Community Health System Navigator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Community Health Worker

Requisition ID
req37299

Working Title
Community Health Worker

Position Grade
09

Position Summary

UNM's ADOBE (Averting Disparities in Outcomes by Building Engagement) program was founded in 2017 to provide comprehensive, multigenerational care for youth and families/support systems at risk of adverse social, health, and behavioral health outcomes. Originally created to help break the cycle of juvenile justice involvement by mitigating the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), ADOBE now also cares for adolescents and young adults without prior contact with the justice system. Our trauma-informed, multidisciplinary team uses a strengths-based, harm reduction approach to provide community navigation, education support, psychotherapy, psychiatric care, and primary care (including medications for substance use disorder).

We are seeking a Community Navigator to join our team. Working with a caseload of approximately 20 primary clients and their families/support systems, Community Navigators serve as community health workers, community support workers, and case managers. They assist clients with addressing social drivers of health, such as housing, transportation, employment, and food security. They help clients meet their goals and improve their life functioning skills. They create individualized care plans and coordinate care across social service, healthcare, and justice systems. Most importantly, they develop trusting relationships with and provide mentorship for young people and families in need of support. By meeting clients where they are, Navigators help them build strengths and resilience to empower themselves to thrive and realize their full potential, regardless of their circumstances.

Community Navigators support clients in home, community, clinic, judicial, and detention settings. They work closely with the broader ADOBE team and community partners, including social service agencies, residential treatment centers, youth detention centers, probation offices, and courts.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build long-term, trusting relationships with and provide mentorship to clients and their families
• Assess clients' strengths, needs, and barriers; co-develop and monitor individualized care plans and safety/crisis plans with clients, families, and the ADOBE team
• Coach clients in life skills development and motivate active engagement in their own goals and wellbeing
• Facilitate access to resources across multiple domains; provide navigation, advocacy, and follow-up across service systems
• Participate in ADOBE team meetings; coordinate with team members to ensure integrated, holistic support for each client
• Document all client contacts across PowerChart, REDCap, and/or Microsoft Excel; support data collection and program evaluation

See the Position Description for additional information.

Conditions of Employment

• Possession of a valid New Mexico driver's license is a requirement for this job.
• Must pass a pre-employment criminal background check.
• Fingerprinting, and subsequent clearance, may be required for this position depending on assignment.
• May be required to obtain a Community Support Worker (CSW) certification within six months of hire.
• Employees who provide services or work in patient care or clinical areas are required to be in compliance with the University's influenza vaccination requirement.
• Successful candidate must submit to post-offer, pre-employment physical examination and medical history check.

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or GED; at least 1 year of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.

Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong commitment to working with high-risk adolescents, young adults, and their families using a trauma-informed harm reduction approach.
• Willingness to conduct home visits and meet clients in a variety of community settings, including detention centers.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Lived experience in the communities served by ADOBE, or with the systems and challenges our clients navigate
• Current Community Health Worker certification and/or completion of Community Support Worker training.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of community resources and social service agencies, including those for meeting basic needs such as housing, food, and transportation.
• Experience with medical charting and documentation in a medical setting.
• Exceptional organizational skills.
• Ability to effectively adapt to changing priorities.

Additional Requirements

Campus
Health Sciences Center (HSC) - Albuquerque, NM

Department
Family Community Medicine FCM (160B)

Employment Type
Staff

Staff Type
Term - Full-Time

Term End Date
06/30/2027

Status
Non-Exempt

Pay
Hourly: $19.00 - $24.77

Benefits Eligible
This is a benefits eligible position. The University of New Mexico provides a comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. In addition, UNM offers educational benefits through the tuition remission and dependent education programs. See the Benefits home page for a more information.

ERB Statement
As a condition of employment, eligible employees working greater than .25 FTE as determined by the New Mexico Education Retirement Act must make mandatory retirement contributions. For more information, review the Benefits Eligibility at a Glance grid.

Background Check Required
Yes

For Best Consideration Date
8/3/2026

Eligible for Hiring Incentive
No

Eligible for Remote Work
Yes

Eligible for Remote Work Statement
This position is eligible for a hybrid schedule.

Application Instructions

Only applications submitted through the official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this job advertisement on a 3rd party site, please visit UNMJobs to submit an application.
To be considered for this position, applicants must provide:

• A complete on-line application including hours worked for each position;
• A cover letter with summary of relevant experience and why you are qualified for this position;
• A current resume; and
• Three professional references, preferably supervisory. Selected candidate must also provide official transcripts and/or proof of meeting minimum job requirements.

Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details.

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3280.html. Refer to https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3200.html for a definition of Regular Staff.