Social Care Navigator I — Field-Based (Bilingual Spanish)

Essen Health Care; New York (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

NYREACH in the Bronx seeks a Social Care Navigator I - Field-Based (Bilingual Spanish) to connect Medicaid members with social care resources. You will conduct health-related social needs screenings, assess eligibility for enhanced services, and provide hands-on navigation with closed-loop referrals to community programs.

As the frontline liaison, you will build trust with members, document interactions, and collaborate with CHWs and partners to coordinate care.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Experience in social services, community health, care navigation, or related field; familiarity with community resources and benefit programs.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills; effective verbal and written communication.
• Cultural sensitivity and the ability to adapt to a diverse population.
• Comfort using technology platforms for screening, referrals, and documentation.
• Bilingual Spanish required.

Responsibilities

• HRSN Screening & Eligibility Assessment
• Navigate and close-loop referrals with community resources
• Provide ongoing navigation support for complex needs
• Collaborate with team members and partners to coordinate care
• Documentation & Community Partnership
• Nutrition Focus: Education & Access

Skills

Bilingual Spanish

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Trauma-informed approach

Education

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in social work or related field

Nutrition background (preferred)

Job description

Overview

About NYREACH

NYREACH (New York Research, Education and Community Health) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing health equity through education, community-based programs, and direct service delivery for some of the Bronx's most vulnerable and underserved residents.

For over five years, NYREACH has been a trusted resource in Bronx County. Through the New York State Social Care Network, our team has conducted health-related social needs (HRSN) screenings and provided services through home-delivered meals and community programs. We deliver every service in a culturally competent, linguistically appropriate, and disability-accessible manner, with Spanish-fluent staff embedded in the communities we serve. Our team of full-time staff and active community volunteers — including International Medical Graduates and community health workers — partners with local clinics and community organizations to meet residents where they are. We're looking for talented, motivated individuals to join our growing team and help keep Bronx families continuously covered and connected to care.

This position is ideal for individuals who want to make a meaningful impact by keeping vulnerable New Yorkers continuously insured. You'll be part of a community-rooted nonprofit with a proven track record of serving the Bronx, working alongside a team committed to health equity, with real opportunities to grow.

Job Summary

Position Title: Social Care Navigator I — Field-Based (Bilingual Spanish)

Reports to: Manager, NYREACH

Location: 2021 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10453 (Field-Based)

Classification: Full-Time | Non-Exempt

Schedule: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (one weekend day per month may be required)

POSITION SUMMARY: The Social Care Navigator I (SCN) is the front line of NYREACH's Social Care Network, connecting Medicaid members to the social care services they need to thrive. The SCN conducts outreach, screens members for health-related social needs (HRSN) — including housing, food insecurity, transportation, and interpersonal safety — assesses eligibility for enhanced HRSN services, and provides hands‑on navigation and closed‑loop referrals to community‑based resources. The SCN builds trusted relationships with members and follows each referral through to completion, ensuring members do not fall through the cracks between screening and service delivery.

In addition to core screening and navigation responsibilities, this SCN position carries a special focus on nutritional health, supporting members in accessing healthy food resources and nutrition‑related services. Ideal candidates possess strong communication and interpersonal skills, a passion for helping others, deep familiarity with community resources, and experience in social services, community health, or care navigation.

Responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

HRSN Screening & Eligibility Assessment

• Conduct proactive outreach to Medicaid members telephonically, in person, and in community settings to engage them in social care services.
• Administer HRSN screenings to identify unmet social needs across domains including housing stability, food insecurity, transportation, and interpersonal safety.
• Assess and document member eligibility for enhanced HRSN services in accordance with Social Care Network protocols.
• Build rapport and trust with members, meeting them where they are and applying a person‑centered, trauma‑informed approach.

Navigation & Closed‑Loop Referrals

• Connect members with appropriate community resources, including social service agencies, community‑based organizations, healthcare providers, and government benefit programs.
• Facilitate referrals to social care services, track each referral through to completion, and follow up with members and providers to confirm needs were addressed (closed‑loop referral management).
• Provide ongoing navigation support to members with complex or multiple needs, escalating and re‑referring as circumstances change.
• Collaborate with team members, partner‑based navigators/CHWs, and community partners to coordinate care for members with complex needs and ensure seamless service delivery.
• Documentation & Community Partnership
• Use technology platforms to document member eligibility, outreach activities, case notes, referral outcomes, and other required data, adhering to established protocols and confidentiality standards.
• Maintain accurate, timely records of all interactions, referrals, and outcomes.
• Represent NYREACH at community events and cultivate working relationships with community organizations, partners, and healthcare facilities to strengthen the local resource network.
• Perform other tasks assigned by the Senior Director of NYREACH.

Nutrition Focus: Education & Access

• Manage a caseload of assigned members with nutrition‑related needs, connecting them to healthy food resources such as food pantries, benefits programs, medically tailored meals, and nutrition services.
• Conduct workshops, seminars, one‑on‑one consultations, and presentations on healthy eating habits, disease prevention, and nutrition topics.
• Provide personalized nutrition education to individuals and groups, focusing on healthy eating habits, meal planning, portion control, food preparation, and the impact of nutrition on overall health.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

• Meet or exceed monthly HRSN screening and outreach targets as established by program leadership.
• Achieve and maintain a closed‑loop referral completion rate consistent with program benchmarks, ensuring members are connected to and confirmed as having received referred services.
• Complete all required documentation within established timeframes (same‑day entry required for all screenings and referrals).
• Maintain an active caseload of members with nutrition‑related needs and deliver nutrition education sessions, workshops, or consultations on a consistent, ongoing basis.
• Actively represent NYREACH at community events and maintain productive, ongoing relationships with partner organizations and healthcare facilities.
• Maintain professionalism, accuracy, and member‑centered communication standards in all interactions.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Experience in social services, community health, care navigation, or a related field; familiarity with community resources and benefit programs.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills; effective verbal and written communication is essential for interacting with members, providers, and other stakeholders.
• Cultural sensitivity and the ability to adapt to different needs and work with a diverse population.
• Comfort using technology platforms for screening, referrals, and documentation.
• Bilingual Spanish required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in social work, human services, public health, community health, nutrition, or a related field.
• Background in nutrition, dietetics, or community nutrition.
• Experience with HRSN screening, closed‑loop referral platforms, or Medicaid populations.
• Community Health Worker (CHW) training or lived experience in the communities served.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• This is a full-time, field‑based position. Remote or fully in‑office arrangements are not available for this role.
• This position requires regular fieldwork and local travel to community events, partner organizations, healthcare facilities, and other assigned locations throughout the service area.
• Employees are responsible for travel between locations.
• Setting up for community events (e.g., tables, tents, and outreach materials) may require long periods of standing and light to moderate lifting.
• Direct work with members in person, over the phone, and through other communication methods.

Equal Opportunity Employer

NYREACH – New York Research, Education & Community Health, Inc. | 2021 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10453