New Participant Advocate

Habitat-Health; San Leandro (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Habitat Health in San Leandro is seeking a New Participant Advocate to create a welcoming onboarding experience for participants entering the PACE program. You will build trusted relationships with participants and caregivers while coordinating with the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) and cross-functional teams to facilitate a seamless transition into care.

You will educate about Habitat Health services, schedule appointments and transportation, document interactions in the EMR, and identify

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 1 year working with older adults or participant advocacy.
• Ability to build trusted relationships and coordinate care.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills across teams.

Responsibilities

• Create a welcoming onboarding experience for new participants.
• Coordinate onboarding journey and primary contact during transition into PACE.
• Collaborate with IDT, caregivers, and cross-functional teams to ensure continuity of care.
• Advocate for participant preferences and remove barriers to timely solutions.
• Educate participants and caregivers about Habitat Health services and resources.
• Document interactions and onboarding activities in EMR and systems.

Skills

Relationship-building

Communication

Organizational skills

Independent worker

Adaptability

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Psychology, or related field

Tools

EMR systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Habitat Health empowers older adults to experiencemore gooddays in their homes and communities. Through the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), we provide comprehensive medical care along with support for daily needs such as meals, transportation, andin ‑ homeassistance. We deliver coordinated clinical and social care in our centers and directly in participants’ homes, creating a fully integrated experience that brings peace of mind and a true sense of belonging. As we expand our scalable, affordable PACE model to meet the growing and complex needs of aging populations, ourmission ‑ drivencare teams continue to help participants live well on their own terms.

Habitat Health is supported by leading healthcare organizations and investors including New Enterprise Associates, Kaiser Permanente, and Town Hall Ventures. We are entering a period of significant growth and are looking for exceptional teammates to help us scale a better model of care for older adults. To learn more, visit www.habitathealth.com.

Role Scope : The New Participant Advocate plays a key role in creating a welcoming, participant-centered onboarding experience for individuals transitioning into Habitat Health's PACE program. This role builds trusted relationships with participants and caregivers while partnering with the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) and cross-functional teams to facilitate a seamless transition into care. Through proactive coordination, participant advocacy, and ongoing communication, the New Participant Advocate helps participants feel informed, supported, and connected while promoting continuity of care and an exceptional participant experience.

Core Responsibilities & Expectations for the Role

• Builds trusted relationships with new participants and caregivers to understand individual goals, preferences, and support needs while fostering a welcoming and participant-centered onboarding experience.
• Coordinates the participant onboarding journey by serving as the primary point of contact during the initial transition into the PACE program and facilitating a seamless introduction to Habitat Health's services.
• Partners with the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT), caregivers, Referral Coordinator, and cross-functional teams to coordinate services, support continuity of care, and promote a positive participant experience.
• Advocates for participant preferences, cultural needs, and person-centered care by proactively identifying barriers and collaborating with the care team to support timely solutions.
• Provides education and guidance to participants and caregivers regarding Habitat Health services, program expectations, available resources, and ongoing support throughout the onboarding experience.
• Coordinates participant appointments, transportation, follow-up services, and other onboarding activities to support a smooth transition into the PACE program.
• Maintains proactive communication with participants, caregivers, and care team members to address questions, resolve concerns, and ensure timely follow-through.
• Documents participant interactions, onboarding activities, identified needs, and follow-up actions accurately and timely within the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and other organizational systems.
• Contributes to continuous improvement by identifying participant trends, feedback, and opportunities to enhance onboarding processes, participant experience, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Psychology, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience working with older adults, frail elderly populations, participant advocacy, care coordination, case management, client services, or a similar participant-facing role.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships while delivering compassionate, participant-centered support to diverse populations.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate services, navigate complex participant needs, and support successful care transitions through effective collaboration.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to effectively engage participants, caregivers, community partners, and cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional participant experience.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail and ensuring timely follow-through.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while collaborating across interdisciplinary teams to achieve shared outcomes.
• Self-started who is determined to unlock pathways.
• Experience using Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), Microsoft Office, and the ability to quickly learn organizational documentation and participant management systems.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, solve problems proactively, and navigate sensitive participant situations with professionalism, empathy, and discretion.
• Proof of a valid driver's license, reliable personal transportation, and automobile insurance that meets applicable state requirements, with the ability to travel throughout the service area.
• Meets all applicable participant-facing health requirements, including TB screening and required immunizations.
• Aligns with our purpose and our values, and is excited about living those out in daily practice
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment with comfort navigating ambiguity, adapting quickly, and contributing to continuous improvement
• Strong learning and growth mindset, including seeking feedback, engaging in healthy debate and using data and curiosity to inform decisions.
• Acts with integrity and ownership, considering the broader organizational impact, doing the right thing, and following through to deliver results.

Nice to have:

• Experience working within PACE, Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, or other value-based healthcare environments.
• Knowledge of participant onboarding, interdisciplinary care coordination, community resources, and care transition best practices.
• Experience supporting older adults through care transitions, case management, participant advocacy, or customer experience initiatives.
• Bilingual: Spanish, Mandarin, or Cantonese.

Essential Functions & Physical Requirements

The following statements describe the general nature of work and physical expectations common across roles at Habitat Health. Specific responsibilities may vary by position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Team members in this role may be expected to:

• Work in healthcare, administrative,