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Lead Navigator



Posting Number A01887 Position Title Lead Navigator Position Number TE2159 Salary for Announcement
The salary range is $49,900-$62,400.
The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.
The above salary range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. MSU Denver offers a full benefits package.
This is a temporary grant funded position with funding approved through 06/2026. Pay Grade
16 Employee Category Professional staff Department Orientation, Transfer and Re-engagement EClass Code Full Time Professional Staff Position Summary
The lead navigator reports to the director of the Transfer and Adult Student Success Center within the Orientation, Transfer, and Reengagement unit. The position is funded as part of a five-year grant by the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative’s ( COSI ) Finish What You Started ( FWYS ) program. In collaboration with the director of the Transfer and Adult Student Success center, the lead navigator will provide visionary leadership to support the student success model outlined within the grant. Specifically, the lead navigator will ensure timely and appropriate reporting related to the key elements identified by the grant: financial support, outreach and recruitment, postsecondary process and enrollment, financial literacy, financial aid application, academic success, connection to resources, individual student support, and completion and transition to the workforce. This position will collaborate with the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, Individualized Degree Program, Prior Learning Assessment, Student Engagement and Wellness, the Classroom to Career Hub, and academic departments and advising offices to build a support network that will ensure holistic and wraparound support for FWYS students.

The lead navigator will provide supervision and leadership to a team of professional staff referred to as navigators. These navigators will provide direct service to students from recruitment, admissions to MSU Denver, and onboarding to retention programming and degree completion planning. In addition, the lead navigator will serve a caseload of 25-100 COSI FWYS scholarship recipients to provide academic, sociocultural, and familial supports through direct student services and connection to key resources.

The lead navigator views leadership as a dynamic process in which professional growth and development of staff and serving students are top priorities. This is a position that works directly with campus constituents, a diverse student body, and has the potential to make a positive impact on student lives. This position is grant funded through June 2026.

Within the Division of Student Affairs, we strive to create an equitable learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. Rather, it requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a foundation for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver. Our student population consists of over 55% first generation students and over 45% students of color.

Metropolitan State University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer.

IND208 Duties/Responsibilities
(40%) – SUPERVISION / TRAINING
  • Oversees the hiring, training, and evaluation of Transfer & Adult Student Success Center staff, including professional staff, graduate students, and student staff.
  • Oversees the development of training materials and implementation of training activities for staff.
  • Provides effective performance management to staff; supporting the development of annual professional goals and assessment.
  • Creates leadership development opportunities and supports the professional growth of employees and contributes to staff well-being and retention to MSU Denver.
(25%) DIRECT SERVICE TO STUDENTS
  • Conduct re-engagement outreach to a specific cohort of Colorado transfer and adult students who have stopped out for at least two semesters
  • Assist in COSI scholarship recipient selection
  • Provide one-on-one wraparound support for caseload of 25-100 students receiving the COSI Finish What You Started scholarship. Meet with students in person, by phone, and videoconference.
  • Assist FWYS students in building and navigating their academic plans from admission through graduation, providing transfer and financial aid information, and making campus and community referrals as needed.
  • Collaborate with MSU Denver resources to guide students through the enrollment process including admissions, advising and registration, and applying for financial aid.
  • Ensure students complete the FAFSA, CAFSA, COF, and/or scholarship application
  • Thorough understanding of financial needs of scholars and ability to work with financial aid to reduce amount of loans borrowed by students
  • Proactively reach out to assigned students to provide holistic & timely advising, leveraging all available tools to report, monitor, track, document student notes, and communicate with students
  • Develop regular communication system for caseload interaction
  • Provide holistic support by meeting with students semesterly to review their educational progress and make appropriate recommendations and referrals to ensure degree progress and completion as well as career readiness
  • Identify key risk and success factors that may indicate a need for extra support such as GPA, stop-out concerns, probation, Early Alert, First Generation, etc.
  • Engage in goal setting conversations with students, including helping students match their career interests to courses/programs of study, making referrals to C2 Hub as appropriate
(15%) – PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT & LEADERSHIP
  • Proactively contribute to the expansion of the Transfer and Adult student Success Center
  • Assist in the structural development of a caseload-based student support model
  • Provide oversight and guidance to a diverse team of professionals serving a diverse student body
  • Lead with an equity and inclusion mindset
10% DATA, TECHNOLOGY, AND ASSESSMENT
  • In conjunction with the Director of Transfer and Adult Student Services, work with Advising Systems to utilize tools and other technological platforms ( SSC Campus, Visual Zen, Banner etc.) to create processes that will support advising functions and data collection/reporting
  • Oversee the tracking, collection and reporting of Navigator caseload data; Including, but not limited to: fall-to-fall retention, academic standing, number of credit hours taken per academic term, and progress towards receipt of credential
  • Manage scholar success and academic progress within caseload
  • Track and report on individual student appointments
  • Utilize Early Alert data to support identified students
  • Document outreach efforts and use advising systems to maintain current data
  • Create, collect, and provide reports as requested
  • Develop and help implement assessments, such as needs assessments and completion surveys
(10%) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT / OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED
  • Remain current with regard to trends and developments in higher education and high-impact practices related to advising and student support through self-directed professional reading, the development of professional contacts with colleagues, attendance at professional development courses/conferences, and trainings as directed by supervisor.
  • Perform additional duties as assigned by the Director of Transfer and Adult Student Success, including but not limited to service on various University committees/taskforces related to student retention and academic support issues and/or event planning.
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s Degree
  • A minimum of 3 years experience of professional experience advising, counseling, or coaching diverse student populations
  • A minimum of 2 years of professional experience providing supervision and performance management to professional staff to include mentoring, goal-setting, and/or performance evaluations.

