Community Support Navigator

Key Accountabilities and Measures of Success

1. Community Outreach and Relationship Building

• Identify, develop, and maintain relationships with community-based organizations serving underserved and rural Veterans including community VSOs, tribal organizations, military units, and local partners throughout New Mexico and within the Albuquerque metro area.

• Coordinate and attend outreach events, community meetings, and tabling opportunities to represent Paws and Stripes and connect Veterans to services.

• Target outreach efforts to support enrollment and ensure upcoming programs are filled.

• Maintain accurate records of outreach activities, partner contacts, and referral pathways in accordance with organizational and funder requirements.

Measures of Success:

• Increase Veteran referrals and program inquiries from targeted populations by 25 percent through the end of 2026.

• Establish new partnerships with at least 10 community organizations annually.

• Ensure representation at a minimum of 24 outreach events or community meetings per year.

2. Peer Support and Veteran Navigation

• Provide peer-based support to Veterans by offering connection, encouragement, and guidance while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.

• Support Veterans in navigating services through warm handoffs to case managers, enrollment staff, clinicians, and external referral partners.

• Assist with facilitation of peer focused psychoeducational workshops aligned with Paws Forward programming and SSG Fox Suicide Prevention Grant goals.

• Participate in suicide prevention education efforts including community-based trainings focused on the QPR gatekeeper model, lethal means education, and stigma reduction.

• Pursue Certified Peer Support Worker certification if not already obtained, with certification costs covered by Paws and Stripes.

Measures of Success:

• Completion of QPR Instructor certification within first 3 months of employment.

• Ensure organizational goal of 24 Suicide Prevention Trainings annually through shared responsibility of relationship building, cold calls, follow ups and facilitation.

• Completion of CPSW certification within an agreed upon timeframe if not already certified.

• Consistent participation in peer support activities aligned with program goals and grant requirements.

3. Front Desk and Program Support

• Serve as a welcoming and professional first point of contact for Veterans, clients, partners, and visitors during scheduled front desk hours.

• Greet visitors, answer phones, route inquiries appropriately, and support basic intake and scheduling needs.

• Support daily operations by assisting with administrative tasks related to programs, outreach, and client flow.

• Collaborate with the Drop in Services Specialist to ensure consistent coverage of the drop in center when open.

• Front desk responsibilities are a regular component of this role and average approximately 10 to 15 hours per week.

Measures of Success:

• Front desk coverage maintained during scheduled hours with consistent professionalism and accuracy.

• Attendance at no less than 50 percent of drop in events.

• Positive internal feedback regarding reliability and client experience at the front desk.

4. Administrative and Reporting Duties

• Track outreach, peer support, and engagement activities in alignment with Department of Veterans Affairs funder requirements and internal procedures.

• Submit timely outreach logs, reports, and documentation as required.

• Participate in weekly team meetings, trainings, and supervision.

• Provide updates, feedback, and recommendations to the Programs Department as requested.

Measures of Success:

• Timely submission of monthly outreach logs and quarterly performance reports

• Participation in at least 90% of scheduled team meetings and training sessions

5. Other duties as assigned by direct supervisor

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated commitment to serving marginalized or underserved populations through a history of paid or volunteer work

• Experience is required over education. High school or equivalent required and bachelors degree in relatable field preferred. 

• Strong communication and relationship-building skills

• Veteran status, peer support experience, or lived experience with disability or trauma preferred but not required

• CPSW certification or willingness to pursue certification preferred but not required

• Reliable transportation and willingness to travel regularly within New Mexico 

• Experience with outreach, suicide prevention, or community engagement a plus

• Ability to learn new software as needed with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite 

• Ability to communicate effectively in English using a variety of techniques appropriate to the audience 

• Ability to present complex information accurately and effectively and to adjust presentation to the needs of the audience 

• Excellent written communication skills 

• Ability to develop and apply creative and innovative solutions to problems 

• Ability to prepare clear, concise, and accurate reports, correspondence, and other job- related documents for various audiences 

• Ability to develop controls and systems to ensure quality of work and continually improve processes and procedures 

• Ability to maintain professionalism and adhere to strict standards of confidentiality 

• Ability to work independently and complete tasks in a timely and efficient manner 

• Skill to gather, analyze and interpret data 

• Skill to manage supplies and provide inventory control 

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

• Hybrid work environment including in-office, off-site, and community-based activities

• Work is performed at a desk and screen for extended periods of time in a office environment. 

• Requires manual dexterity sufficient to operate phones, computers, and other office equipment. 

• Work is performed in a highly active environment with exposure to a wide variety of challenges, deadlines and diverse employee and client population. 

• Daily exposure to dogs in the office environment should be expected. 

• Position may require the occasional lifting of up to 30 pounds. 

• May require evening or weekend availability based on outreach events