Post Secondary Education Specialist (36982) [MULTIPLE POSITIONS]

Position Information

Posting Detail Information

Working Position Title Post Secondary Education Specialist (36982) [MULTIPLE POSITIONS] Classification Program Coordinator - CUSTOM CLASSIFICATION Position Number 00036982 Open Date 08/06/2026 Close Date 08/27/2026 Priority Review Date Employee Class Staff Full-Time/Part Time Full-Time FTE 1.00 Position Status Regular FLSA Exempt Job code 5002 Union Representation Union Union Code AFC - AFSCME C, Local #1890 Unit/Department Psychology College/Unit College of LA&S Dean Division Academic Division Location PM 409 Link to Department Website or Custom Search Page https://www.niu.edu/clas/psychology/index.shtml

Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Overview

The Department of Psychology at the College of Liberal arts and Sciences, Northern Illinois University (NIU), invites applications for the position of Post-Secondary Education Specialist.

With approximately 16,000 students, NIU is one of the largest public universities in the state of Illinois. The Department of Psychology is committed to building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working and learning environment for all students, staff, and faculty. NIU's geographical reach extends beyond its main DeKalb campus (65 miles west of downtown Chicago, 60 miles from the O'Hare International Airport, and 40 miles west of Naperville - a booming community with one of the best school systems in the nation.) to satellite campuses in Naperville, Rockford, Hoffman Estates, and Chicago as well as to students online. Illinois Department of Children and Family Services contracts with the Department of Psychology employs 97 staff across the state of Illinois and is committed to enhancing outcomes for the children and families served.

Position Summary

The Post-Secondary Education Specialist will work with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) and private agency staff, caregivers, school/college personnel, and others to facilitate the provision of support and services related to post-secondary education to students currently and formerly in the care of IDCFS, with emphasis on the IDCFS Youth in College/Vocational Training (YIC/VT), Scholarship, Education and Training Voucher (ETV) and Tuition and Fee Waiver Programs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

DCFS Post-Secondary Programs

• Review and process applications for the DCFS Scholarship, Youth in College, and ETV programs
• Monitor DCFS mailboxes for the scholarship, youth in college, and other programs; will respond to emails, forward emails to appropriate individuals/mailboxes, process documents provided via email.
• Request and review student transcripts and enrollment records to ensure compliance with program requirements
• Process book vouchers for students each semester, establish and maintain contacts with school bookstores to facilitate the process smoothly Process tuition waiver letters for IDCFS Scholarship recipients
• Review invoices from college/university bookstores in comparison to student schedules/process payment for approved amounts
• Review and process reimbursements to students for items purchased out of pocket
• Create monthly board run list for IDCFS Central Payment Unit to activate new YIC referrals, reinstate students to the YIC program or stop payments to YIC or Scholarship participants
• Process start up payments for new YIC and Scholarship program recipients
• Work closely with IDCFS Central Payment Unit to set up new provider accounts for new Scholarship and YIC youth for payment purposes

Support Services and Training

• Provide assistance regarding education transition issues to child welfare staff, youth, and caregivers in reviewing options related to post-secondary education or career and technical education programs
• Provide training on IDCFS post-secondary programs, post-secondary education options, and other PSE topics to child welfare staff, caregivers, court personnel, and others as requested
• Review and report students' college status on the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC)
• Work as a team with other education personnel through scheduled meetings, information networking, committee participation, and sharing information

IDCFS OETS and Support Youth in PSE Programs

• Communicate with students who contact office directly regarding all IDCFS post-secondary programs eligibility
• Assist student and caseworker (if applicable) to identify alternative programs, placement, and resources for youth no longer eligible for YIC/Scholarship Programs
• Provide notification to youth regarding their program status when aging out of the program or projected to graduate
• Monitor scholarship recipients turning age 21, submit list to IDCFS Medical Card Unit to ensure youth continue to receive their Medicaid benefits after age 21
• Maintain a working knowledge of policies and procedures related to the IDCFS OETS and other IDCFS Education Programs, as well as Procedures 314 Assist with outreach programs to notify eligible youth of ETV funding
• Follow up with and assist students with ETV applications
• Review processed ETV vouchers to ensure they have cleared IDCFS Central Payment Unit

Documentation, Communication, and Reporting

• Create and maintain files, records, and data related to youth served
• Create and submit reports on work activities, post-secondary educational data, etc. Prepare and assist with writing reports, e.g. Chafee Report for APSR Communicate educational issues and trends for OETS supervisor

Other Duties as Assigned

• Completes tasks as assigned by DCFS and NIU in order to fulfill the mission, vision, and values of the Child Well-Being Program
• Performs other related duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service)

• Bachelor's degree.
• A total of one (1) year (12 months) in education, training and/or work experience in the area of specialization inherent to the position. (Note: Master's Degree in an area consistent with the duties of the position may be substituted for one (1) year of work experience.)
• Based on position requirements, additional education, training, and/or work experience in the area of specialization inherent to the position, may be required.

