Part Time Community Navigator (Chicago, IL)

About the Role

Ounce Community Navigators are critical members of the team, serving as the face of Ounce within the community. You will be working directly with residents, our housing & community partners, and our broader team to deliver better care & services within affordable housing. This a part-time role 

In this role you will be a:

• Outreach & Engagement Specialist: You will proactively engage residents within affordable housing communities, building trust in Ounce's mission. You will find creative ways to engage residents, including door-to-door flyering, hosting community events, tabling, and phone-based outreach.
• Benefits Specialist & Service Coordinator: You will help residents by scheduling doctor’s appointments, helping them apply for benefits they may be eligible for (e.g., SNAP, TANF, LIHEAP), and acting as their health & wellness advocate. You can balance multiple responsibilities & tasks at once, make and track referrals within our technology platform, and follow through with residents promptly.
• Relationship Builder: As the face of Ounce within the community, you’ll build trust & respect with residents, convene & listen to residents, and identify their needs proactively. You’ll also work closely with community partners across the Chicago area, ensuring our residents have access to high quality services and are treated with respect and empathy.

Who we’re looking for:

• You have experience navigating government benefits (e.g., SNAP, TANF, LIHEAP, Medicaid) and coordinating care to local organizations
• You are excited by “boots on the ground” opportunities, including community organizing, and enjoy customer-service roles, as you will be embedded within affordable housing communities in Charleston and must embody a “residents come first” mentality
• You understand the unique opportunities and challenges affordable housing residents face; ideally, you have lived in the area and/or worked in a community-based role

Other information:

• Schedule: This role is structured as a 3-day per week schedule, with weekday hours determined in partnership with your manager and according to property needs. Once scheduled, we expect that you maintain your committed days to the property consistently. We find that this makes a big difference in building trust with our residents and overall community.
• Ability to commute: Within Chicago, 3 days/week
• Hourly Rate: $26–$32 per hour