The Role

Beta Community Responder (Texas, Region 7) — a hybrid direct-service + innovation role that supports Transition Age Youth (TAY) and kinship families by providing real-time digital resource navigation (phone/text/email) while helping design, test, and improve a human-led and AI-powered navigation program on the path to an MVP and eventual scale.

Reports to: Senior Manager, Beta Community Responder Team
Direct Reports: N/A
Location: Hybrid; Washington, D.C.-based (minimum 3 days/week in office), supporting beta testing in Texas, Region 7
Category: Full-time; Exempt

Responsibilities

Requirements

About You

Competency: Systems navigation + direct service delivery
Description: 3+ years accessing/navigating child welfare and/or adjacent social service systems; ideally 2+ years professional experience in mental health or related fields.

Competency: Clear, empathetic communication (trauma-informed posture)
Description: Communicates effectively with kinship families, foster youth, and child welfare professionals; demonstrates unconditional positive regard, sensitivity to circumstances, and responsiveness. Spanish bilingual preferred.

Competency: User-centered, iterative problem-solving
Description: Prioritizes user experience, solicits diverse feedback, translates insights into improvements; tests multiple approaches and iterates toward practical solutions.

Competency: Lived-experience-centered practice and humility
Description: Brings personal/professional experience with child welfare (or deep commitment to learn), approaches work with humility/curiosity, and centers lived experience.

Competency: Adaptability + systems-change mindset
Description: Solutions-oriented; thrives in evolving organizations; adapts quickly, perseveres through obstacles, and uses change as an opportunity to learn and improve.

Competency: Data literacy
Description: Some experience with data analysis (cleaning, visualization, interpretation) and familiarity with survey tools, analytics dashboards, and user research methods.

Competency: AI learning mindset
Description: Proactively explores, applies, and adapts AI and new tech tools to improve efficiency, solve problems, and support decision-making in beta testing and MVP work.

Experience

Experience #1: Child welfare / social services navigation (3+ years)
Details: Demonstrated ability to access and navigate child welfare and/or related social service systems; ideally paired with 2+ years in mental health or related fields.

Experience #2: Direct support + resource coordination with priority populations
Details: Experience communicating with and serving child-welfare-involved populations (kinship families, foster youth, child welfare professionals) with an empathetic, responsive approach; Spanish bilingual preferred.

Experience #3: Data-informed practice + feedback capture
Details: Ability to collect and document user feedback and support tracking/measurement to inform iterative improvement.

Experience #4: Education/Training
Details: Bachelor’s degree in social work, counseling, human services, or related field.

Compensation & Benefits

At TOU, we believe that taking care of our people is foundational to the impact we aim to make. Our compensation philosophy is rooted in transparency and a holistic understanding of people’s needs. We believe fair, market-competitive pay is essential to attracting and retaining the exceptional talent needed to achieve our ambitious goals. As a not-for-profit organization, we design our compensation packages—including both salary and benefits—with care and in alignment with our financial sustainability.

The annual salary for this role is $70,000–75,000. Starting salaries for new hires will be determined based on a combination of the new hire’s relevant experience and market demands.

TOU’S benefits go beyond the basics. They’re designed to support your well-being, growth, and sense of purpose at work and beyond. From comprehensive health coverage to professional development support and meaningful time off, our benefits reflect our commitment to nurturing a workplace where people can thrive, both personally and professionally.

Health & Insurance

• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees; 50% for dependents.
• Access to Talkspace for confidential therapy and mental health support.
• Short-Term Disability, Life, and AD&D Insurance included.
• Optional Long-Term Disability and Supplemental Life Insurance.
• Health Care and Dependent Care FSAs available.

Financial Benefits

• 401(k) Plan for pre-tax retirement contributions.
• Work-from-home setup stipend to optimize your workspace.

Paid Time Off

• Flexible PTO policy, plus sick leave and paid leaves of absence.
• 8 company holidays, plus three organization-wide seasonal breaks.

Learning & Development

• $1,500 annual stipend per employee.
• Regular organization-wide learning sessions on relevant and reflective topics.

Application Instructions

As part of your application, please submit a resume outlining your skills and experiences relevant to this role.

We are accepting applications through February 16, 2026. Only complete applications will be considered.

Please note: We do not accept phone inquiries about this position in order to ensure a fair and consistent hiring process for all applicants.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Think of Us is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome and value applicants of all backgrounds, knowing that diverse perspectives strengthen our work with children, youth, and families. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. We provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and for applicants’ religious practices as required by law.