Part-Time Community Navigator (Mount Prospect, IL)

About Us 

We live by the saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, and our mission is to empower healthy and thriving communities. Ounce is a first-of-its-kind community-based service model. Enabled by technology, we provide services to residents of affordable housing properties, improving engagement and outcomes at scale.

We are looking for creative and kind teammates to join us in this journey.

About the Role

Ounce Community Navigators are critical members of the team, serving as the face of Ounce within the community. As our Korean-speaking Community Navigator, you will be working directly with Korean-speaking elderly residents, our housing & community partners, and our broader team to deliver culturally competent care & services within affordable housing communities in Mount Prospect, IL.

In this role you will be a:

• Outreach & Engagement Specialist: You will proactively engage Korean-speaking residents within affordable housing communities, building trust in Ounce's mission while respecting cultural preferences and communication styles. You will find creative ways to engage residents, including door-to-door flyering, hosting community events, tabling, and phone-based outreach, all conducted in Korean as needed.
• Benefits Specialist & Service Coordinator: You will help residents navigate complex systems by scheduling doctor's appointments, helping them apply for benefits they may be eligible for (e.g., SNAP, TANF, LIHEAP, Medicare), 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, ensuring language barriers don't prevent access to services.
• Cultural Bridge & Relationship Builder: As the Korean-speaking face of Ounce within the community, you'll build trust & respect with residents, convene & listen to the community, and identify needs proactively while understanding cultural nuances specific to Korean elderly residents. You'll also work closely with community partners across the Mount Prospect and Chicago area, ensuring our residents have access to culturally appropriate, high quality services.
• Community Advocate: You will serve as a liaison between Korean-speaking residents and service providers, helping to eliminate language and cultural barriers that may prevent residents from accessing essential services and resources.

Who we're looking for:

• Language & Cultural Competency: You are fluent in both Korean and English, with strong written and verbal communication skills in both languages. You understand Korean cultural values, particularly as they relate to elderly community members, and can navigate intergenerational dynamics respectfully.
• Benefits & Healthcare Navigation Experience: You have experience navigating government benefits (e.g., SNAP, TANF, LIHEAP, Medicare/Medicaid) and coordinating services with local organizations, ideally with experience serving elderly populations.
• Community-Focused Background: You are excited by "boots on the ground" opportunities and enjoy customer-service roles. You will be embedded within affordable housing communities in Mount Prospect and must embody a "residents come first" mentality.
• Local Community Context: You understand the unique opportunities and challenges affordable housing residents face; ideally, you have lived in the Chicagoland area and/or worked in a community-based role serving Korean or other immigrant communities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Fluent in both Korean and English, with strong ability to read and write in both languages
• Experience working with elderly populations
• Familiarity with Mount Prospect, Des Plaines, or surrounding northwest suburban communities
• Background in social work, community health, or related field
• Understanding of Medicare, Social Security, and other programs important to elderly residents

You're a good fit for Ounce if you are:

• Professional: You set high standards for yourself and your colleagues, communicating clearly, and conducting yourself with good judgement and cultural sensitivity.
• Mission-driven: You want to solve problems that align with your values and are passionate about serving elderly Korean community members.
• Adaptable and entrepreneurial: You are comfortable operating with some independence, reacting responsibly to new