Education Specialist

Job Overview: IRC in San Diego’s Resettlement Department seeks to support newly arrived refugees and SIVs become self-sufficient and integrated into the local community. Under the supervision of the Resettlement Program Manager, the Education Specialist offers a range of supports to adult and youth clients so the clients can access, participate in, and benefit from IRC’s Cultural Orientation lessons and enroll in ESL classes and schools. Working directly with clients and in close collaboration with the Resettlement Department Supervisors, Manager, and caseworkers the Education Specialist is responsible for providing adult clients with Cultural Orientation. Additionally, the Education Specialist supports initial English as a Second Language (ESL) enrollment for all newly arrived refugees, school enrollments for all refugee youth, conducts regular outreach to ongoing clients to support continued participation in ESL and other educational programs, and identifies and initiates referrals to relevant programs and services in support of client goals.

Major Responsibilities:

• Coordinate with direct service staff to schedule Cultural Orientation lessons, disseminate schedule to clients and staff, secure in-person interpretation, and prepare training materials and classroom logistics.
• Delivery of all Cultural Orientation classes on a weekly basis; including completing Assessments with each client.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of existing Cultural Orientation curricula through post-class evaluations and built-in classroom assessment techniques.
• Maintain regular communication with direct service staff to ensure that information presented during Cultural Orientation is relevant and accurate.
• Update existing curricula, including classroom materials, student handbooks, and teaching aids.
• Assist adult clients with ESL enrollments.
• Enroll youth in local schools, coordinating with the local school districts to ensure placement and language needs are met.
• Within the service period, monitoring clients’ ESL attendance and progress and supporting clients with re-connecting to ESL or modifying ESL enrollment as applicable.
• Liaising with caseworkers, employment specialists, other IRC in San Diego team members, and external partners where relevant to develop and implement plans that are effective in enhancing clients’ educational goals.
• Lead Public Transportation Orientations.
• Documenting case notes, entering key program data points, and completing reports accurately, timely, and in accordance with donor requirements, using the IRC’s internal Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) database and other systems. Monitoring and evaluating progress at the individual, household, and program level through analysis of client assessments and other key data tracked in ETO.
• Ensuring that services are delivered in accordance with relevant quality assurance standards and compliant with requirements for relevant programs.
• Participating in training and professional development relevant to the role,
• Other tasks as assigned.

Job Requirements:

Education: An undergraduate degree strongly preferred in education, social work, international development, or related field. Experience teaching a plus.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 1 year of relevant experience strongly preferred.
• Experience working with refugee and/or immigrant populations preferred.

Demonstrated Skills & Competencies:

• Experience with adult education and/or youth education is valued.
• Experience with the U.S. refugee resettlement is strongly preferred.
• Fluency in English, both spoken and written, is required, along with excellent verbal and written communication skills and effective, professional presentation skills.
• Education or employment experience in curriculum development, teaching, or training design, preferably in a multicultural context, is strongly preferred.
• Strong writing, interpersonal communication, and visual design skills, specifically in developing print and visual training materials.
• Excellent organizational skills are required, including the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent proficiency in general office software programs, e.g., MS Office suite, email, internet applications and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and work effectively as a team member in a multicultural environment.
• Detail oriented with excellent organizational skills, ability to take initiative, adapt to changing priorities, multi-task, and complete work in a fast-paced environment.
• Fluency in any of the following languages a plus: Dari, Pashto, or Arabic.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle with current insurance, and the ability to travel regularly throughout the service delivery area preferred.

Working Environment:

• Standard, professional office environment, including the current hybrid mode of remote work within San Diego County 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.
• Requires work from El Cajon office, with occasional work from City Heights office.
• San Diego office hours are scheduled Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-5 pm, but will require occasional work during evenings and weekends.

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.

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.