Patient Navigator

Salary: Depends on Qualifications
Location : Houston, TX
Job Type: Grant-funded Full-time
Job Number: 16495
Department: Public Health Services
Division: Community Health & Wellness
Opening Date: 03/30/2026
Closing Date: 6/30/2026 11:59 PM Central


Position Description
If you're looking to be a part of a collaborative environment where your skills can make an impact, explore our current opportunities in creating a better future for public health.

About Harris County Public Health:

Harris County Public Health (HCPH) includes a network of more than 1,100 public health professionals working together to improve health outcomes for the third most populous county in the United States. HCPH provides a multitude of services such as medical and dental services, community programming, and health education for the approximately 2.3 million people in unincorporated Harris County. Through its core values of innovation, engagement, and health equity, HCPH strives to bring meaningful solutions to public health issues while keeping Harris County healthy and vibrant.

Our Values:
HCPH embraces a foundation of progressive work anchored by the department's cornerstone values guiding our work to improve community's health and well-being.

• Transparency - We share information openly and honestly so that staff, partners, and the community understand our actions and the reasons behind them.
• Integrity - Our actions reflect strong ethical principles, ensuring we remain trustworthy, accountable, and consistent with our mission.
• Respect - We foster a supportive environment by valuing diverse perspectives, listening intentionally, and treating people with dignity in every interaction.
• Impact - We focus our efforts on activities that improve health, reduce disparities, and create meaningful, measurable outcomes for the communities we serve.
• Collaboration - We actively partner across teams, disciplines, organizations, and communities to align our efforts toward common goals.

This position is funded through special revenue.

Position Overview:

Under general supervision, the Patient Navigator provides patient-centered navigation services to improve health outcomes and expand access to care across the continuum of services. Embedded within an HCPH health service location, this position helps undeserved individuals overcome barriers and connect to coordinated medical, behavioral, and supportive services. The Patient Navigator acts as a liaison between patients, providers, and community resources, ensuring service continuity, promoting informed decision-making, and supporting engagement in ongoing care.

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, the Patient Navigator addresses both clinical and social needs, bridging communication between healthcare systems, re-engaging patients in care, and connecting them to specialty services, community resources, and education guided by the social determinants of health framework.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide navigation across the continuum of care including screening, diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up services based on individual patient needs, including re-engagement of patients who have fallen out of care.
• Support patient follow-through with care plans. Facilitate referrals and coordinate access to healthcare, community, and social services, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive and seamless support.
• Address barriers related to insurance, transportation, language, financial, cultural, or health literacy by linking patients to appropriate support services and serving as a patient advocate in navigating complex systems.
• Deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate health education, promote patient-led decision-making, and help patients understand care plans, diagnoses, and follow-up instructions.
• Maintain accurate and complete documentation of navigation activities in compliance with HCPH policies and reporting requirements.
• Participate in community engagement events and connect patients with external resources to improve health access and awareness.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary case discussions and build partnerships with providers, social workers, and external agencies to enhance patient-centered care coordination.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

If you need special services or accommodations, please call View phone number on click.appcast.io or email View email address on click.appcast.io

Requirements
Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Public Health, Health Education, or related field

Experience :

• At least one (1) year of experience in patient navigation, community health, case management, or similar setting.
• At least one (1) year of experience working with diverse populations, including low-income, undeserved, and culturally diverse communities.

Licensure/Certifications:

• Valid Texas Driver's License.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage community members, collaborate with community partners, and communicate complex information in a manner easily understood by patients.
• Ability to effectively interpret needs and act as an advocate for client population.
• Knowledge of available patient support programs, agencies, and services.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and foster teamwork in a diverse environment
• Ability to maintain confidentiality when dealing with sensitive information
• Proficient in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Core Competencies:

• Data Analytics and Assessment Skills: Ability to use data to analyze community health needs and support decisions that improve community health outcomes.
• Communication Skills: This competency focuses on using clear and effective communication to engage audiences, address misinformation, and build trust, supporting informed decisions and stronger public health outcomes.
• Health Advancement Skills: This competency focuses on applying principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion to public health, addressing systemic barriers, and promoting fair access to resources for healthier communities.
• Community Partnership Skills: This competency focuses on collaborating with communities to address the systems and policies affecting health, fostering engagement, shared ownership, and sustainable improvements in well-being.
• Public Health Science Skills: This competency focuses on using public health science and evidence-based approaches to develop and improve policies and programs, ensuring effective delivery of the 10 Essential Public Health Services.

NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

Preferences
Language:

• Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Experience:

• Experience with electronic health records (EHR) systems.

General Information
Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

• This is a full-time position - funded through special revenue.
• 40 hours per week.
• May be required to work outside of normal business hours (evenings and weekends) and in various settings, including participants' homes, community outreach locations, and office environments.
• Travel within Harris County jurisdiction will be required for outreach efforts, meeting with participants, and training.

