Director of Client Access and Navigation (Bilingual English/Spanish)

Canal Alliance; San Rafael (CA); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 156,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

3 weeks paid vacation

12 days sick leave

Birthday paid

13 paid holidays

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

LTD

EAP

Mental health sessions

403(b) retirement plan

FSA

Vision insurance

Pet insurance

Hybrid workplace

Job summary

Canal Alliance is seeking a Director of Client Access and Navigation to lead the Navigation Hub, guiding intake, triage, case management, and cross‑program coordination with program directors. You will supervise two Senior Managers and build strong community partnerships to expand services for immigrant communities.

The role includes budgeting, contract management, and supporting fundraising, with a 4‑day workweek (32 hours) and hybrid work arrangements.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of progressive leadership experience in client navigation, integrated service delivery, or related human services, including staff supervision.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee intake, triage, and navigation practices to ensure clients access services.
• Lead case management practices and coordinate with programs for specialized services.
• Manage Hub operations including budget and staffing and set standards for documentation and supervision.
• Supervise two Senior Managers and their navigators and intake staff.
• Foster cross-program coordination and resolve coordination gaps with the Chief Program Officer.
• Maintain partnerships with community resources and funders; contribute to grants and reporting.
• Monitor client access and experience to drive program improvement.

Skills

People management

Program operations

Budgeting

Contract management

Partnership development

Cross-functional facilitation

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Description

About the Organization

Canal Alliance is a nonprofit champion of immigrants. We exist to break the generational cycle of poverty for Latino immigrants and their families by lifting barriers to their success.

At Canal Alliance we know our strengthisour team of dedicated employees. We invest in professional development, building trust and relationships, and value life-work balance. We work a 4 day workweek with a regular 32 hours per week. We offer hybrid work for most positions.

We are proud to be one ofNorth Bay’s Best Places to Work.

Position Summary

The Director of Client Access and Navigation leads Canal Alliance’s Navigation Hub, helping clients access services and receive coordinated support across programs and community resources. The Director oversees intake, triage, case management, and navigation practices and supervises two Senior Managers who manage navigators and intake staff. The role is accountable for Hub operations and works with Program Directors, who retain responsibility for their programs and specialized services.

In your first year: You will help build this new department and implement the Navigation Hub, a key strategic initiative. Priorities include establishing standard operating procedures, clarifying cross-program handoffs, and building strong working relationships with staff and community partners.

Essential Functions

• Client access and triage: Oversee intake practices that distinguish clients needing ongoing navigator support from those needing brief or one-time assistance. Ensure intake specialists provide that assistance directly or connect clients to appropriate internal services or external resources.
• Case management leadership: Establish consistent practices for navigators’ core case management, including action plans, ongoing assessment, goal progression, transition, and re-engagement, coordinated with programs providing specialized services.
• Program operations and quality: Manage the Hub’s budget, staffing, and operations. Set standards for caseloads, documentation, supervision, and case review that support client-centered, culturally responsive, trauma-informed services.
• Team leadership: Supervise and develop two Senior Managers, supporting their leadership of navigators and intake staff.
• Cross-program coordination: Work with Program Directors to define responsibilities, handoffs, and shared-client practices. Resolve coordination gaps and bring unresolved issues to the Chief Program Officer.
• Community partnerships: Maintain referral partnerships and community resource knowledge to strengthen access and follow-through for clients.
• Fundraising and contracts: Lead government-funding efforts with Development’s support, including identifying opportunities, building agency relationships, developing program plans, and contributing to applications. Work with Finance on contract compliance and post-award deliverables. Support Development’s philanthropic fundraising through donor and funder engagement, proposals, grant reporting, and renewals.
• Program improvement: Monitor access, engagement, referrals, and client experience; use findings to improve Hub services and address recurring barriers.

Other Responsibilities

Bring client experience and recurring service barriers into organizational planning and leadership discussions.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge: Intake, assessment, triage, navigation, community resources, and integrated service delivery.

Skills: People management, program operations, budgeting, contract management, partnership development, and cross-functional facilitation.

Abilities: Build trust across teams, establish shared practices without direct supervisory authority, and translate client and staff feedback into practical improvements.

Requirements

• Five or more years of progressive leadership experience in client navigation, integrated service delivery, or related human services, including staff supervision.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience.
• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish and English required.
• Demonstrated experience leading intake, triage, case management, or navigation services and developing community partnerships.
• Experience with budgeting, contract management, and grant reporting.
• Experience working with immigrant or underserved communities preferred.

Compensation

This is a full-time, exempt position (4 day work week, 32 hours per week) with benefits. We offer a competitive salary of $135k with a benefits package that includes:

• 3 weeks paid vacation per year
• 12 days of sick leave per year
• Paid Birthday each year
• 13 paid holidays per year
• 100% paid employee medical & dental insurance, life insurance, LTD, and EAP
• Up to 24 fully paid sessions for online mental health therapy and other mental health benefits
• 403(b)-retirement plan with employer match of up to 4% after 3 months of employment
• Voluntary benefits include FSA, vision, life, and pet insurance, as well as coverage for dependents
• Hybrid workplace