Program Services Specialist

Northeastern offers a rewarding working environment for our students and employees. Our faculty and staff are smart, dedicated people who work to create an excellent urban university experience for bright and motivated students. Job Summary: The Program Service Specialist (PSS) is primarily responsible for providing services and/or "reasonable accommodations" as determined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for students with specialized needs. The PSS must sustain participant confidentiality; as well as maintain accurate student contact records describing problems, referrals, solutions and outcomes. The PSS will be responsible to deliver auxiliary aides to Student Disability Service (SDS) students (note taking, test proctoring, document conversion, etc.) The position will be expected to determine reasonable accommodations for students who live on-campus. The PSS will be the liaison for El Centro, CCICS, and Lake County to ensure that students who attend these campuses have the same services as those on the main campus. Job Description: Manage a caseload of students to assist with their accommodations. Determine and evaluate reasonable accommodations to align with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Be the point of contact for the caseload. Interviews and assess the needs of individuals to be served by the program. Maintain a holistic approach to the program specialist role. Manage all aspects of the SDS exam/test scheduling process including the communication with professors/students, receiving all documents needed for the exam, and the scheduling of exams. Prioritize and disseminate incoming/outgoing mail and draft unit correspondence to answer inquiries about the unit, when needed for SDS staff members and assist in the aggregation of data for unit reports requiring knowledge of the activities of the staff and/or the procedures of the unit. To supervise the maintenance of comprehensive central database systems for a complex unit, which includes confidential materials. Be the liaison for El Centro, CCICS, and Lake County to ensure that students who attend these campuses have the same services as those on the main campus. Initiate and maintain receptive contacts with program participants to glean information during student visits to the unit for referral to the appropriate SDS staff member and to assist in providing a warm, welcoming environment for program participants. To gather, assist, and facilitate the identification of appropriate internal and external resources for the recruitment and selection of auxiliary aid/aides to ensure support and seamless accommodation services. Assist with the administration, proctoring, scribe and reading of exams to program participants when assigned and needed. Participate and advise in the selection of student workers for the unit. Participate in their training, work performance, and evaluation. Assist the Director with special projects. Attend Student Disability Service staff meetings, trainings and events as assigned by the Director. Intercampus travel. Work evenings and weekends. Up to date on SDS best practices (professional development). Other duties as assigned. Minimal Qualifications: 1. Any one or combination totaling three (3) years (36 months) from the categories below: A. Coursework in social work or behavioral sciences, or closely related field as measured by the following conversion table or its proportional equivalent: 30 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months) Associates Degree (60 semester hours) equals eighteen months (18 months) 90 semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months) Bachelors Degree (120 semester hours) equals three (3) years (36 months) B. Progressively more responsible work experience in social service/ counseling at a paraprofessional level under qualified supervision. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. (Hours may vary depending on departmental needs and may include days, evenings, and weekends). Location: NEIU Main Campus. (Requires travel to all NEIU campuses). Setting: In office, not eligible for remote work. This position requires a background check. Salary Range $22-$25/Hour Benefits University employees may be eligible for a variety of State of Illinois benefits. These benefits are administered through the Illinois Department of Central Management Service (CMS). Please visit our Employee Benefits page to learn more about our comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision benefits, sick and vacation days, and participation in the State Universities Retirement System. Northeastern Illinois University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and invites applications from Women, Minorities, Veterans and Persons with Disabilities, as well as other qualified individuals. Northeastern Illinois University's positions are contingent upon the University's receipt of its State of Illinois appropriation. Northeastern Illinois University's Main Campus is located on 67 acres in a residential area on the Northwest Side of Chicago. The University has three additional locations in the metropolitan area: the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies, El Centro and the Center for College Access and Success. Northeastern also is a founding member of the University Center of Lake County consortium campus in suburban Lake County, north of Chicago. Northeastern offers more than 40 undergraduate degree and certificate programs and more than 50 graduate degree, certificate, licensure and endorsement programs.