Education Navigator, Project SOAR (South Los Angeles)

ABOUT SoCAL CAN: Southern California College Attainment Network (SoCal CAN) is an alliance of 120 organizations working to increase the rate at which students from underserved communities access and complete postsecondary education. Together, SoCal CAN members provide direct service to more than 350,000 students and families in the region.

ABOUT PROJECT SOAR: Project SOAR is a place-based, college access and success program that supports the college and career dreams of residents living in public housing. As a program of SoCal CAN, Project SOAR is rooted in educational equity and community empowerment. We believe that every student—regardless of background or zip code—deserves the tools, guidance, and opportunities to succeed in higher education and beyond.

Through our partnership with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), Project SOAR provides free, high-quality postsecondary guidance at eight public housing communities across East and South Los Angeles. Launched in 2017, Project SOAR has reached over 5,000 residents with college knowledge, and over 1,000 individuals have received in-depth, one-on-one advising. The program is open to any HACLA housing resident and centers equity, access, and empowerment in everything it does.

Project SOAR has been recognized as a national model by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, the Kresge Foundation, and the Global Business Coalition for Education for its innovative approach to college access and community-based support.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Education Navigator (EN) plays a vital role in advancing educational equity through Project SOAR. Assigned to Jordan Downs and Gonzaque Village, the EN is responsible for independently implementing all aspects of Project SOAR at both sites—delivering individualized postsecondary advising through our drop-in model, leading college and career workshops, special programs, and conducting year-round outreach to engage youth and adult learners alike.

As the face of Project SOAR at their sites, the EN serves as a counselor, advocate, and connector—helping residents navigate college admissions, financial aid, and career exploration while fostering a strong, college-going culture at each housing community. The role requires a high level of autonomy, creativity, cultural responsiveness, and relationship-building, as ENs work directly with residents, community partners, and housing authority staff to provide responsive, high-impact services.

In addition to direct service, the EN contributes to program operations by tracking student data, maintaining site operations, collaborating on social media and marketing content, conducting outreach, and supporting the continuous improvement of curriculum and programming across all SOAR locations. As part of a small, collaborative, and supportive team, the EN receives hands-on guidance and training from SOAR’s Program Director, along with access to ongoing professional development opportunities throughout the year.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Student Advising & Postsecondary Guidance (50%)

• Provide holistic, strengths-based advising on college and career planning, applications, scholarships and financial aid in both group and individual settings;
• Assist students in identifying educational and career goals, developing academic plans, curating college-match lists, and exploring postsecondary and career pathways;
• Provide tools and resources for students to successfully enroll in and complete postsecondary degree or certificate programs;
• Conduct consistent follow-up and continuous student engagement via in-person and virtual meetings;
• Stay current on college access trends and resources for low-income and first-generation students.

Community Outreach & Engagement (15%)

• Perform year-round resident outreach through canvassing, door-to-door leafleting, tabling, phone calls, digital communication, virtual and in-person presentations,
• Meet student recruitment and enrollment goals throughout the academic year;
• Represent SOAR through regular participation in community meetings, events and other engagement opportunities;
• Continuously build trust and visibility within public housing communities;

Program Development & Facilitation (20%)

• Develop, coordinate, and facilitate virtual and in-person group workshops and trainings for students, parents/caring adults, and community partners;
• Promote, document, track attendance, and conduct follow up for group workshops, trainings, and community events/meetings;
• Assist with the planning, implementation, and oversight of special programs, including the annual SOAR Ambassador Program and SOAR Summer Success;
• Identify new topics and issues of interest among SOAR participants and propose new program/project ideas to address their needs;

Data Management & Site Operations (10%)

• Track all student interactions, milestones, and outcomes using Salesforce;
• Serve as the lead point of contact at assigned housing communities;
• Coordinate logistics, maintain program space, manage supplies inventory, and support safety protocols at assigned housing communities;
• Build and maintain positive, collaborative working relationships with HACLA site managers, staff/interns, and service providers to successfully coordinate and deliver Project SOAR programming on site;
• Work collaboratively to problem solve and improve programming across SOAR sites.

