Refugee Employment Coordination Intern – Fall 2024

BACKGROUND:  The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. At work in over 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities to restore safety, dignity and hope, the IRC leads the way from harm to home. Domestically, our 26 offices across the U.S. ensure new arrivals have food, shelter, and clothing, and work with refugees to help them gain self-sufficiency. 

SCOPE OF WORK:  The TANF Employment Services Program is designed to enable employable humanitarian immigrants receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to achieve economic self-sufficiency through engagement in Department of Social Services (DSS) mandated work participation activities including employment seeking assistance, volunteering, internship procurement, vocational English as a second language classes and referrals to certificate-bearing professional development courses. The program specializes in providing holistic services to large families to reduce barriers to employment and help the families achieve their goals of becoming self-sufficient. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Consolidate and organize client service delivery data into appropriate spreadsheets and databases. 
• Process and submit client time sheets and related documents to the local DSS to ensure compliance with their family’s TANF benefits case. 
• Conduct individual trainings with clients on understanding and maintaining compliance with public benefits systems in the United States. 
• Counsel TANF families on available services and activities that will reduce initial barriers outlined and help achieve their goals. 
• Assist in the coordination of Vocational English as a Second Language classes. 
• Facilitate and conduct client orientations at volunteer sites to train clients on conducting volunteer tasks with community partners. 
• Other duties as identified by program coordinator. 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

• Intern will become well versed in administrative requirements and regulations, including with government partners. 
• Intern will learn to communicate effectively with clients across cultures and with interpreters. 
• Intern will be taught individual coaching techniques to engage and empower adults. 
• Intern will gain US resettlement agency experience, including knowledge on available programs for humanitarian immigrants. 
• Intern will learn how to network through fostering new community partnerships and managing existing partnerships. 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Current undergraduate, graduate student or less than 12 months out of school. * 
• Minimum 24 hours per week, three-month commitment and three full working days per week; full-time 32-40 hours per week highly preferred. 
• Able to work independently being self-motivated and mission driven to assist refugees and other humanitarian immigrants. 
• Organized and attentive to detail. 
• Strong digital literacy skills and the ability to learn new software and tasks. 
• Excellent communication and writing skills, including cross-cultural communicative skills. 
• Works well in a dynamic environment and adapts quickly to change. 
• Fluency in Dari, Pashto, Ukrainian, Spanish, Kiswahili, Kinyarwanda, Tigrinya, or Amharic is a plus.
• Access to an insured vehicle preferred, but not required. 

TO APPLY

Click Apply Now at the top of this page. Please attach a resume, cover letter and a list of (at least) three references to your application. The deadline to apply is August 23rd, 2024.

This position is for Fall 2024 requires a minimum commitment of 3 months, at least 24 hours per week and three full working days. 32-40 hours per week preferred. Ability to work in-person preferred.

Fall 2024 Interns are expected to begin their internship term by attending an in-person intern orientation on September 9th, 2024 from 9:15AM-2:00PM. 

We currently offer internships during the following semesters: 

Spring: January – May
Summer: June – August
Fall: September – December
Internships are typically posted 2-3 months prior to the anticipated start date.  

Note: This is an unpaid internship. Fall 2024 interns may be eligible for per diem reimbursement at a rate of $15/day to offset the costs of food and travel. Check with your educational institution to determine if this internship is eligible for academic credit. For information about scholarship opportunities, contact your educational institution or the Internship Coordinator at [email protected]. 

*Candidates applying who are not currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, or are outside 12 months of their graduation are welcome to apply. These candidates will be processed as volunteers. 

To protect our clients, the IRC requires all selected applicants to complete background checks. We ask that you make a $30 donation to help us cover the associated costs. Currently, 87% of our funding goes directly to programming to support our clients, and your help to cover this cost will ensure that no funding is directed away from serving our clients. Instructions will be provided after you have been selected to intern or volunteer. 

IRC is leading the way from harm to home. 

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

If you need assistance in the application or hiring process to accommodate a disability, you may request an accommodation at any time. Please contact Talent Acquisitions at [email protected]. As required by law, the IRC will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with a known disability.