Highschool Navigator

Department: Education
Classification Level: CS 3
Employment Status: Full time Regular

Reporting Relationship:
The Highschool Navigator will work under the guidance of the Director of Education.

Position Summary:
The primary goal of the Highschool Navigator is to promote secondary school completion, post-secondary attainment, and success in their education goals. The Highschool Navigator will work to increase the percentage of high school students who participate in programs and then successfully transition to education goals or workforce training. The Highschool Navigator will target high school students who most need career planning services and will help students in recognizing education opportunities and ensuring a seamless transition to post-secondary in addition to apprenticeships and workforce training.

Essential Functions:
• Provide ongoing, high-impact education support to a caseload of parents, grandparents, and others. This includes:
▪ Engaging students (e.g., through events and outreach efforts)
▪ Creating educational plans with clear goals, and ensuring students and families achieve them
▪ Regularly reviewing and analyzing educational records
▪ Proactively offering useful advice, tips, resources, and perspective
▪ Communicating effectively and building strong, trusting relationships with families and schools
▪ Meeting with families at their place of work on a regular basis
▪ Joining families for critical in-person school meetings, where appropriate
▪ Generating practical solutions to challenges facing families and students
• Deep understanding of the local education landscape and community
• Cultivate productive working relationships with MFN and community partners
• Forge connections with local educational, political, business, and community-based organizations
• Act as a compelling representative in the community
• Attend and contribute to regular team meetings and other events
• Support efforts to expand its employer and community partnerships locally
• Contribute expertise and perspective to internal trainings
• Assist with the planning and implementation of student success initiatives for students, ensuring and promoting secondary school completion.
• Responsible for promotion of wellbeing, strategies, and program planning.
• Support programming by developing specific programs based on wellness and healthy living, collaborating with other MFN staff.
• Build and strengthen student relationships, exploration, and inquiries.
• Ensure high quality programs for students, including planning and implementing activities and workshops, during school or after school.
• Build capacity within the schools and create partnerships.
• Establish and maintain positive liaison, with dignity and respect, for students, parents, caregivers, community, and staff.
• Maintain improvements aiming for healthy development, and supports in school
• Engage with students, teachers, community partners on discussions and decisions about program support and require of services i.e., outreach activities i.e., Sisters in Warriors program
• Create, monitor, and plan for the wellness initiatives and programming.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and healthy environment for students.
• Act as a liaison with the community, schools, social service agencies, support groups for parents and any other services deemed appropriate.
• Plan, assist and present in public relations events sponsored by the school, work closely with all other involved staff
• Initiate programs and/or services to be provided by the wellness Program (i.e., workshops, importance of prevention/intervention).
• Ensure students have access to learning opportunities and they experience positive developmental, health and well-being.
• Network with other wellness workers/navigators within the geographical area (i.e., Wikwemikong, Mindemoya, Espanola, etc.)
• Develop and maintain liaison with professional organizations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Administration & Reporting
• Prepare and implement annual workplan with timelines, goals, objectives, and outcomes, including required professional development.
• Collect all statistical information related to programs and services for reporting purposes.
• Prepare quarterly reports as required and submit to Director of Education.
• Issue monthly calendars with program activities, events & times, etc. and publicize through appropriate social-media and community newsletters.
• Develop and deliver to culturally appropriate programming.
• Attend relevant meetings, conferences, and training to maintain continuous professional learning
• Provide ongoing evaluation and improvements of programming and services.

Preferred Qualifications
• Diploma in Social and/or Human Services Program
• 2-3 years of direct work-related experience working with students.
• Knowledge of Anishinabek cultural values, history and customs and ability to promote and incorporate into the workplace programming.
• Understanding and fluency of Anishinabemowin is a strong asset.
• Valid First Aid & CPR.

Minimum Qualifications
• Grade 12 OSSD and relevant professional development.
• 5-10 years’ direct work experience.
• Experience in collaborating and integrating programs and services with community and external partners
• Knowledge of Anishinabek cultural values, history and customs and ability to promote and incorporate into the workplace programming.
• Understanding and fluency of Anishinabemowin is a strong asset or willingness to learn.

Other Skills:
• Ability to demonstrate tact, diplomacy, and professionalism
• Ability to always maintain a high degree of confidentiality while working with sensitive information
• Excellent rapport and enjoys working with children/students
• Knowledge of area mental health programs and/or services
• Ability to take initiative, self-starter, work with minimal supervision and is a team player
• Strong work ethic
• Open minded and embrace concepts of diversity and respect
• Flexible and eager to learn and receive feedback
• Excellent, and highly responsive communicators
• Adaptable and comfortable with uncertainty or ambiguity
• Well-organized and able to balance multiple priorities and deadlines efficiently
• Action-oriented and focused on getting results
• Creative, persistent, and effective problem-solvers
• Self-disciplined and able to work well independently in our virtual organization
• Friendly, collaborative, and team-oriented
• Highly comfortable with technology such as MS Office, Google products, and our mobile apps
• Comfortable contributing insights and upward feedback to support our organization’s success
• Willing to travel for monthly team meetings and other events

CRC/VSS Rational
CRC/VSS must be current thirty (30) days, original or certified copy. All employment applicants for MFN Education programs are required to submit a Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screen as individuals will work directly/indirectly with students. All individuals employed under the education program must have a record clear of charges and convictions relating to child sexual harassment or abuse of any kind.

If you are interested in this opportunity, applicants must submit cover letter, resume, with three current references with contact information (two work-related and one character reference) and copies of education certifications to the contact below or by applying to this posting: