Job Overview: The IRC in Los Angeles is seeking a candidate to join its Integration Programs- Economic Empowerment team for year 2 of the Afghan Youth Mentorship Program. The Afghan Youth Mentor will provide Afghan women between the ages of 15-24 with group mentoring sessions, 1:1 mentoring sessions, recreational events, and light-touch case management. It will also equip cohort members with leadership skills and ESL learning within the scope of financial capabilities and workforce development. These services will help recently arrived refugee and immigrant youth adapt successfully to life in Southern California by better understanding the US financial and educational systems, and by forging interpersonal bonds within the cohort.

The Afghan Youth Mentor will engage in community outreach to recruit a minimum of 27 cohort members for the program. Te mentor will lead weekly workshops and once monthly 1:1 mentoring sessions with cohort members and perform administrative tasks including data entry and attend coalition meetings. This is a full-time position with a fixed-term contract of one year, with opportunities to stay on if funding is secured to continue the program. This position reports to the Financial Education Coordinator.

Major Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively within the IRC-LA Economic Empowerment team to implement a curriculum with cohort members, including weekly workshops, once-monthly 1:1 mentoring sessions, in-person community-building and recreational events, and access to financial products from IRC’s Center for Economic Opportunity.

• Develop and maintain up-to-date resource guides and program materials, including services and benefits offered by local CBOs and government agencies, and topics such as banking, credit, budgeting, taxes, car purchase, home purchase, higher education, and job readiness.

• Perform outreach to local CBOs serving Afghans and implement 2-3 in-person events at IRC-LA’s office in Glendale, in collaboration with IRC’s community engagement team and trained volunteers.

• Assist with loan applications and screening, including 0% credit-building loans and other financial products and work with Financial Education Coordinator and Economic Empowerment Supervisor to see through applications between IRC-LA clients and IRC Center for Economic Opportunity.

• Document client participation and progress, adhering to program requirements through internal and external databases.

• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of career development services data to donors and all relevant parties

• Participate in all-staff/ program meetings and professional development trainings.

• Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree; ideally in Psychology, Social Work or a related field of study; comparable related human or social services work experience may be substituted.

• Proficiency in Dari and/or Pashto strongly required.

• Demonstrated relevant experience in human services field, including providing direct service to underserved communities. Prior experience working with refugee populations preferred.

• Experience in a non-profit or social services setting is an advantage.

• Attention to detail and ability to organize and track large amounts of information efficiently and accurately.

• Familiarity with personal finance topics and core tenets of financial planning strongly preferred.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong computer skills, particularly Word and Excel.

• Ability to work independently, be a self-starter and maintain responsibility for multiple tasks.

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

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Strong relationship building, diplomacy, and networking skills; ability to effectively build internal and external relationships.

• Strong communication skills required.

• Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment.

• Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills combined with the proven ability to multi-task, prioritize duties, and manage time effectively.

• Self-direction and initiative, when needed, to take the lead and to follow through to completion.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook); ability to use the internet and other digital tools for data entry, research, and problem-solving purposes.