Additional education, training and/or work experience in the area of specialization:

See Required Specialty Factors Below:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Civil Service)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs)

1. Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

2. Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

3. Skill in analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

4. Skill in scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

5. Skill in oral and written communication.

6. Ability to adjust actions in relation to others' actions.

7. Ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

8. Ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

9. Ability to develop specific goals, plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish tasks.

10. Ability to work effectively with staff, the public, and outside constituency groups.

11. Ability to effectively plan, delegate, and supervise the work of others.

12. Ability to utilize various computer software packages, such as Accounting Software, query, etc.

13. Ability to work independently and exercise judgment in order to be able to analyze and investigate a variety of questions or problems.

14. Ability to analyze and develop guidelines, procedures, and systems.

Specialty Factors (Civil Service)

• Bachelor's degree in social work, human services, psychology, public administration or related field.
• Three years (3) of work experience in education and/or social work.
• Ability to use Microsoft programs, including Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, and Word.

Background Check: This is a security-sensitive position. Before any offer of employment is made, the University and IDCFS will conduct a pre-employment background check, which includes finger printing, state police check, FBI, and child abuse and neglect (CANTS) background check.

Preferred Qualifications (Civil Service)

• Experience working with the Federal Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program
• Experience with IDCFS post-secondary education programs
• 6 years of work experience in education and/or social work
• Experience with financial aid
• Knowledge of college admission processes

Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS)

n/a

Additional Requirements (SPS)

n/a

Preferred Qualifications (SPS)

n/a

Physical demands/requirements

• Ability to use keyboard
• Ability to travel up to 90 minutes for meetings

Appointment and Compensation Details

Appointment and Compensation Details

Anticipated Appointment Start Date 09/1/2026 Anticipated Appointment End Date Percent of Staff Year 1.00 Standard Hours Per Week 37.50 Working Hours 8:30 am to 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday, one-hour lunch Salary $61,800.00 annually; NIU offers a robust benefits package. Hourly or Semi-monthly Pay Rate/Range $2,575.00 per pay period Earn Type Salary

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

Application Procedure:

• Fully complete the Education and Work History sections of the application. Be specific on your entire work history, including employment dates and duties for all positions held. Applicable part-time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position; however, it will be converted to a full-time equivalency to determine combined length of experience. Important: Please upload any unofficial transcript(s) and/or documentation that verifies any education, experience, and/or training you have received.

• If eligible for Veteran's Preference Points, DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256 paperwork reflecting an Honorable Discharge MUST be uploaded to this application to receive the maximum eligible points on the Civil Service examination.

• After the posting has closed, your submission will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the classification, including any specialty factors associated with this position. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, you will receive a score based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register.

• Please monitor your e-mail for further information regarding your application. Emails will be generated from jobs@niu.edu and CivilServiceTesting@niu.edu. Please add these emails to your address book to ensure timely delivery of any future communication.

• Illinois residency required within 180 days of the hire date.

Credentials Assessment Examination:

• The examination for this position is a Credentials Assessment and is based on your application materials as submitted for this posting. A Credential Assessment is a rating by the Human Resources Office of an applicant's/employee's education, experience, and special credentials/qualifications (licenses, etc.). Applicants are required to upload documentation to verify the minimum qualifications for this position has been met.
• Required documentation noted in the posting, such as a driver's license, licensures, or certifications MUST be uploaded with your application materials.
• After assessment of all qualified applicants has been completed for this position, the names with the top three (3) scores will be referred to the hiring department for interview.

Additional Details:

• Click on Program Coordinator for more information including salary ranges, typical duties, minimum acceptable qualifications, and testing requirements.
• Please click on Human Resource Services - Benefits for detailed information about Northern Illinois University's benefits package.
• Employment is contingent upon your passing a criminal background investigation. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Special Instructions Quick Link to Applicant https://employment.niu.edu/postings/94711 Is Background Check Required? Yes EEO Statement Summary

In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, disability (physical and mental), marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (identity and expression), political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Ethics and Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator

Health Services Building Room 230

TitleIXCoordinator@niu.edu

815-753-5560

Visa Policy

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

ADA Accommodation

NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make accommodations for a person's disability during either the application or interview process. An applicant who believes they require an accommodation to participate in the employment process due to a disability may request that accommodation through the Accommodation Request Form. For further assistance, please contact the office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity (AAEO) at ada@niu.edu.

Safety Information

NIU provides annual reports on campus security and fire safety.

Read the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

Contact the Ethics and Compliance Office at 815-753-9364 for a hard copy.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• Transcripts (unofficial with official required at hire)
• List of at least 3 Professional References

Optional Documents

• Military Discharge Documents ONLY (DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256)
• Other

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• • Are you currently a citizen or resident of the State of Illinois?

• Yes

• No

• • What is the highest level of education attained?

• GED

• High School Diploma

• Associates Degree

• Bachelors Degree

• Masters Degree

• PHD

• • Have you attached all transcripts to support the degrees you are submitting for consideration?

• Yes

• No

• • How many years of experience do you have in this type of position?

• 0-1

• 1-3

• 3-5

• 5-7

• 7+

• • Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. ("See Résumé" is not an acceptable response.)

(Open Ended Question)

• • If applicable, have you attached a copy of your DD214, DD215, NGB22, or DD256 for consideration of Veterans Preference Points? The copy submitted should reflect the status of discharge in order to be considered.
• Yes
• No
• Not Applicable