Employment and Housing Navigator

About the role

The Employment & Housing Navigator provides strengths-based employment and housing support to individuals navigating homelessness, housing instability, unemployment, recovery journeys, justice involvement, and other barriers to economic stability. This role partners with participants to identify goals, build stability, and move toward sustainable employment and housing outcomes through individualized coaching, housing navigation, supportive service coordination, employment preparation, and work-based learning opportunities. Working across workforce and human services programs, the Navigator also builds partnerships with employers, housing providers, healthcare organizations, WorkSource Spokane, and community partners to create pathways to long-term success.

Responsibilities

• Conduct outreach, recruitment, intake, screening, orientation, eligibility determination, and enrollment activities for workforce and housing-related programs.
• Complete participant assessments to identify participant strengths, barriers, needs, and goals, and develop individualized service and stability plans.
• Explain program expectations, participation requirements, and available supportive services to participants.
• Utilize trauma-informed, strengths-based, and participant-centered approaches to engagement and service delivery.
• Provide individualized housing and employment case management for participants experiencing housing instability, homelessness, unemployment, or multiple barriers to stability.
• Support participants in identifying strengths, addressing barriers, and developing strategies for employment and housing success.
• Aid participants with employment preparation, job readiness instruction, career navigation, job search activities, and work-based learning opportunities.
• Coordinate supportive services and referrals to employment, education, training, healthcare, behavioral health, recovery, housing, and other community resources to reduce barriers and support long-term stability.
• Support participants in navigating housing resources, housing applications, landlord communication, lease expectations, and housing retention strategies.
• Assist participants in accessing transportation assistance, basic needs resources, move-in supports, and community services.
• Deliver case management and documentation in compliance with BFET, FCS, homelessness prevention, housing stabilization, and other applicable program requirements.
• Support participants in transitioning toward permanent employment, long-term housing stability, and increased self-sufficiency.
• Ensure participant choice and match opportunities to individual interests, goals, backgrounds, and readiness levels.
• Provide individualized coaching, navigation, and skill-building support to help participants progress toward employment, housing, and economic stability goals.
• Conduct structured follow-up and ongoing coaching with participants, employers, housing providers, supervisors, and partner agencies to support retention and long-term stability.
• Maintain communication and support services following employment placement or housing stabilization to maximize participant success and reduce returns to homelessness or unemployment.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with employers, WorkSource Spokane, housing providers, healthcare and behavioral health organizations, landlords, and community partners to support coordinated participant services and successful outcomes.
• Collaborate with partner agencies to support participant needs and expand employment and housing opportunities.
• Develop job opportunities and local employer relationships that support successful placements.
• Maintain timely, accurate, and complete documentation including case notes, assessments, service plans, enrollment records, supportive service documentation, and outcome tracking.
• Ensure accurate and timely data entry across multiple systems including HMIS, Apricot/Bonterra, EJAS, Reliatrax, and other required databases and reporting systems.
• Maintain participant files in accordance with organizational, contractual, and compliance requirements.
• Track program outcomes, supportive services, expenditures, and billing documentation as required by funding sources.
• Understand program performance measures and align services to support successful participant outcomes and contract compliance.
• Participate in quality assurance activities, internal reviews, staff meetings, training opportunities, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Utilize digital tools, technology, and AI-supported resources to improve workflows, documentation, communication, and participant engagement.