Work Environment:

• This job operates in both field and community clinic setting. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands:

• Frequently required to sit or stand, bend, and use manual dexterity. May occasionally lift and move up to 20 pounds.

Work Location:

• Harris County Public Health is hiring for multiple locations across the County:

1. Antoine: 5815 Antoine Dr., Houston, TX 77090
2. Channelview Hub: 15430 East Freeway. Channelview, TX 77530
3. Humble: 1730 Humble Place Dr. Humble, TX 77338
4. Mobile: This position operates in a mobile medical unit traveling across Harris County jurisdiction. Home location is the Antoine Clinic: 5815 Antoine Dr., Houston, TX 77090
5. Sheldon Hub: 8540 C.E. King Parkway, Houston, TX 77044

Employment is contingent upon passing a background check. Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.

HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Harris County offers a highly competitive benefits program, featuring a comprehensive group health plan and defined benefit retirement plan.
The following benefits are offered only to Harris County employees in regular (full-time) positions:
Health & Wellness Benefits

• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Wellness Plan
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Ten (10) days of vacation leave per year (accrual rate increases after 5 years of service)
• Eleven (11) County-observed holidays
• One (1) floating holiday per year
• Paid Parental Leave*
• Sick Leave

Retirement Savings Benefit

• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

The following benefits are available to Harris County employees in full-time and select part-time positions:

• Professional learning & development opportunities
• Retirement pension (TCDRS defined benefit plan)
• Flexible work schedule*
• METRO RideSponsor Program*

* Participation may vary by County department. The employee benefits plans of Harris County are extended to all eligible participants across various departments with the exception of the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, for which the cited Health & Wellness Benefits are administered through the State of Texas.
In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, group health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Harris County Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed.
For plan details, visit the Harris County Benefits & Wellness website:
01


Which of the following best describes your highest level of education completed as it relates to this position?

• High School or Equivalent
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree or higher
• N/A; No Degree

02


If you selected a degree in response to the previous question, which of the following disciplines best relates to your degree most relevant to this position?

• Social Work
• Psychology
• Public Health
• Other Related Field
• Non-Related Field
• N/A; No Degree

03


Which of the following best describes your verifiable experience in patient navigation, community health, case management, or similar setting.(To be considered, the qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history)

• Less than one (1) year.
• One (1) year or more.
• I do not have this experience.

04


Please provide details about your verifiable experience in patient navigation, community health, case management, or similar setting.DO NOT USE "Please see Resume" or "See Resume" (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history) Please include your (a) role(s), (b) types of organizations, (c) scope of duties and responsibilities, (d) employment dates (ex. MM/YYYY to MM/YYYY). If you do not have this experience, please type "None" in the space provided.
05


Which of the following best describes your verifiable experience in working with diverse populations, including low-income, undeserved, and culturally diverse communities.(To be considered, the qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history)

• Less than one (1) year.
• One (1) year or more.
• I do not have this experience.

06


Please provide details about your verifiable experience in diverse populations, including low-income, undeserved, and culturally diverse communities.DO NOT USE "Please see Resume" or "See Resume" (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history) Please include your (a) role(s), (b) types of organizations, (c) scope of duties and responsibilities, (d) employment dates (ex. MM/YYYY to MM/YYYY). If you do not have this experience, please type "None" in the space provided.
07


This role requires a Valid Driver's License (Texas upon hire). Do you have a Valid Driver's License?

• I have a valid Texas driver's license.
• I have a valid driver's license from another state but can obtain a Texas license upon hire.
• I do not have a valid driver's license.

08


Harris County Public Health is hiring for multiple locations, please select the following locations you are applying for

• Antoine: 5815 Antoine Dr., Houston, TX 77090
• Channelview Hub: 15430 East Freeway. Channelview, TX 77530
• Humble: 1730 Humble Place Dr. Humble, TX 77338
• Mobile This position operates in a mobile medical unit traveling across Harris County jurisdiction. Home location is the Antoine Clinic: 5815 Antoine Dr., Houston, TX 77090
• Sheldon Hub: 8540 C.E. King Parkway, Houston, TX 77044

09


Are you bilingual in English and Spanish? If yes, what is your level of proficiency in Spanish?

• Yes, I am fluent in Spanish (speaking, reading, and writing).
• Yes, I am proficient in conversational Spanish only.
• Yes, I have basic knowledge of Spanish.
• No, I am not bilingual in English and Spanish.

10


Which best describes your clinical experience using electronic health records (EHR) systems?

• Basic use (reviewing patient charts, entering vitals)
• Intermediate use (clinical documentation, medication administration, orders)
• Advanced use (care coordination, audits, quality reporting, or training others)
• No experience

Required Question