Important Note: Successful applicants will ensure their resumes clearly demonstrate that their work experience describes how they meet all required qualifications. Preferred Qualifications
  • Master’s degree in student affairs administration or related field.
  • Experience utilizing and knowledge of: admissions and transfer processes, effective student retention programming, general advising practices, student and academic affairs resources, and financial aid processes.
  • Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse student body (including, but not limited to: working adults, women, persons with disabilities, active duty/veteran military personnel, students with multiple and varying ethnic, racial and national backgrounds, etc.) to increase student retention and completion
  • Proven ability to effectively execute cross-campus collaboration
  • Proven experience using various methods of technology to support student success (Banner, Student Information Systems, Slate, Degree Planner, etc.)
  • Strong knowledge and understanding of adult learning theories and best practices
  • Strong knowledge of transfer student needs and best practices
  • Bi-lingual Spanish/English speaker
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Familiarity with Colorado Guaranteed Transfer Pathway Courses and Articulation Agreements.
Work Hours
M-F 8 AM-5 PM with some evening and weekend hours Posting date 01/03/2022 Closing date Closing Instructions Open Until Filled To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) 01/24/2022 Special Instructions to Applicants
IMPORTANT : In order to be considered as an applicant you must apply via the online application system, www.msudenverjobs.com .

References refers to a list of three professional references and their contact information.

Official transcripts will be required of the candidate selected for hire.

The health and safety of students, faculty, staff and our prospective teammates are our highest priority and as an institution, we are required to have proof of vaccination on file for all employees.

MSU Denver is requiring all employees to provide proof of being fully vaccinated for Covid-19, or to submit an exemption and be subject to following the Covid-19 safety protocols. As an employee of MSU Denver, an exemption or lack of proof of vaccination will require you to submit to weekly Covid-19 testing starting the week of August 23, 2021.
Additionally, all institutions on campus are requiring that masks be worn indoors regardless of your vaccinations status. Talent Team Representative Sophia Montano Talent Team Representative E-mail smontan7@msudenver.edu Benefits
MSU Denver is pleased to offer our current and potential employees a wide array of benefit options. To learn more, please visit the following link:

Employee Benefits Offerings

Diversity Statement
Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. Our student population consists of nearly 50% first generation students and over 45% students of color. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver.

We create an equitable learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We greatly value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. It requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a culture of belonging for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.

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