The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
The IRC in Northern California was established in 1975 in response to the needs of the growing refugee population. Over the past 40 years the IRC has resettled nearly 60,000 clients in Northern California. Originally focused on reception and placement the IRC provides a range of services including economic empowerment, immigration, community gardening, and case management for victims of trafficking. IRCโs Economic Empowerment programming focuses on connecting individuals to employment opportunities in an effort to lead them down the path of self-sufficiency. This is accomplished through a combination of employment services, financial education and coaching, and access to public benefits and income supports.
Job Overview
The Career Development Counselor is responsible for program implementation and service delivery for the IRCโs career development programs, including assisting low-income populations, refugees, out-of-school and other underserved populations in gaining job and academic skills, placing them in employment and college as well as providing wrapround services and case management. Specifically, the Career Development Counselor will work within a team to deliver client-facing services such as conducting orientation and assessments sessions, client intakes, career coaching, goal setting, job search assistance, soft-skills trainings, enrollment in post-secondary and certification programs, supporting clients with obtaining work experience, working with external stakeholders and employers to develop work experience opportunities, coordinating additional services tailored to individual client needs and working with different programs and departments within IRC to refer clients to services.
Major Responsibilities:
Outreach and Enrollment
โข Develop and maintain partnerships with local community partners and stakeholders, conduct information and orientation sessions at IRC and at partner sites to identify and recruit participants.
โข Assist with creation of marketing materials, career pathway informational packets and presentations.
โข Work with internal IRC programs to receive referrals, provide updates about participants and programs.
โข Develop and cultivate relationships with training/education providers and employers who offer quality job opportunities and work experiences for clients.
โข Conduct a thorough and equal assessment of applicants, complete intake and enrollment administration and case noting.
Career Coaching and Technical Assistance
โข Manage a client caseload, providing clients with one-on-one career coaching; this includes service planning, goal setting, detailing actionable and realistic activities, resource mapping, assisting clients to enter in-demand professions, obtaining financial assistance for the training and provide ongoing case management.
โข Implement technical assessments to gauge client strengths, weaknesses, and proficiencies.
โข Actively engage in activities to assist client placement in jobs or college including providing advanced work readiness training (resume writing, interview skills, job search skills, networking), referring applicable clients to positions and providing continued follow-up once clients are placed.
โข Refer clients to the Financial Coach for financial literacy, loan applications and credit classes.
โข Track and document client participation and progress, adhering to grant requirements, and regularly collecting success stories.
โข Work with external partners such as AJCCs and other community organizations to ensure clientsโ access to relevant information, resources and financial assistance.
โข Advocate for clientsโ rights in the labor market by providing references and meeting with employers to educate them about the benefits of hiring refugees, asylees, and immigrants.
โข Collaborate to provide comprehensive strength-based services to IRC clients through effective communication between team members and departments.
โข Assist clients and employers as necessary with post-placement issues and continuing career development needs by referring them to education and business development resources
Service Documentation
โข Ensure timely and accurate compliance to all reporting requirements: document services provided and client outcomes in relevant case management databases; monitor and track client job performance and wage level; maintain accurate and up-to-date case files documenting client goals, activities, and services, and assist with grant applications and final reporting.
โข Engage with and, as necessary, develop supportive tracking systems for auxiliary information.
โข Comply with all financial and budget-related mechanisms and processes.
Other Responsibilities
โข Regularly attend Workforce Development Board meetings, be up to date on the funder policies and communicate with the fundersโ technical assistance staff.
โข Participate in all program meetings, staff development activities, and fully engage as a member of the team
โข Comply with all policies, procedures and protocols of the agency.
Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: Workforce Development Supervisor
Position directly supervises: Interns and volunteers
Internal and/or external contacts: Coordinates regularly with Economic Empowerment team, other IRC departments and local partners including employers, training providers and AJCCs.
Job Requirements:
Education:
โข Undergraduate degree in a related field of study; comparable related work experience may be substituted.
Work Experience:
โข A minimum of a bachelor's degree in social services, international affairs, or other related field.
โข Minimum 2 years of professional experience working in social services, employment, workforce programming, client counseling, or related area.
โข Previous work with low-income, immigrant and low English proficiency populations in a workforce development setting highly desirable.
โข Strong understanding of community resources.
โข Experience with higher education including community colleges, adult schools, and technical training providers is a plus.
โข Experience working with external stakeholders and partners, coordinating services for clients.
โข Experience working with data tracking systems, Microsoft Suite and other technical systems.
Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:
โข Experience working with youth and adult learners from a variety of cultural and linguistic groups and with multiple levels of English language skill required; work or volunteer experience with underserved communities, refugees, out-of-school youth populations and understanding of Bay Areaโs refugee and immigrant communities desired.
โข Proficiency in another language such as Spanish, Tigrinya, Dari/Farsi, Pashto, Ukrainian preferred.
โข Willingness to learn industry-specific practices and previous partnership development experience preferred.
โข Ability to effectively set service expectations and coach clients towards shared goals.
โข Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and presentation creation
โข Strong interpersonal skills for effective networking and influence. Proven ability to foster and manage client and partner relationships.
โข Proven ability to take initiative, creatively problem solve and collaborate in a fast-paced work environment.
โข Demonstrated experience in system development and case management.
โข Highly organized, attentive to detail, responsible, and flexible: able to maintain responsibility for multiple tasks in the context of a diverse, fast-paced work environment, and maintain composure under pressure.
โข Ability to work efficiently across a team to reach specific measured outcome.
โข Experience using data and fiscal tracking systems strongly preferred.
โข Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required
Working Environment:
โข A combination of standard office environment, remote work, and โfieldโ time within the service delivery area to perform the outlined responsibilities.
โข May require occasional weekend and/or evening work.
Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.
US Benefits :We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $143 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.
**Standard of Professional Conduct:**The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way โ our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.