Patient Care Navigator

Headlight

. Help patients successfully move from a behavioral health referral to appropriate care .

Posted 10/5/2026full-timeSan Diego • California • United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $30 per hourWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in patient navigation and care coordination, with a focus on establishing rapport and facilitating seamless transitions between healthcare providers. Proficient in managing referrals, resolving barriers, and applying peer-informed communication within a non-clinical scope.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Certified Peer Specialist CertificationPatient NavigationCare CoordinationHealthcare ExperienceVerbal And Written Communication Skills

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Referral ManagementInsurance VerificationAppointment SchedulingProblem-SolvingDocumentation Accuracy

Soft Skills

Trust BuildingJudgmentIndependenceAdaptabilityConfidentiality

Tools & Technologies

Headlight SystemsMultiple Technology Systems

Certifications & Qualifications

Certified Peer Specialist Certification

Industry Keywords

Behavioral HealthPatient AccessIntakeCustomer ExperienceCare Navigation

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Help patients successfully move from a behavioral health referral to appropriate care
Own the non-clinical navigation process between referral and connection
Serve as the initial point of contact for patients identified by healthcare partners
Provide onsite, virtual, or hybrid navigation depending on the partnership model
Receive warm handoffs from physicians, clinicians, and healthcare staff
Establish rapport and create seamless transitions from referring providers to Headlight
Understand patient needs, preferences, and barriers to care
Explain Headlight services in a patient-centered manner
Support insurance verification, clinician matching, and initial appointment scheduling
Provide follow-up and escalate situations according to safety and clinical protocols
Review stalled referrals and resolve insurance, contact, referral, and administrative barriers
Reengage patients who expressed interest but did not connect to care
Facilitate alternative provider or community-resource connections when Headlight is not appropriate
Maintain accurate referral dispositions and documentation in Headlight systems
Review referral queues and resolve incomplete, inaccurate, ambiguous, aging, or unresolved referrals
Identify referral barriers, patient drop-off, and unsuccessful connections
Conduct targeted call listening or interaction reviews
Surface recurring issues and support referral and navigation workflow improvements
Build relationships with partner clinical and administrative staff
Provide referral-status updates and follow partner protocols
Complete Certified Peer Specialist training or certification as required
Apply peer-informed communication within the role's non-clinical scope
Participate in Care Navigation workflow development, testing, and continuous improvement

Requirements

What you’ll need

High school diploma or GED required
Associate's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business, or related field, preferred
Complete Certified Peer Specialist training or certification as required by Headlight and applicable state or program requirements, either prior to or as part of onboarding
Experience in healthcare, behavioral health, patient access, intake, care coordination, navigation, customer experience or related field
Experience interacting directly with patients or healthcare consumers
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Ability to establish trust and rapport quickly
Strong judgment and ability to navigate ambiguity, exceptions, and unexpected situations
Ability to manage multiple referrals, follow-ups, and priorities independently
Comfort working across multiple technology systems
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to identify the appropriate next step
Ability to work independently while recognizing when escalation is appropriate
Commitment to confidentiality, professionalism, and patient-centered care
Certified Peer Specialist certification or willingness and ability to complete certification as part of onboarding, where applicable
Spanish language skills preferred but not required

Benefits

Comp & perks

W2 role with competitive hourly rate and an additional incentive-based pay structure
Medical, Dental and Vision on the first of the month after employment (based on FT hours)
Paid Vacation, Sick, and Holiday time
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides confidential counseling services, resources, and support to help you navigate personal or professional challenges.
401(k) plan with company contribution
Hybrid work schedule
Opportunity to work in a cutting-edge healthcare technology environment
Professional development opportunities and training
Collaborative and supportive work culture
Impactful role contributing to the enhancement of patient care and healthcare processes