Career Navigator at Aspire Chicago – Hillside, Illinois

The Career Navigator customizes and delivers curriculum to prepare students to learn the skills needed to attain competitive integrated employment. The Career Navigator serves as an industry expert within Aspire’s job training program. In partnership with the Transition Coach, the Career Navigator connects real industry jobs with Aspire’s job seeks and partners with each student to create career goals and strategies that teach relevant skills within the industry.

Instruction

• Facilitate the training of both simulated work and soft skills development related to career readiness.
• Implement evidence-based teaching practices such as parallel instruction, monitoring teachers, and differentiated split class.
• Develop curricula in program areas to meet specific standards/norms.
• Prepare lesson plans and training schedules
• Partner with Transition Coaches to evaluate/assess each student for interests, dreams, goals, skill strengths and areas of skill development.
• Assess each student on hard and soft skills. Track areas of growth and areas of need.
• Create and score outcome measurements and tools.
• Maintain knowledge of most effective teaching tools and methodologies related to industry standards and best practices.

Career and Goal Support

• Develop plans and recommendations for student career goals
• Maintain familiarity with industry standards and implement accordingly
• Transport students as needed according to schedule
• Assist with onsite job experiences within Aspire’s setting and office at community employer locations.

Communication and Collaboration

• Ensure proper record documentation; complete and monitor student goal tracking
• Communicate concerns to appropriate interdisciplinary team members to support individual needs, goals and growth.
• Attend professional development sessions
• Complete all paperwork and assignments accurately and in a timely manner
• Progress and collaboration with students and their support teams for effective personal development planning.
• Serve as the content expert/training as assigned.
• Comply with quality and compliance initiatives and protocols

• Bachelor’s degree in related field required, Special Education preferred.
• Minimum Two (2) years of work experience in a classroom setting.
• Experience designing evidence-based, multi-modal learning curricula for audiences with diverse needs
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office. Strong Excel skills (including formulas, graphs, and pivot tables), ability to become familiar with emerging programs and software.
• Valid driver’s license with a good driving record, required.
• QIDP certified or certification eligible, preferred.
• DSP certification, preferred.
• Experience working directly with adults with developmental disabilities, preferred.

Competencies/Behaviors

• Communication – effectively communicate (oral and written) across all levels of the organization
• Maintain Confidentiality
• Interpersonal – engage with all people, team members, families and outside organizations in an engaging, courteous and tactful manner
• Customer Orientation – Share information and respond to questions with the desire to meet audience needs
• Collaboration – work with others as part of team with shared, common goals
• Organization – establish and manage priorities, mulit-task, concentrate in an environment with frequent interruptions and/ distractions.
• Facilitation –train in classrooms and simulated environments.
• Reporting – record information accurately and effectively, attention to detail and accuracy

Aspire Values (POWER):

P = We believe anything is possible

O = We all own it

W = We welcome everyone

E = We evolve and try new things

R = W build powerful relationships