Career Pathway Navigator

Reports To:   Associate Director Workforce Training & Community Development 

Job Summary 

Do you enjoy sharing your knowledge and expertise in the area of workforce development and career readiness? Are you passionate about making an impact and empowering others with life changing opportunities?  If so, Hawkeye Community College has a great opportunity for you!

Our Workforce Training & Community Development team has an opening for a full-time Career Pathway Navigator who will be responsible for guiding applicants through the requirements of various program initiatives that provide tuition assistance, career navigation and other support services. 

Specifically, as a Career Pathway Navigator, you will be assisting non-traditional students with achieving their education and employment goals by developing customized delivery service plans for each participant. Additionally, you will be evaluating and interpreting customer’s vocational/educational potential through aptitude and/or psychological assessments measuring interest, abilities, and work values. Furthermore, you will be collaborating with instructors and staff from other programs, as needed to enroll applicants into classes and monitor participants through their course of study until completion.

Hawkeye Community College is a comprehensive community college focused on meeting the needs of the community by providing quality, affordable learning experiences for a wide array of students through our Adult Learning Center, Business and Community Education Department as well as through more than 50 career and technical programs and liberal arts transfer programs.  Hawkeye Community College’s mission is about empowering students, strengthening businesses and enriching communities with a vision to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve. 

Essential Job Functions  

Important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Assists individuals pursuing careers in high demand industries. 

• Corresponds with potential participants face to face, over the phone, or via email regarding program information, eligibly process and requirements, while thoroughly documenting in a case management system. 
• Schedules appointments with potential participants. Reviews and organizes applications and uploads them into a case management system. 
• Reviews participants’ files to ensure all documents are completed prior to being eligible for enrollment into programs and maintains file accuracy through program enrollment process. 
• Serves as a support/coach/advisor through the eligibility process.
• Determines participants ability to be successful in class through assessments.
• Identifies academic, social and personal barriers that affect student’s progress toward education and employment goals, and provides individualized guidance, connecting students with various resources and developing individualized action plans to address issues such as transportation, financial constraints, childcare, etc.
• Manages participants through the process of completing eligibility requirements to receive assistance.
• Facilitates various workshops, proctors required assessments and holds career navigation discussions with participants. 
• Collaborate with internal and external partners including other college programs, departments, committees as well as industry partners on the development and implementation of existing and future initiative programs, with a focus on creation of career pathways and articulation of programs between credit and non-credit programming.
• Collaborates with participants, instructors and other program staff to ensure students are attending classes regularly and are making progress in their course of study; complete certification, and enter gainful employment upon completion. 
• Serves as a liaison/advisor/coach between students, educators, and industry and community partners.
• Collaborates with other team members to examine and analyze current processes to determine if updates are needed to better serve participants.  

• Provides professional employment and training related services and activities to participants such as job searching, updating resumes, mock interviews and providing leads for interviews and employment opportunities including registered apprenticeships.

• Participates in campus committees as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Unless otherwise approved under Hawkeye’s remote work policy, regular on campus and/or onsite attendance is considered an essential function of the position.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Public Administration, Business, Social Work, Psychology, or related fields and one (1) year of work experience in human services, career counseling, education or related area OR a combination of education and experience to total five (5) years.
• Must be able to travel to and from meetings.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with instructors, coordinators and students.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a wide array of students, faculty, staff, and the general public.
• Demonstrated ability to demonstrate strong interpersonal communication.
• Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite, Google applications, and video conferencing technology. 
• Demonstrated ability to execute organization and department policies and procedures.

Working Conditions

Anticipated schedule is Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm with occasional evening and Saturday based on class schedules and community events.   

Work is performed either in or a combination of an office setting and/or classroom setting using technology.  Requires good hand-eye coordination including visual acuity to use a keyboard and read technical information; arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp. Sit, stand, bend, lift and move frequently during working hours. During course of day, interact with students, faculty and staff in person, by telephone and computers.

Employment Status 

Full-time, hourly position with comprehensive or competitive benefits program including health, dental, vision, life, and LTD insurance, a Section 125 plan for medical and dependent care expenses; holiday, personal, sick, and vacation leave; tuition reimbursement; and a choice of retirement programs—IPERS (defined benefit) or TIAA (defined contribution).

• Wages are determined by considering the candidates education, experience as well as internal equity.
• The beginning of the wage range starts at $22.06/hr (approximately $45,890 annually).

Application Procedure

• Complete an online application at www.hawkeyecollege.edu/employment
• Submit/upload a cover letter addressing the following:
• Describe your skills and abilities related to case management specifically; addressing barriers preventing success and communication with participants.
• Share any experience that you have had relating to preparing individuals to enter into the workforce.
• Describe your experience handling and managing multiple processes and deadlines. 
• Explain your working knowledge and use of computer software including but not limited to:  Word, Excel, Google Suite, Salesforce, database systems, etc.
• Submit/upload a resume.
• Submit/upload 3 professional references with a minimum of 1 being from a current/past supervisor.
• Application deadline:  Thursday, February 26, 2026
• Priority screening is set to begin on: Friday, February 27, 2026. 
• Completed applications, along with the required materials, received after the priority screening date will be considered at the discretion of the college. 

Hawkeye Community College is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, committed to equity and diversity in its educational services and employment practices: https://www.hawkeyecollege.edu/about/diversity-inclusion/equal-opportunity. The College does not discriminate on the basis of sex; race; age; color; creed; national origin; religion; disability; sexual orientation; gender identity; genetic information; or actual or potential parental, family, or marital status in its programs, activities, or employment practices. Veteran status is also included to the extent covered by law. Any person alleging a violation of equity regulations shall have the right to file a formal complaint. Inquiries concerning application of this statement should be addressed to: Equity Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator for employees, 319-296-4405; or Title IX Coordinator for students, 319-296-4448; Hawkeye Community College, 1501 East Orange Road, P.O. Box 8015, Waterloo, Iowa 50704-8015; or email equity-titleIX@hawkeyecollege.edu, or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 W. Madison, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661, phone number 312-730-1560, fax 312-730-1576, email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov. 

If any applicant is in need of a reasonable accommodation in completing the application process, please notify a member of Human Resource Services.