Health Navigator

Job Posting Organization:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a prominent international humanitarian non-governmental organization (INGO) founded in 1933 at the behest of Albert Einstein. The organization operates in over 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities, focusing on responding to the world's most severe humanitarian crises. The IRC's mission is to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to individuals affected by conflict and disaster. With a workforce dedicated to delivering lasting impact, the IRC aims to help millions of people regain control of their futures and strengthen their communities, embodying a force for humanity.

Job Overview:
The Health Navigator position is crucial in connecting newcomer and immigrant communities with essential health resources and services. This role emphasizes community outreach and engagement throughout the Bay Area, particularly in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, ensuring that clients have equitable access to healthcare coverage, preventive services, and wellness education. The Health Navigator will act as a bridge between IRC programs, clients, and local health systems, providing culturally responsive health education, facilitating community workshops, and staying informed about Medi-Cal, managed care plans, and other public health resources. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter, skilled in public speaking, relationship-building, and multilingual communication, thriving in community settings and taking the initiative to identify new outreach opportunities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Health Navigator will have a diverse set of responsibilities, including leading community outreach and education efforts across Alameda and Contra Costa Counties to raise awareness of health coverage options and preventive care services. They will represent the IRC at community events, health fairs, and partner meetings to promote health and wellness programs. The role involves developing and facilitating health education workshops on topics such as Medi-Cal enrollment, managed care navigation, primary care, preventive health, and mental well-being. The Health Navigator will conduct one-on-one and group orientations with clients to explain health coverage, provider selection, and appointment scheduling. Staying informed of changes in Medi-Cal policy, managed care options, and other health resources is essential, as is sharing updates with clients and staff as needed. Collaboration with IRC resettlement, health, and community integration teams is necessary to coordinate referrals and ensure holistic client support. Building and maintaining partnerships with local clinics, community-based organizations (CBOs), schools, and health departments to expand service access for newcomer populations is also a key responsibility. The Health Navigator will utilize Language Line or other interpretation tools to communicate effectively with clients from diverse linguistic backgrounds, maintain accurate documentation of outreach activities and client interactions in IRC’s database, Efforts to Outcomes (ETO), and participate in relevant trainings, regional meetings, and community coalition events. They may also train and lead the activities of volunteers and interns, along with other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in social work, public health, or a related field of study, although this is preferred rather than mandatory. A minimum of 1-2 years of case management experience with similar populations and/or client needs is required. Candidates should demonstrate proven experience conducting community outreach and engagement in diverse neighborhoods, preferably in Alameda or Contra Costa County. Strong public speaking and group facilitation skills are essential, with the ability to adapt content to different audiences. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter with excellent initiative, organization, and time-management abilities, and should have demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multicultural environment. The ability to stay current with health policy updates and independently research new health-related information is also important.

Educational Background:
The preferred educational background for this position is a Bachelor’s degree in social work, public health, or a related field of study. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of health systems and the needs of the communities served by the IRC.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 1-2 years of case management experience, particularly with populations similar to those served by the IRC. This experience is crucial for effectively navigating the challenges faced by newcomers and immigrants in accessing health resources and services.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Spanish is required to support effective communication with clients. Proficiency in other languages commonly spoken by IRC clients, such as Dari, Pashto, Arabic, Ukrainian, or Russian, is considered a plus and would enhance the ability to serve a diverse clientele.

Additional Notes:
The Health Navigator position is a combination of standard office work, remote work, and field time within the service delivery area. It may require occasional weekend and/or evening work. The compensation for this role ranges from $26.00 to $27.00 per hour, with pay ranges applying to US-based candidates. These ranges are based on various factors, including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. The IRC offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package, including 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $143 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month. Additional benefits include a flexible spending account (FSA) for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plan with immediately vested matching, disability and life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program available to staff and their families. The IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, considering all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.