Core Competencies

• Experience providing strengths-based case management to individuals experiencing homelessness, housing instability, unemployment, or multiple barriers.
• Knowledge of housing resources, supportive services, employment barriers, job readiness instruction, and work-based learning strategies.
• Ability to navigate workforce development and housing programs including BFET, FCS, HMIS, and local homeless services systems.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build trust, demonstrate empathy, and engage diverse populations using trauma-informed and harm-reduction approaches.
• Ability to identify participant strengths and barriers, develop individualized plans, and coach individuals toward vocational and housing goals.
• Skill in employer engagement, job matching, and supporting participants in meeting on-the-job training requirements.
• Ability to conduct structured retention follow-up and provide coaching for up to 12 months after employment.
• Exceptional accuracy in documentation, case notes, and data entry; ability to meet compliance requirements across multiple MIS databases (EJAS, Reliatrax, HMIS, and others).
• Ability to follow highly detailed program regulations, timelines, and funding-specific documentation and billing requirements, including FCS billing processes.
• Strong organizational, time management, and prioritization skills with the ability to manage individual caseload outcomes and deadlines.
• Effective problem solving, crisis response, and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to synthesize information from multiple sources and communicate clearly, respectfully, and in ways participants fully understand.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn new software platforms, databases, and technology tools used in workforce and housing programs.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, cultural humility, and creating an inclusive environment.
• Integrity: Stay true to our mission, purpose, and vision; act in harmony with our beliefs and values; gain trust while respecting boundaries; keep commitments, hold ourselves and others accountable.
• Courage: Take smart risks and challenge status quo; challenge actions inconsistent with organization’s values; speak up, even when uncomfortable; perform heroic actions advocating for those the organization serves.
• Generosity: Extend hospitality, appreciation, and have dedication to serve others; seek what is best for the organization rather than self; act humbly; treat everyone with kindness and dignity.
• Visionary: Embrace an entrepreneurial spirit; pioneer new ideas and demonstrate curiosity; embrace failure to break boundaries and learn rapidly; be willing to do things differently; adapt and stay nimble by finding time to simplify.
• Leadership: Humbly guide and lead others to make a positive difference; contribute to the larger good; share knowledge; commit self and others to professional growth; be a life-long learner; engage in open, honest communication.
• Excellence: Perform with integrity to ensure accurate and competent results with a positive impact; extend beyond minimum expectations; consider other points of view; think critically and problem solve by identifying root causes; show unity through teamwork.

Experience/Position Requirements

• A Bachelor’s Degree in: Business Administration, Human Resources, Social Work, Communication, Education, Workforce Development, Psychology, Sociology, or Social Services’ related field. Two years of experience in workforce development may substitute for the degree requirement.
• Experience in case management, workforce development or housing services.
• Requires advanced level use of: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook; LinkedIn, and other business-related networking applications, as appropriate.
• Must be able to work in a culturally diverse and fast-paced environment and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity and cultural competency.
• Daily availability of personal vehicle or alternate method of transportation sufficient to meet the daily transportation requirements of the position is a condition of employment. Copies of driver's license and auto liability insurance coverage is required for personnel file at time of hire and annually thereafter.
• Preferred: Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP).
• Demonstrated success working in a performance-based system.
• Demonstrated success working with people from a variety of backgrounds which may include disabilities, criminal history, homelessness, family violence, poverty etc.
• Experience in public speaking and presentations to a diverse community.

Benefits

• Leading health care package, including medical with both F.S.A. and H.S.A. options, dental, and vision
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance, Short Term Disability, and Long Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary/supplemental group term life insurance, group AD&D insurance, hospital indemnity coverage, accident coverage, critical illness coverage, legal coverage, and identity theft coverage
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with a leading employer discretionary contribution
• Paid Vacation (accrue 12 hours/month), Sick (accrue 8 hours/month), Bereavement, Jury Duty and Military Leave
• 13 Paid Holidays including Floating Holiday and Birthday Holiday
• Cell Phone Reimbursement Allowance, Home Internet Reimbursement Allowance and Personal Development Reimbursement Allowances
• Tuition Reimbursement program and a qualified employer for the Federal Loan Forgiveness Program

About Career Path Services

Career Path Services is a workforce development and employment training 501(c)3 nonprofit headquartered in Spokane, WA. As an organization, we pride ourselves in being a part of our community and truly enriching the community we work in. We value our diverse team-based environments while recognizing the creativity