Workforce Development Specialist

Requisition ID: req22354

Job Title: Workforce Development Specialist

Sector: Employment

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: Not Applicable

Location: Boise, ID USA

Job Description

Background/IRC Summary: Founded in 1933, the IRC is a leading nonsectarian, voluntary organization providing relief, protection and resettlement services for refugees and victims of oppression or violent conflict. IRC provides assistance to refugees resettling in the United States. The IRC opened an office in Boise, Idaho in 2006 to provide reception and placement services to newly arrived refugees. The office resettles approximately 350 – 400 refugees per year and provides numerous program services to assist the refugee from their arrival through citizenship.

Job Overview/Summary: Under the direction of the Sr. Economic Wellbeing Programs Coordinator, the Workforce Development Specialist provides employment services to newly arrived refugees enrolled in the Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) program. The RCA program offers clients an alternative to public cash assistance providing financial and material assistance for a short period while they seek employment. The Workforce Development Specialist prepares clients for employment, coordinates job placements, and provides case management.

Major Responsibilities:
Responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following:

• Create and implement plans for clients’ progression to independence: provide orientation to job readiness training and complete intakes to assess transferrable skills and career goals.
• Develop job opportunities: Curate and steward long-term relationships with area employers in order to identify appropriate employment opportunities for clients.
• Support clients in securing employment: In close coordination with the client, prepare resumes and applications; prepare clients to navigate the hiring process, assisting with interviews, onboarding, drug screening, new hire orientations and paperwork; provide occasional follow along during the client’s initial training period to ensure successful placement.
• Documentation and Quality Control: Case note all services delivered including by IRC volunteers, interns and assistants; and all commitments and actions taken to fulfill them taken by clients, using data tracking systems: Efforts to Outcomes (ETO), Integra, the Statewide Refugee Information System (SRIS) and others as instructed.
• Quality Control: Regularly review paper and electronic documentation produced to ensure it is complete and follows all IRC data entry rules. Complete corrections as instructed. Prepare for monitoring.

Team planning: Coordinate regularly with supervisor and RCA Eligibility Specialist to ensure timely communication on status of service provision and discuss client’s compliance with refugee cash assistance program requirements. Participate in all program meetings, staff development activities, and fully engage as a member of the IRC Resettlement team.

• Follow all IRC ethics policies including but not limited to the IRC Way, Adult & Child Safeguarding, Harassment Free Workplace Policy, Gender Equality policy, Global Information Security Policy.
• Following IRC COVID-19 safety protocols, arrange transportation or provide transportation to clients to complete services above.
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: Economic Empowerment Manager

Indirect Reporting: MG Coordinator, RCA Eligibility Specialist, Resettlement Manager, Funders including IOR, PRM, and ORR

Position directly supervises: Interns and volunteers

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

• Standard office work environments and ‘field time’ in and around the client service delivery area.
• Availability to work outside of the typical 9am-5pm work day, as needed to assist with job starts.
• Provide gender equitable services to promote gender parity in services and economic potential amongst clients.

Qualifications

Demonstrated experience with the US job search process and the ability to effectively coach clients through the nuanced process of securing employment.

Lived experience as a refugee or immigrant is preferred.

In lieu of lived experience, experience working with refugees and/or immigrants; cross-cultural or overseas experience accepted.

Excellent communication skills, with fluency in written and spoken English. Bilingual ability in one of the predominant languages (Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Arabic, French, Russian) of the local client base is desired.

Flexibility and demonstrated ability to maintain responsibility for multiple tasks in the context of a diverse, fast-paced work environment.

Proven experience in data entry systems.

Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook). Web based database experience preferred.

Valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle with current insurance, and the ability to travel regularly throughout the service delivery area is preferred.

Undergraduate degree is preferred.