Community Resource Specialist

Community Resource Specialist

The Community Resource Specialist is a student-centered, data-informed proactive crisis management and goal-setting resource for students experiencing a range of practical issues, including but not limited to, healthcare, access to food, employment, and transportation. They will develop partnerships and leverage support services, both internal and external, to support students with immediate and practical life issues. Students who are in crisis situations will be counseled and referred to community resources as needed.

This person will be an advocate for student success by using resources to develop plans for students in all stages of coping with and solving everyday life problems. The position will be an integral part of Student Services and the Navigators holistic approach to advising students.

Key Performance Indicators

Essential Functions

• Provide short-term personal counseling to students.
• Develop and maintain a network of local community resources to assist students with a wide range of non-academic issues.
• Reach out to students experiencing personal issues including, but not limited to healthcare, immediate hunger, long-term access to food, hygiene, homelessness, transportation, employment, medical debt, addiction recovery, and rent/utilities assistance.
• Retain students providing support, connect students to resources working with outside agencies and increase retention.
• Walk students through each step of the process for securing needed resources from both internal and external resources.
• Work with students to provide motivation, confidence, and resilience while attending college.
• Understand the functions of various offices and connect students with the right people to assist them internally, if needed.
• Assess student learning and assist students with study skills, time management, and connection to needed resources to eliminate barriers to success.
• Maintain student records, preparing reports when needed to measure student and program success.
• Work with Partners in Prevention to survey our students and share the results annually.
• Participate in all registration events and student orientation programs.
• Make recommendations to improve student services program success.
• Exhibit exemplary attendance and punctuality.
• Comply with College policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned, i.e., serving on committees and attending community events.

Required Behaviors, Competencies, and Skills

• Empathy
• Communication
• Organization
• Critical Thinking
• Active listening
• Self-care
• Cultural Competence
• Patience
• Maintain accurate knowledge of college programs and resources
• Maintain accurate knowledge in relevant academic and non-academic areas to provide information to students to assist them in college success
• Interpersonal skills:
  Be available and respond timely to student needs
• Maintain professionalism and a positive attitude in communications with students and staff
• Be proactive in reaching out to students to offer resources to help them be successful in program completion
• Polished verbal and written presentation skills to provide education information in small and large groups
• Technical skills:
  Maintain up to date knowledge of communication tools and effectively use those tools
• Maintain up to date knowledge to effective track and report on program data
• Experience with data management and computer systems

Experience

• Required education, knowledge, skills, and abilities:
  Bachelor's degree in social work or a related field from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning.
• Experience in case management, advising, or a relevant experience.
• Ability to transition between interpersonal skills and data management quickly and often.
• Demonstrated ability to work and communicate effectively with all constituencies of a diverse college community.
• Proficiency with a variety of computer operations, and the ability to learn and adapt to new software and tracking tools.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively via email, phone, video chat, text messaging, and public speaking.
• Outgoing and engaging personality.
• Additional Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  At least three years of directly related work experience in social service, case management, advising, or education.
• Master's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning.
• A desire to improve systems and processes.
• Experience working within a community college.
• Industry Knowledge:
  Ability to keep current on the theory and practice of counseling, advising, higher education and administration and national trends affecting education
• Experience in higher education a plus

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

Working in a professional office environment this position requires sitting, standing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, walking, pushing, pulling, light lifting, grasping, talking,…