LOCATION: Pittsburgh Scholar House

REPORTS TO: Managing Director of Programs & Operations

Position Summary: The Education Navigation Coordinator serves as the student-facing advocate and liaison for the Pittsburgh Scholar House (PSH) Wayfinders Program. The Wayfinders Program is the cornerstone program of PSH’s efforts to empower single-parent, income-eligible families, and adult learners to achieve post-secondary educational attainment. This role will work closely with the Education Program Officer to collaborate with Pittsburgh Council on Higher Educations (PCHE) schools to provide support and guidance to single parenting students at PSH who are seeking assistance with higher education related challenges.

The Education Navigation Coordinator will also support programmatic development and provide basic resource navigation and referrals to the PSH Community of Scholars as it relates to their higher education journey. 

Requested Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred; Associate’s degree with previous related experience can be substituted.
• Documented experience working with nonprofits, social services organizations, higher education, and/or collaborative programming teams.
• Excellent written/oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to problem-solve using creativity and innovation to offer educational services and resources.
• Ability to develop and maintain comprehensive computer records.
• Ability to prioritize work effectively in fast-paced work environment, work collaboratively with multiple team members, and maintain relationships with education and community partners.
• Commitment to diversity and fostering a climate of multicultural understanding and appreciation.
• Commitment to helping single parenting students succeed in college.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Support Parent Scholars Through Higher Education Application Process

• Provide support and guidance to single parenting students as they navigate the college admissions/registration process.
• Respond via phone, virtual platforms, or email to general questions about college applications and other enrollment-related topics.
• Help students navigate financial aid and FAFSA applications.
• Stay up to date on changes in the college admissions and financial aid processes.
• Plan and execute college application skills workshops for prospective students.

2.  Higher Education Navigation

• Provide navigation to scholars throughout their pursuit of higher education
• Organize and help facilitate quarterly PCHE enrollment clinics and PSH orientations for students.
• Assist students with deciding which higher education institution/program best meets their needs.
• Assist students with navigating the scholarship application process and with applying for PSH related scholarships and scholarship application requirements.
• Identify appropriate partners and provide a warm handoff for additional social services requirements for the scholars and their families.
• Ensure that families are connected to wraparound services as needed including, transportation, childcare, food, housing, and mental/physical health.

3. Liaison to Higher Education and Community Partners

• Ensure effective communication between PSH and PCHE schools in the interest of student progress and engagement, increasing retention within post-secondary degree programs.
• Coordinate with PCHE college departments including Financial Aid, Admissions and Records, Registrar’s office, etc., to meet student needs and promote student success.
• Provide resources, support, and referrals to community organizations to assist in student retention.
• Develop and maintain scholar resources and referral database.

4. Programmatic Support and Development

• Maintain electronic records and paper files as necessary, including file notes.
• Support team with vetting applicants and determine the appropriate Wayfinders tier for participants.
• Ensure clear communication with scholars through various platforms including google classroom, email, and phone.
• Support the Education Program Officer with ensuring that asynchronous learning materials are up to date.
• Support the Education Program Officer with maintaining the data management system including data gathering and generating reports.

Qualified applicants should forward a cover letter and resume via email to HROffice@pointpark.edu (preferred) or mail to:  

Point Park University

Human Resources Office

201 Wood Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

When responding via email please reference - EDUCATION NAVIGATION COORDINATOR - PSH - in the subject line.

Please submit documents in Rich Text (.txt) Word document (.doc) or Adobe Portable Document Format (.pdf).

All emails submitted will receive an automatic confirmation email. Due to some junk mail filters, the confirmation email may not reach you. To ensure receipt of the confirmation email, utilize the return receipt option built into your email program when sending your information. 

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. Due to the high volume of resumes received, Point Park University will not be able to respond to inquiries regarding the status of your resume. If we determine that your skills and experience match the position requirements, we will contact you to discuss the opportunity further. If you do not hear from us, we encourage you to revisit our website at www.pointpark.edu for the status of the position and future opportunities. 

Point Park University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.