Benefits Navigation Specialist-St. Lawrence County

Food Bank of Central New York; City of Syracuse (NY); Remote; USD 32,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

12 paid holidays

Floating holiday

Generous PTO

401(k) with employer match

Job summary

Food Bank of Central New York is seeking a Benefit Navigation Specialist for St. Lawrence County. This remote, travel-involved role supports SNAP eligibility, applications, and connections to community resources.

You will help clients understand requirements, gather documents, and navigate recertifications while promoting the Food Bank's services across Northern New York. The position requires 2+ years in social services, strong communication, and the ability to travel daily within St.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, Public Health, or related field preferred; Bachelor’s degree a plus.

Responsibilities

• Conduct eligibility prescreening for SNAP benefits in assigned regions.
• Assist clients in completing SNAP applications, renewals, and recertifications via phone, web, or home visits.
• Educate clients on SNAP requirements, benefit calculations, and reporting obligations.
• Gather and submit required verification documents (income, residency, household, expenses).
• Track application status and follow up on outstanding requirements.
• Advocate for clients facing delays, denials, or interruptions in benefits.
• Coordinate referrals to food pantries, WIC, Medicaid, HEAP, housing, and other services.
• Maintain confidential records of applications and client interactions in the tracking system.
• Develop partnerships with community organizations and government agencies.
• Participate in outreach events and workshops to raise SNAP awareness and services.
• Monitor policy changes related to SNAP and public assistance; prepare outreach materials.
• Represent the Food Bank at meetings/events to foster partnerships.

Skills

Excellent communication

Strong organizational skills

Time management

Multitasking

Bilingual preferred

Education

Associate’s degree in Social Work / Human Services / Public Health preferred

Bachelor’s degree a plus

Tools

Microsoft Office

Database software

Job description

Description

Job Description

Position Title: Benefit Navigation Specialist-St. Lawrence County

Department: Outreach

FLSA Status: Full Time Hourly/Non-Exempt

Schedule: 40 Hours per Week/Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm (Includes 30-minute unpaid meal break). Occasional off hour events and weekends based on community schedules.

Benefits: Eligible for Full Time Employee benefits including Health, dental, and vision insurance, 12 paid Holidays, 1 Floating Holiday, generous PTO, administered 401(k) after 1 month with employer match after 1 year, and more.

Reports To: Outreach Manager

Salary Range: $22.99-23.68/hour

Revision Date: 09/03/26

WHO WE ARE:

Established in 1985, Food Bank of Central New York is a not-for-profit organization leading the fight to end hunger across an 11-county service area that includes Central New York, Northern New York, and the Mohawk Valley. The Food Bank acts as the primary food distribution hub for hundreds of food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and faith-based organizations in our region.

In addition to food acquisition and distribution, we address the root causes of food insecurity through innovative programming, nutrition education, outreach, and collaboration with non-traditional food bank partners such as healthcare providers. The Food Bank also engages in state and federal advocacy efforts to strengthen anti-hunger policy and work alongside community partners to create lasting solutions that ensure all neighbors can thrive.

Our impact over 12 months is:

• 22.5 million pounds of food distributed
• 18.7 million meals provided to neighbors in need
• 7.6 million pounds of produce and dairy distributed
• 6.1 million pounds of food rescued from 146 retail partners
• 576,080 pounds of hygiene & household items distributed

POSITION SUMMARY

The Benefit Navigation Specialist is responsible for helping clients understand eligibility requirements, complete SNAP applications, gather required documentation, navigate recertification processes, and overcome barriers to receiving food assistance. The specialist serves as an advocate while connecting clients to additional community resources that support food security and financial stability. They conduct eligibility prescreening for SNAP benefits for individuals in regions within our service area, providing SNAP application assistance, and disseminating referrals via phone, email, and in-person/home interactions. The specialist will work closely to track submitted applications and manage cases assigned to them. Additionally, the Benefits Navigation Specialist will participate in community outreach events to inform community members about their role and the Food Bank's services and the eligibility criteria for various programs.

This is a remote, work-from-home position; however, applicants are expected to travel throughout St. Lawrence County as well as Northern New York on a daily basis. Applicants are strongly encouraged to reside in or near St. Lawrence County.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Conduct eligibility prescreening for SNAP benefits and other public benefits for individuals in assigned regions.
• Assist clients in completing SNAP applications, renewals, and recertifications via the phone, web, and/or home visitation.
• Educate clients about SNAP program requirements, benefit calculations, reporting obligations, and timelines with submission of application requirements.
• Help clients gather and submit required verification documents, including proof of income, residency, household composition, and expenses.
• Track application status and follow up with clients regarding outstanding requirements.
• Advocate for clients experiencing barriers, delays, denials, or benefit interruptions.
• Coordinate referrals to food pantries, community meal programs, WIC, Medicaid, HEAP, housing assistance, and other supportive services.
• Follow up with clients to ensure the completion of applications and address any issues.
• Collaborate with local Departments of Social Services (DSS) to track and manage submitted applications.
• Disseminate referrals through phone, email, and in-person meetings.
• Maintain confidential and accurate records of all applications and client interactions using the internal tracking database.
• Develop partnerships with community organizations, food pantries, schools, churches, healthcare providers, and government agencies.
• Conduct and participate in outreach events and educational workshops to increase awareness of SNAP benefits, food access resources, and Food Bank services.
• Monitor policy changes and updates related to SNAP and other public assistance programs.
• Prepare and distribute outreach materials to promote SNAP and Food Bank services.
• Accurately report required metrics on a regular basis to internal & external stakeholders.
• Monitor changes or trends in their community to ensure that the Food Bank is appropriately adapting to said changes/trends.
• Represent the Food Bank at community meetings and events to foster partnerships and collaborations.
• Assist other regions within our service area when needed.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods.
• Has the capability to lift and carry outreach materials and supplies independently up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to travel within assigned regions regularly and our overall service area on occassion.
• Comfortable traveling to various community locations, events, and client homes independently.
• Ability to work in diverse environments, including outdoor events.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for employees who require them due to medical conditions or disabilities.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Associate’s degree in one of the following: Social Work, Human Services, Public Health, or a related field preferred. Bachelor's degree a plus.
• Certification or training in SNAP application processes is a plus.
• Valid Driver’s License required.
• This position will receive a pre-employment background check. Food Bank of Central New York complies with all applicable state and federal laws pertaining to drug testing and background checks, including Article 23-A.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in social services, outreach, or other related field work activities.
• Experience in conducting eligibility prescreening and application assistance for public benefits programs.
• Previous experience working with diverse populations and community organizations.
• Ability to work with diverse backgrounds and vulnerable populations and environments.
• Community Health Worker or Human Services certification a plus.
• Knowledge of SNAP eligibility rules and public assistance programs preferred.

SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management abilities.
• Proficiency in using databases and maintaining accurate records.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of SNAP and other public benefits programs.
• Ability to multitask and compile reports with strong attention to details.
• Ability to track assist and track applications including follow up with clients.
• Familiarity with the Food Bank's mission and services.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Competency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and other relevant software.
• Bi-or multi-lingual preferred.

The purpose of this job description is to provide an overview of the scope of the position. This is not a comprehensive list of duties/responsibilities. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.