Signpost Digital Community Liaison

Signpost

Signpost is a digitally enabled responsive information service that supports and empowers populations in crisis, including asylum-seekers, migrants, and people who have experienced violence. Signpost meets communities on the digital platforms they already use and aims to deliver information that is contextualized to their specific needs and speaks to their lived realities, so that they can make informed decisions about how to stay safe, exercise their rights, and get access to services. This approach draws on evidence that people are more likely to trust and act on information that is responsive to their needs and that comes from “peers” rather than authority figures. Signpost was developed by the IRC and Mercy Corps in 2015 in Greece and is now active in over 12 countries on 5 continents.

Job Overview:

Reporting to the Program Manager of Documented Infodigna and close collaboration with the Community Editor of Documented, the Digital Community Liaison is a “front-line” responder who uses social networks to communicate directly with asylum seekers, addressing their comments, messages, and questions individually. This role also involves content creation based on engagement with refugee, asylum seeker, and other immigrant communities in NYC, serving as a liaison with audience and co-produce relevant content. 

Major Responsibilities:

• Regularly engage with refugee, asylum seeker, and other immigrant communities in NYC, both digitally and in-person.
• Respond to messages, questions, and comments on Documented Infodigna social media and messaging channels using psychological first aid principles and an engaging communication style.
• Work with the Community Correspondents and Program Manager to identify frequently asked questions and information needs for content creation based on community trends.
• Conduct in-depth audience research through surveys and one-on-one interviews, and perform regular analysis of communications to understand community needs, habits, trends, responses, and information gaps.
• Produce content informed by community engagement.
• Serve as the main point of contact with City Agencies leveraging the site for information updates related to services.
• Follow protocol to escalate any communication of vulnerable cases to protection or safeguarding specialists.
• Stay updated on new content, services, and policy changes relevant to immigrants and asylum seekers, attending regular training sessions.
• Support the design and facilitation of in-person information sessions for asylum seekers in collaboration with community partners.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in social justice, migration studies, community advocacy, or a related field, or equivalent combination of background and experience.
• 1-3 years’ experience working with immigrants in a volunteer or professional capacity preferred.
• Strong writing skills preferred.
• Understanding of asylum seekers’ access to and ability to navigate support systems within New York City.
• Experience or interest in responsive information development.
• High emotional intelligence and ability to respond empathetically.
• Strong research skills and ability to synthesize resources effectively.
• Experience in multicultural and multilingual environments.
• Proficiency in software tools including Microsoft Office Suite, Google Docs, Google Analytics, and familiarity with CMS systems. 
• Knowledge and ease of use of social media platforms, such as WhatsApp or Facebook.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced team with attention to detail.
• Proficiency in a second language spoken by the NYC immigrant community (e.g., Spanish, French, Portuguese, Mandarin, Russian, Arabic, Wolof, Pulaar, Turkish, Dari, Georgian) is mandatory.

Work Environment:

• Standard, professional office environment, including the current hybrid mode of remote work within New York City and required in-office days and some ‘field’ time within the service delivery area to perform the above-outlined responsibilities. Office working environment is subject to change based on organization/business needs.

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.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: The IRC offers a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. All US employees are eligible for sick time, a 403b retirement savings plans: up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus an 3-7% additional IRC contribution, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

In addition, full-time employees are eligible for 10 US paid holidays, 20-25 paid time off days, disability & life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance (employee contribution starting at $135, $7, and $5 per month respectively) and FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs. Part-time employees are eligible for a proportionate amount of paid time off. These additional benefits apply to employees who work at least 6 months within a 12 month time period.