Job Overview: The Essential Families Digital Navigator provides individualized or small group assistance to unserved and underserved families who need affordable home internet service, affordable internet-capable devices, and/or coaching in introductory digital skills to become effective home internet users. This assistance is provided primarily in person, but may also include, voice telephone, email, text, NoW video streaming, and other communication methods that work for the learner.

The Essential Families Digital Navigator’s work is part of Essential Families’ efforts to provide equitable internet access for residents who live 9th to Prospect to Gregory and Prospect, West to Paseo, and East to Indiana.

Essential Families Digital Navigator is a paid 1099 contractor position.

Compensation:

• Essential Families Digital Navigator Training $150.00
• Individual and Group Sessions: $50 an hour.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Receive, return, or initiate telephone contact with clients seeking assistance or identified by Essential Families for assistance.
• Discuss with each client their home internet access or need for home internet access, technology experiences and their devices.
• Assess their access to technology, current digital skill level pertaining to what they need to accomplish the plan, connectivity needs, and internet use priorities. Set agreed goals for Essential Families Digital Navigator services. Confirm the details with the client.
• If necessary, advise clients about free or affordable home internet service options for which they may qualify, assist clients to apply for services they choose, and support their efforts to secure service.
• If necessary, advise clients about sources of affordable computers or other internet connect devices for which they may qualify, and support their efforts to acquire appropriate devices and where they can get help for repair.
• Coach clients as necessary to use their home internet services in order to meet their internet use priorities. This may include both in person, phone, and online interactions, as well as referral to sources of additional digital literacy skill training.
• Track each client’s progress and types of requests, keep accurate and timely records, and report outcomes as required.
• Plan and manage assistance to each client with the goal of fulfilling the agreed goals.
• Other tasks as necessary.

Critical Skills and Aptitudes

• Ability to embrace the challenge of learning and teaching basic technological concepts related to internet services, computer and device characteristics, and common online services and applications.
• Excellent self-organization, language capacity, and cultural competency.
• Excellent in person, telephone, and online communication skills, including the ability to establish trust with clients of varied educational and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to demonstrate positive attitude, excellent interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and a sense of humor in working with diverse customers, coworkers, and community.
• Ability to creatively solve problems and negotiate and handle stressful situations in a positive manner.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service, establish appropriate boundaries with clients, and to demonstrate innovation and flexibility.
• Carries out Essential Families Vision: To reach, inform and inspire the lives of children and families. Mission Statement: Strengthen Families are Essential to our Community, City, and State. And we believe Everything Starts at Home…