Student Success Coach (Part-time)

Are you a person of compassion? An advocate for justice? Someone who stands up for the rights of the vulnerable and speaks out for the marginalized, the exploited and the forgotten?  Do you believe in our calling as Christians to welcome the least of these and love our neighbor? If you answered ‘yes’, to any of the above, World Relief, and millions of people around the world need you. At this pivotal moment in time, we are rapidly expanding and growing our team to meet the increasing needs of our world. We are looking for people who want to use their gifts and talents to make a real and tangible difference in our world and the lives of the suffering.   If you’re looking for a purpose-driven career in which you can grow your talents, while also standing up for the rights of the vulnerable, we want you to join us today.     ORGANIZATION SUMMARY World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization whose mission is to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the church. The organization was founded in the aftermath of World War II to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of war-torn Europe. Since then, for 80 years, across 100 countries, World Relief has partnered with local churches and communities to build a world where families thrive and communities flourish. Today, organizational programming focuses on humanitarian and disaster response, community strengthening and resilience, and refugee & immigrant services and advocacy. This position is reliant upon funding and may be subject to modification or termination based on resource availability. POSITION SUMMARY: World Relief Chicagoland serves adult immigrants and refugees at every stage of their language and career development journey, including contextualized English instruction, career-specific training, and workforce readiness. The Student Success Coach ensures learners achieve successful outcomes by providing proactive outreach, individualized coaching, and barrier mitigation. This role supports participants in completing industry-recognized credentials and transitioning seamlessly to employment or further education through intentional planning and warm hand-offs, while strengthening community relationships that build partnerships for increased opportunity. This is a part time position for 32 hours per week. 1 day onsite and 4 work from home days. ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Guide learners through academic training plan: Collaborate with students to create individualized career maps anchored in SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound), ensuring timely completion of credentialing steps and alignment with long-term career objectives.  

Support credential attainment: Coach learners through Pre-Bridge, Bridge, and ICAPS training; build study skills and exam readiness for industry-recognized credentials.  

Remove systemic barriers: Connect students to wraparound supports (transportation, childcare, technology access, food security, and mental health services) to promote persistence and completion.  

Foster motivation and self-advocacy: Maintain regular check-ins, track progress against SMART milestones, and implement personalized strategies to overcome obstacles.  

Deliver proactive outreach: Communicate via Zoom, email, text, and in-person appointments, using qualified interpretation to ensure language access.  

Coordinate warm hand-offs: Partner with Community Colleges for post-secondary transitions and with Career Pathways Specialists for employment and additional vocational training, ensuring employer readiness and alignment with career goals.  

Collaborate across teams: Work closely with instructors, Workforce Development, Case Management, Counseling, and Student Support Services to monitor progress, identify barriers, and deploy targeted interventions.  

Track and report outcomes: Document participation, progress toward SMART goals, and credential attainment for evaluation and continuous improvement.

Maintain strong lines of communication with partner community colleges to coordinate placement, registration, advising, and clinical scheduling, ensuring smooth transitions from adult education into credit-bearing and credential programs. 

Represent the department with community partners (employers, libraries, community centers, social service agencies) by attending meetings, sharing program updates, and elevating learner needs to strengthen referral pathways and employer readiness. 

Contribute to partnership quality assurance by gathering feedback on learner preparedness and workplace performance, and by coordinating continuous improvement with department leadership.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Mature and personal Christian faith

Committed to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief

Desire to serve and empower the Church to impact vulnerable communities

Able to affirm and/or acknowledge World Reliefs Core Beliefs, Statement of Faith, Christian Identity and National Association of Evangelicals' For the Health of The Nation document

Bachelor’s degree required, preferred in the following areas: education, human services, counseling or other related fields 

At least one year’s experience in the field of Adult Education as a Student Success Coach or equivalent (Academic Advisor, Transitions Coordinator, Learning & Development, Corporate Training, etc.) 

Ability to commute to WR office, as well as flexibility to visit partner community colleges and local partners for transitions support and rapport building.  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Initiative and Independent Work 

Manage Competing Priorities 

Organizational & Time Management Skills 

Interpersonal Skills 

Cross-cultural sensitivity 

Trauma-informed academic advising skills 

Cross-Cultural Communication Skills (oral and written) 

Ability to Engage Interpretation Services 

Knowledge of World Relief 

Confidentiality and Professionalism