software and peripheral equipment as well as learning and adapting to new and updated programs and technology.
• Valid Illinois driver’s license and the ability to commute to offsite locations on a frequent basis.
• Available to attend appropriate workshops and conferences.
• Must be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends when required by the department’s needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual Spanish/English verbal and written communication preferred.

Physical Demands

• Sedentary (up to 10 lbs occasionally, sitting most of the time).
• Close visual acuity (e.g. computer, assembly).

Work Environment

• Moderate noise.
• Typical office or administrative conditions.

Pay

This is a Full-Time Support Staff position at grade 14, with an annual salary range of $55,482 to $73,976. The salary offer will be based on education and experience, in alignment with the College’s compensation philosophy and the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), if applicable.

Schedule

Monday - Friday 8AM - 5PM (with flexibility to include evenings and weekends as needed by the department).

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA, DCA, Commuter)
• Retirement Plans (Pension, 457b, 403b)
• Time Off with Pay
• Professional Development/Expense
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Sick Banks