Employer Engagement Specialist

IRC Background:

The mission of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933, the IRC has a presence in over 40 countries and 27 offices in the United States; the IRC leads the way from harm to home.

Job Overview:

The Employer Engagement Specialist is responsible for program implementation and service delivery for the Providing Access to Refugees through Training, New skills, English & Readiness (PARTNER) program, which aims to assist refugee clients in retaining jobs and moving beyond entry-level positions in their chosen fields. Specifically, the Employer Engagement Specialist works within a team to secure partnerships with employers to provide workplace-based training, including delivering cultural and workforce orientations to employers, delivering refugee employee- focused services such as intakes, assessments, individual goal setting, soft-skills and Vocational English as Second Language (VESL) training, and coordinating referrals for additional services to support refugees’ career advancement.

Major Responsibilities:

Outreach and Employer Partnership Cultivation

• Work with Employer Engagement Coordinator to identify employer partners, deliver tailored cultural and workforce adjustment orientations, secure MoUs, assess needs and develop workplace-based training plans.

Client Enrollment, Skills Training, and Technical Assistance

• Conduct intake and enrollment with refugee employees in coordination with employer partners.
• Implement technical assessments to identify client strengths, weaknesses, and competencies.
• Assist clients to enter and complete soft-skills and VESL training.
• Manage a client caseload by providing one-on-one support, including service planning, goal setting, resource mapping, and continuous follow-up.
• Support development of training plans and skills training development.

Service Documentation

• Collate enrollment data and ensure detailed case noting with individual clients.
• Use internal databases as assigned to track client services, outcomes, and metrics.
• Document client participation and progress, adhering to grant requirements, and regularly collecting success stories.
• Engage with and, as necessary, develop supportive tracking systems for auxiliary information.
• Comply with all financial and budget-related mechanisms and processes.

Other Responsibilities

• Participate in all program meetings, staff development activities, and fully engage as a member of the team.
• Comply with all policies, procedures, and protocols of the agency.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Key Working Relationships:

Position reports to: Employer Engagement Coordinator

Position directly supervises: Interns and volunteers

Internal and/or external contacts: Coordinates regularly with Employment team and local partners

Job Requirements:

Education:

• Minimum GED or equivalent. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent is a plus

Work Experience:

• At least 2 years’ experience working in employment and workforce programs required
• At least 2 years’ experience with client counseling, case management, or coaching strongly preferred
• Experience with higher education, including community colleges, adult schools, and technical training providers is a plus

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Multi-cultural experience and demonstrated ability to communicate well with people of varied backgrounds required
• Ability to effectively set service expectations and coach clients towards shared goals
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and presentation creation
• Strong interpersonal skills for effective networking and influence. Proven ability to foster and manage client and employer relationships
• Proven ability to take initiative, creatively problem solve and collaborate in a fast-paced work environment
• Demonstrated experience in system development, case management, and/or sales and marketing
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to track and follow up on dynamic information
• Ability to work efficiently across a team to reach specific measured outcomes
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required
• Experience using data and fiscal tracking systems strongly preferred
• Flexible availability necessary

Language Skills:

• Proficiency in Dari, Farsi, Pashto, or Arabic is a plus

Working Environment:

• A combination of standard office environment, remote work, and ‘field’ time within the service delivery area to perform the above outlined responsibilities.
• May require occasional weekend and/or evening work.

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.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

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.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

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: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.