Community Navigator, Meals On Wheels – Full-time Full Time

Employment Status: Regular. Full-time (1.0 FTE)

Program Name: Meals On Wheels

Number of Hours Bi-Weekly: 75

Work Schedule: Days, Evenings, Weekends

On Call: Yes

Existing Vacancy: Yes – we’re currently hiring candidates for an existing vacancy in this position.

Job Summary:

The Community Navigator role bridges gaps in access to support for underserved and ethnically diverse communities by identifying community needs and connecting individuals to appropriate services. This work is guided by a commitment to cultural humility and strengthening connections through meaningful interactions with community members, ensuring that all activities, consultations, and service delivery are approached through a culturally responsive lens.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develops and executes strategies to identify and secure program participants.
• Attends community events and festivals, and delivers presentations with cultural humility to increase awareness of and promote health and wellness programs.
• Identifies and collaborates with partner programs or organizations to strengthen support for individuals in identified communities and build knowledge of appropriate community resources for referrals.
• Creates culturally and linguistically appropriate verbal and written messaging for diverse communities, and leverages interpretation services as needed to support effective outreach.
• Surveys individuals from ethnically diverse communities to assess accessibility and identify barriers to care.
• Supports the identification of systemic needs within identified communities and collaborates with those communities to develop innovative, community-driven solutions.
• Gathers data for formal program assessments with clients and other health partners to ensure programs meet community needs.
• Collects and incorporates community feedback to strengthen program outreach, volunteer recruitment, and fundraising efforts.
• Assists community members in navigating the healthcare system and connecting to community resources and services based on their identified needs.
• Identifies opportunities and gathers information on community members’ needs within the healthcare system to strengthen VON’s advocacy efforts.
• Mobilizes, invites, and facilitates regular community outreach events and initiatives in partnership with identified communities.
• Works with internal teams to design and implement programs that arise from expressed client need.
• Uses data collection tools to track and report on the key performance indicators identified by the funder.
• Serves as a cultural navigator between the community and mainstream systems, providing interpretation, information sharing, and mediation support.
• Identifies and engages potential volunteers from the diverse communities we to serve.
• Supports the delivery of program training workshops for staff and volunteers as needed, including orientation, diversity and inclusivity training, and ensures onboarding best practices are followed.
• Provides support to staff and volunteers by collaborating with internal stakeholders to develop a plan to address identified gaps in cultural practices.
• Facilitates staff and volunteer participation in required education/training to effectively meet the needs of the diverse populations served through the programs.
• Works closely with the Manager Fund Development to attract donors from the communities we serve while applying a culturally appropriate lens.

Common Responsibilities:

• Promotes the goals and values of VON and their role as an integrated community care provider.
• Promotes a safe and healthy workplace ensuring workplace conduct and activities are in accordance with the provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations and compliant with the VON Safety Management System, including all Policies, Safe Work Practices and Procedures.
• Abides by all VON policies and work practices.
• Abides by all confidentiality and protection of personal information policies, regulations and practices and ensures appropriate safeguards are in place within their role.
• Works in collaboration with other staff in a team approach to service delivery.

External and Internal Relationships:

• Identifies and cultivates strong relationships among VON, community members, faith-based organizations, and other service providers to strengthen outreach to underserved populations.
• Conducts outreach with health care and social services agencies, organizations, and partners to bridge access to services for diverse and underserved populations.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to identify opportunities, needs and potential volunteer resources.
• Timely communication and follow up with internal staff, clients, and community partners/external organizations as required.
• Develops effective internal relationships across departments to facilitate achievement of objectives and responsibilities within this role.
• Interacts with various community agencies and local multicultural groups to optimize client referrals from diverse communities.
• Engages in knowledge exchange with organizations, associations, networks to further enhance culturally appropriate programming.

Education, Designations and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in social or health sciences, education, communications, or a related field.
• Minimum 3 years of proven experience of canvassing, outreach, data collection.
• Minimum 1 years of experience in project planning, coordination, and reporting
• Demonstrated experience working with ethnically diverse populations.
• Demonstrated experience working with external partners and volunteers.
• Education/Certificate in patient or community engagement (preferred).
• Prior experience working within not-for-profit organizations is an asset..

Skill Requirements:

• Experience in community outreach or navigation.
• Experience in a healthcare or social service setting.
• Demonstrated commitment to working in an environment with high confidentiality and discretion.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the social and health care services network and community resources, as well as a proven ability to build strong relationships within the community.
• Demonstrated commitment to improving community health.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Proven ability to design and deliver presentations
• Ability to work with diverse populations.
• Able to work both independently and within a team.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with an ability to prioritize, multi-task, and ability to problem solve.
• Proficiency in Windows OS and MS Office Suite programs.
• Strong attention to detail.

Other:

• Must have personal vehicle and possess both a current driver’s license and proof of vehicle insurance.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings or weekends.
• A current and original copy of a satisfactory Criminal Records Check is required.
• Must be able to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Ability to speak language(s) prevalent in the region is an asset.

Working conditions and physical demands: This role requires a detail-oriented approach in a dynamic environment, with physical activity including lifting, carrying (using proper techniques), bending, reaching, kneeling, and other movements that emphasize good body mechanics. Individuals in the role are required to walk, sit, stand, and climb stairs throughout the day, with some tasks requiring fine hand movements.

Attention Current Employees (Internal Applicants): If you are applying to a unionized position and you are a member of its bargaining unit, please be aware that this posting may remain open beyond the deadline if there are not enough applicants to fill the position(s). If the posting remains open after the initial deadline, VON may close the posting at its’ discretion or a rolling deadline equivalent to the posting period specified in your Collective Agreement will be deemed, and each successive period will be treated as a separate posting for purposes of comparing seniority between candidates.