Tribal Services Navigator

Job Summary
The Tribal Services Navigator will serve as a liaison between all Ketchikan Indian Community Tribal Citizens and Ketchikan Indian Community and local community service providers. To enhance knowledge of services, direct requests for technical assistance, and be a resource for general questions and concerns regarding KIC services. The Tribal Services Navigator position works to engage with individuals and families at risk of homelessness or who need a variety of services to secure housing stability. Services that include formal and informal support tailored to their particular culture, ethnicity, age, and gender identity

Job Duties & Responsibilities 

• Recruit community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and other community groups to become a part of an active and ever-growing locally based support network for people, including those most challenged with housing and stability; 
• Follow up with people they have engaged to ensure that they have connected with support structures and received the help they need; 
• Utilize 1TRIBE to enter client information; provide advocacy to clients and assist them in getting connected to appointments with agencies and health care providers; Promote and make presentations at emergency shelters, community food banks, intergovernmental agencies, local not-for-profit associations, and community centers and other duties as assigned. 

Duties & Responsibilities

• Be the local resource for questions and concerns to resolve issues quickly.
• Facilitate communication between the Ketchikan Indian Community and the appropriate departments and personnel.
• Communicate with other Ketchikan Indian Community departments to coordinate services as needed.
• Create strong relationships with service providers and solid working knowledge of available services.
• Communicate openly with community leaders and volunteers who may have immediate questions or situations that must be addressed.
• Create and utilize a system to check with community leaders and service providers to ensure accurate information and appropriate follow-up.
• Providing education and outreach through individual, group, and community efforts to raise awareness and engagement. 
• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date records, progress notes, and service documentation.
• Educating and providing information about programs, services, and opportunities to the public at community events, resource and job fairs, and other forums as needed.
• Developing and building relationships through outreach with groups, agencies, organizations, and resident-related interactions.
• Performing other duties of a similar nature or level.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• A strong understanding and sensitivity to American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribal culture and lifestyle is necessary to work effectively with AI/AN populations.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills are required, with sensitivity to the lifestyles of targeted participants.
• Proficiency in operating personal computers using various software applications and platforms is essential.
• Establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with management, coworkers, and outside contacts is important.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and comply with all applicable federal and tribal privacy laws and KIC policy (HIPAA, HITECH, etc.).
• Proficiency in using video teleconference equipment or the ability to learn technical skills is required.
• The ability to learn and apply program/agency operating policies and procedures.
• Excellent multitasking abilities, including managing multiple priorities and tasks concurrently and meeting deadlines.
• The ability to work independently as well as with teams is necessary.

Working Conditions:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.  

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and/or sit. The employee is occasionally required to walk, sit, climb, or balance. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.  The noise level in the work environment is usually average.

KIC Competencies

Cultural Competency: To be respectful and responsive to the health beliefs, practices, and cultural and linguistic needs of KIC Tribal Members. Developing cultural competence is an evolving, dynamic process that takes time and occurs along a continuum.

Commitment: To serve Tribal Members and set a high standard for yourself in your performance; strive for results and success; convey a sense of urgency and bring issues to closure; and stay persistent despite obstacles and opposition.  

Customer Service: Meet/exceed the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; identify, understand, and monitor the needs of both internal and external customers; always talk and act with customers in mind; and recognize working colleagues as customers. 

Effective Communication: Ensure important information is passed to those who need to know; convey necessary information with respect, clearly and effectively orally or in writing.

Responsiveness and Accountability: Demonstrate a high level of conscientiousness; hold oneself personally responsible for one's own work; and do the required fair share of work.

Minimum Qualifications (Education & Experience)

• A minimum of three (3) years of experience working in or with community and non-profit organizations and engaging in community outreach. 
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience working with individuals in need of services and their families and the ability to build trust with people from different cultures and income levels are essential.
• A strong understanding of trauma-informed care principles and practices, with a focus on providing client-centered services.
• CPR Certificate (or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire).
• First Aid Certificate (or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire).

Preferred Qualifications (Education & Experience)

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent degree is preferred, as is personal or professional experience with Social Services programs and/or mental health issues.
• A minimum of four (4) years of professional experience working with homeless individuals and those facing mental health challenges, including working with community and non-profit organizations. 
• On a year-for-year basis, a combination of relevant experience, education, and training may substitute for education and experience requirements.

Conditions of Hire:

• Must possess and maintain a valid Alaska driver's license or be capable of obtaining one, as well as be insurable by KIC’s company insurance.
• KIC is a Drug-Free Workplace. All employees must adhere to KIC drug and alcohol policies and procedures to ensure a safe workplace. Employees must pass a pre-employment and subsequent random and/or for-cause drug and alcohol screening to be eligible for and maintain employment.
• KIC has several positions that must comply with the P.L. 101-630 Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Protection Act (ICPA); all employment offers in the "covered" classification are conditional until KIC has received a Federal criminal background check verifying eligibility to work in these programs.