Digital Engagement & Communications (5%)

• Contribute to developing weekly content and designing posts for Project SOAR ‘s Instagram;
• Work with the Project SOAR team to plan larger social media campaigns and overall digital engagement, flyers, and promotional materials;
• Engage Project SOAR followers by monitoring and responding to comments and messages, while actively promoting SOAR accounts to increase new followers;
• Cross-promote events and relevant educational content from partner organizations and accounts; and
• Contribute to monthly e-newsletter with content and resources that support student success.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in related field with 2-3 years full-time work experience leading a college access and success program, providing college and career counseling, or community-based work.

OR

• Master’s degree in Education, Social Work, Higher Education, School Counseling, Student Services or related field and 1-2 years full-time work experience in a similar role*

*A master's degree without required work experience will not be considered.

CORE COMPETENCIES

1. Deep Commitment to Educational Equity and Social Justice: Demonstrates a passion for supporting historically underserved communities and advancing postsecondary access and success.
2. Cultural Responsiveness & Community Connection: Able to engage effectively with diverse populations, especially low-income, first-generation, and BIPOC students and families. Strong understanding of the assets and needs within public housing communities.
3. Student-Centered Advising and Support: Employs a strengths-based, holistic advising approach grounded in empathy, active listening, and tailored goal setting.
4. Program Leadership & Facilitation Skills: Confident in leading workshops, presentations, and group programming for a wide range of audiences including youth, adults, and community partners.
5. Strategic Outreach & Relationship Building: Builds trust and rapport with residents, partners, and site staff through meaningful engagement, consistent visibility, and integrity-driven service.
6. Strong Communication, Organization, and Time-Management: Able to prioritize multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain clear and responsive communication with diverse stakeholders.
7. Independent Judgment & Initiative: Self-directed, proactive, and solutions-oriented, with the ability to work independently at assigned sites while staying aligned with broader team goals and expectations.
8. Creativity in Engagement and Messaging: Brings creativity to student outreach, digital communications, and social media campaigns to resonate with hard-to-reach populations and foster meaningful engagement.
9. Adaptability & Growth Mindset: Embraces change, continuous learning, and constructive feedback as tools for personal growth, professional development, and program improvement.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Strong understanding of postsecondary pathways, especially in California (UC, CSU, CCC systems);
• Advanced knowledge of federal and state financial aid award programs and requirements, including FAFSA/CADAA, Cal Grant, Pell, etc;
• Familiarity with CTE programs + transfer and career pathways;
• Demonstrated ability to lead and coordinate programs, workshops, presentations and special events;
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Trello, and Zoom;
• Experience using Salesforce or similar software to track participant data, milestones, and outcomes;
• Experience using Canva and Constant Contact to create social media posts and other digital communications.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Must live in the Greater Los Angeles area;
• Must have access to their own reliable transportation;
• Must pass a background check as required by the state and partner agencies.

Highly Preferred Qualifications

• Spanish fluency (spoken and written);
• Personal or professional connection to South LA and/or local community organizations;
• Previous experience living or working in public housing communities;
• Certificate in College Counseling or related field;
• Experience supervising student leaders, interns, or volunteers.

SCHEDULE & WORK ENVIRONMENT

It is important to note that Education Navigators spend the vast majority of their time at the public housing communities; however, ENs must be available for periodic meetings and training that will take place off-site or through video conferencing.

Work Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM

On-site hours: Monday–Thursday, 9 AM- 5 PM at Jordan Downs and Gonzaque Village

Fridays: Remote work/ WFH 9 AM- 5 PM (except for a monthly in-person Friday at SoCal CAN’s office in DTLA)

Flexibility: Occasional evening or weekend hours for special events and workshops

Work Environment:

Education Navigators work directly with residents of public housing, community partners, and youth and adults from diverse backgrounds. Success in the role requires cultural humility, adaptability, and the ability to build inclusive, respectful relationships across diverse communities

HOW TO APPLY

Complete our Education Navigator job application by Friday, May 30th, 2025 for priority consideration. All applications submitted by the priority deadline will be considered. The application will close on June 16th, 2025 or once a candidate has been selected. Application link: https://socalcan.typeform.com/ednav2025