Academic Advisor (Resource Navigator)

OUR MISSION

BRICK is on a mission to support families from pre-cradle-to-career through holistic support, excellent schools, and clear pathways to college and career. By creating a comprehensive network of services, we are righting the wrongs of racial and economic inequality and paving the way for families to forge futures abundant with opportunity, wellness, and joy

OUR VISION

BRICK envisions a world of racial and economic justice, where every child and family has the support they need to learn, achieve, and work towards a fulfilling life of personal and collective prosperity.

To learn more about BRICK, please visit https://www.bricknetworks.org/

Overview

A college degree can be a life-changing ticket to career fulfillment and economic mobility. But for many Gateway U students, working adults, parents, returning citizens, and those navigating systemic barriers, academic success is only one piece of the equation. Gateway U was built to remove those barriers.

As New Jersey’s first hybrid degree pathway site, Gateway U combines flexible, competency-based college programs with high-touch coaching and wraparound support, ensuring students don’t just enroll, but persist, graduate, and thrive. The Academic Advisor (Resource Navigator) plays a critical role in this mission by addressing the non-academic barriers that often prevent students from completing their degrees.

The Role

The Specialized Academic Advisor (Resource Navigator) is a dual-role position that blends academic advising with intensive wraparound support coordination. This advisor will manage a caseload of students, ensuring they are progressing academically while also identifying, addressing, and removing life barriers that impact persistence. This role is ideal for someone who understands that: Students don’t drop out because they can’t learn, they stop out because life gets in the way.

Key Responsibilities

1. Academic Advising & Coaching (50%)

• Manage a caseload of students to ensure consistent academic progress
• Build strong, trust-based relationships with students to support persistence and completion
• Monitor daily and weekly student progress data to identify intervention points
• Meet with students (in-person, virtual, or phone) to:
  • Set goals
  • Review academic projects
  • Provide feedback and accountability
• Support students in navigating the competency-based SNHU model
• Collaborate with the advising team to problem-solve barriers to academic progress
• Analyze trends across caseloads and implement strategies to improve outcomes

2. Resource Navigation & Wraparound Support (50%)

Serve as the primary Resource Navigator for assigned students: Conduct holistic student assessments to identify barriers (housing, childcare, employment, transportation, technology, mental health, etc.)

• Develop individualized student success plans that address both academic and life needs
• Connect students to internal and external resources (public benefits, workforce programs, childcare providers, mental health services, etc.)
• Build and maintain relationships with community-based organizations, service providers, and referral partners across Newark
• Track student progress against their support plans and provide ongoing follow-up and accountability
• Advocate for students navigating complex systems (financial aid, public assistance, re-entry services, etc.)
• Support students through crisis intervention and escalation when needed
  Maintain accurate documentation of services, referrals, and outcomes

3. Logistics & Operations (10%)

• Support daily operations of the student center (study spaces, student engagement)
• Assist with workshops, orientations, and student programming

4. Other (Flexible/Entrepreneurial Work)

• Participate in community engagement efforts
• Support recruitment and enrollment as needed
• Take on additional responsibilities aligned with Gateway U’s growth

About You

• You are deeply committed to educational equity and community impact and understand that student success requires more than academics.

You are:

• A relationship builder who meets students where they are
• A problem-solver who can navigate complex systems
  Community-rooted and knowledgeable about local resources
• Energized by working in a fast-paced, mission-driven startup environmen

Experience

• 3+ years of experience (academic advising, case management, social work, education, workforce development, or similar)
• Experience managing a caseload of students or clients
• Experience connecting individuals to resources and support services strongly preferred
• Bachelor’s degree required

Skills

• Strong assessment and case management skills
• Ability to create and track individualized support plans
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills
• Data-driven mindset with strong organizational skills
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and problem-solve in real time
  Comfort with technology platforms and student data systems

Success in This Role Looks Like:

Academic Goals

• 80% of students on your caseload are on track to master 8 projects by the end of their current term.
• 80% of students on your caseload are on track to graduate within 3 years.
• 70% of students on your caseload persist to the consecutive term. 
• 0% of your caseload receive pell recalculations

Engagement Goals 

• The Academic Department will host two events annually, achieving at least 75% attendance from active students.

Resource Goals

• 100% of actively enrolled students have a profile within Salesforce.
• 70% of actively enrolled students grow at least one step up within one year
• 48-hour response time for triage; 5 business days to provide a solution.