Strengthening Community Colleges (SCC4) Program Navigator

Position Title: Strengthening Community Colleges (SCC4) Program Navigator
Department: Customized Training and Development
Division: Workforce Development (WOD)
Location: Advanced Technology Center (ATC ï½ 1400 Big Thunder Belvidere Illinois)
Employee Status: Full-Time
Type: Professional Staff Association (PSA) (Grant-Funded through April 30 2028)
Grade: K
Salary: $53459 -55062 annually
ICCB Classification: Professional / Technical
FLSA: Exempt
Issued: January 2026
Revised: July 2026
Employment Notice: Rock Valley College does not offer sponsorship for employment-based visas for this position now or in the future. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship.
Application Deadline: August 2nd 2026

Reporting Relationships
Reports to: SCC4 Program Director
Supervision Exercised: None

Job Summary: The Program Navigator provides academic career and wraparound support for students enrolled in programs connected to the SCC4 grant including CNC machining mechatronics and welding. The Navigator serves as a primary point of contact from recruitment through completion supporting student success retention credential attainment and transition to employment or further education.
Responsibilities include intrusive advising case management recruitment support student tracking coordination with internal and external partners and documentation for grant compliance. This is a full-time grant-funded position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following.
Serve as the central student support contact for assigned SCC4 programs providing holistic proactive advising and regular communication.
Guide students in developing academic and career plans monitoring progress and intervening when necessary.
Assist students via scheduled appointments drop-in hours email and other communication modes.
Help students navigate college processes policies and available campus and community resources.
Support students in overcoming barriers to persistence including referrals to wraparound services.
Assist with outreach recruitment campus tours and events to build enrollment pipelines.
Follow up with prospective students after recruitment activities; communicate with all applicants.
Provide support for program registration including new student onboarding.
Maintain strong relationships with faculty program directors student services career services and external partners to coordinate holistic support.
Work collaboratively with external navigators training partners and employer contacts.
Coordinate with Career Technical Education teams to meet regional workforce and employer needs.
Maintain accurate student records advising notes and case management documentation.
Track student progression credential attainment employment outcomes and required grant data.
Assist in gathering entering and preparing information for institutional state and federal reports (e.g. DOL ICCB HLC).
Support grant-related activities as assigned including reporting meeting preparation and communication deliverables.
Participate in professional development relevant to the position and grant program.
Represent the College professionally at internal and external meetings workshops and community events.
Provide administrative and project support to the department as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
Associates Degree required
2-3 years experience in providing student-centered support by understanding and responding to the unique needs of each student. Demonstrated ability to adapt advising strategies and connect students with appropriate resources based on their individual circumstances.
Demonstrated project management expertise (minimum two years) Strong track record of timely & accurate program performance & fiscal reporting
Experience and knowledge of community college public higher education and workforce systems
Experience working across multiple constituencies
Experience working with diverse populations

Preferred Qualifications
Bachelors degree preferred
2-3 years experience in implementing academic programs (credit and noncredit) preferred
2-3 years experience creating academic and career pathways to advance student learning and credentialing obtainment preferred

Work Environment
To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job the employee regularly works in an office setting.

Physical Demands
Physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job: While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle feel or operate objects tools or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand talk and hear.