Supportive Services Specialist

Position Summary:
The Learning and Development Initiative (LDI), the professional education and workforce development division of New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), seeks a dedicated, compassionate, and results-oriented professional for an 18-month, part-time (20 hours/week at $50/hour) Supportive Services Specialist role.

Drawing on a professional background in social work or school counseling, this role focuses specifically on evaluating candidate appropriateness and training opportunities, ensuring participants are placed on the right developmental track or coached toward alternative growth opportunities and programs. For enrolled participants, the Specialist identifies and addresses personal and systemic stability barriers—specifically related to housing, child care, transportation, public benefits, and related needs—and coordinates supportive services to reduce the administrative burden placed on each participant throughout their learning journey.

Essential Functions
Candidate Assessment & Developmental Coaching: Evaluate candidate appropriateness and training readiness, co-creating individual growth strategies or guiding candidates toward alternative development programs and resources when appropriate.
Barrier Identification & Mitigation: Work directly with enrolled participants to identify, assess, and eliminate barriers related to housing, child care, transportation, public benefits, and overall life stability needs.
System Navigation & Resource Connection: Assist participants in navigating complex public systems, directly connecting them to available Work First New Jersey (WFNJ), county, state, and community-based resources.
Supportive Services Coordination: Coordinate and streamline wraparound supportive service delivery to minimize administrative burdens on participants and enhance program completion rates.
Participant Retention & Progress Monitoring: Maintain proactive communication and regular touchpoints with participants to ensure ongoing stability, address emerging obstacles, and foster successful long-term outcomes.

Additional Functions
Maintain comprehensive, accurate, and confidential participant case files and documentation for program compliance, reporting, and evaluation purposes.
Administer participant supportive service records through university databases, Learning Management Systems (LMS), and designated case management tracking tools.
Coordinate regularly with LDI leadership, career counselors, instructors, and external agency partners to align supportive services with participant milestones.

Pre-requisite Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Social Work (BSW), School Counseling, Human Services, Counseling Psychology, or a related field.
Minimum of 3 to 5 years of professional experience in social work, school counseling, supportive case management, or human service delivery.
Demonstrated experience assessing candidate fit/readiness, providing compassionate developmental coaching, and navigating complex community resource networks.
Proven experience assisting individuals in overcoming barriers related to housing, child care, transportation, and public benefit systems.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, and database/LMS applications.

Department:
Office of Continuing Education/Learning and Development Initiative (LDI)

Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW), School Counseling (MA/M.Ed.), or Counseling.
Familiarity with Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) programs (TANF, GA, SNAP), county welfare agencies, or local One-Stop Career Centers.
Experience working within grant-funded higher education or workforce development initiatives.