College Navigator NEW

Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham Technical College
Summary: In this dynamic, student-centered role, you’ll provide personalized academic and career coaching, guiding students from their first questions about college to graduation and job placement. If you’re passionate about equity, retention, and empowering diverse learners to achieve their goals, this is your opportunity to help shape futures one student at a time.

Salary: $5528 per month
Position Duties and Responsibilities:

Under general direction, the College Navigator will offer educational pathway planning and career development to BTC students through personalized coaching and support services.

• Provide comprehensive academic and career advising to prospective and current students, including individual and group meetings focused on educational pathways, career exploration, and goal-setting.
• Support a targeted caseload of students by developing and monitoring Academic, Career, and Personal Success Plans; reviewing assessment results; advising on course placement; and intervening with students in academic jeopardy.
• Educate students on academic policies, programs, admissions, graduation requirements, transfer options, and the implications of academic decisions, such as course changes or program transitions.
• Collaborate closely with faculty and instructional programs to deliver integrated advising and career support within classes, early program stages, and core programs.
• Provide career development leadership by offering workshops, presentations, and individual and group career services, including career exploration; résumé and cover letter review; mock interviews; job and internship search assistance; and support of career fairs.
• Coordinate referrals to campus departments and external agencies (e.g., WorkSource, Opportunity Council, Goodwill Learning Center, DVR, L&I) to support student persistence and success.
• Communicate proactively and effectively with students and partners using technology and direct outreach, demonstrating excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Contribute to campus-wide retention, completion, and job placement efforts, with particular attention to the success of students from underrepresented populations through ongoing professional development.
• Utilize student information, advising, and tracking systems to document services, assess program effectiveness, and support data-informed decision-making.
• Participate in campus and community engagement activities, including interdepartmental collaboration, industry advisory committees, and meetings on and off campus.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent customer service skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal users and external partners
• Proficient in writing clear documentation, both independently and using collaborative tools
• Able to adapt readily to new challenges, processes, and job responsibilities while functioning effectively during high-paced and high-volume seasons
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills
• Demonstrated integrity and discretion when accessing and handling individual or institutional information for stated business purposes
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with attention to detail and a proven ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to work independently, manage responsibilities on a flexible schedule, and effectively use Microsoft Office Suite and related data systems

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ability to pass a Washington State background check upon job offer
• Ability to commute to regional events and activities
• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution

AND

• A minimum of two years ( 4,000 hours) of relevant experience in case management; academic or career coaching; counseling; workforce development; student success/retention services; or comparable direct-service roles supporting educational and career outcomes.

OR

• Combination of experience and training that provides the applicant with the knowledge and skills to perform the job will be considered

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in education, student affairs/services, counseling, human development/relations, social work, psychology, sociology, communications, public administration, workforce development, or related fields.

• Demonstrated ability to support the success of individuals with varied academic abilities and backgrounds
• Experience working in higher education and/or adult and continuing education
• Experience in student advising, career guidance, educational planning and/or career services in a technical/community or other college setting

• Experience with student learning, success, and account systems such as Canvas, ConexED, and ctcLink

• Workshop, seminar, presentation, facilitator, or teaching experience

Physical Work Environment:

The duties of this position are primarily performed in an open office setting in an educational institution. Every day varies with some days predominantly working face to face with students and others consisting of prolonged periods of working on a computer independently.

Compensation, Work Schedule and Benefits: Salary$5528 per monthWork schedule:

Generally, the schedule is Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with occasional hours scheduled outside of this typical workday. Candidate must be willing to work on-site for all of their schedule.

Benefits:

Leave benefits:

• 8 hours per month of sick leave
• 16 starting at hours per month of vacation leave
• 24 hours of personal leave per calendar year
• 13 paid state/college holidays per calendar year

Benefits also include a Washington State insurance package including selecting one of:

• 6 medical options
• 3 dental plan options
• 3 vision plan options

Include:

• life insurance
• long-term disability

Retirement benefits package including one of:

• TIAA Stare Board Retirement Plan (SBRP)
• Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) Plan 3

Two voluntary investment (not matched) programs

• TIAA (403b)
• State Deferred Compensation (457) plan

Additional optional benefits include ability to participate in:

• Medical Flexible Spending plan
• Limited Purpose Flexible Spending plan
• Health Savings Account
• Dependent Care Assistance
• Discounts for automobile and homeowner insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Up to 21 days of military leave
• Up to 5 days of paid bereavement leave
• Paid civil/jury duty
• Bereavement leave
• Ability to participate in a shared leave program

Application Procedures and Deadline:

Required application materials must be completed and submitted online at and received by 5 p.m. on April 27, 2026, for priority consideration.

Application materials received after this date and time may be considered until the position is filled.

More information about Bellingham Technical College is at or contact the Human Resources Office at . At this time, BTC is not sponsoring H-1B Visas.

Required Online Application Materials:

(Attachments in Word or PDF file only)

• Complete the online Application
• Supplemental Questions
• Successful candidate will need to complete a background check

Interviews are tentatively scheduled for May 20-22, 2026

Compensation details: 31.77-31.77 Hourly Wage

PIf29e-3296