Food Entrepreneurship Client Services Coordinator

IRC Background:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 28 U.S. cities helping people to survive, regain control of their future and strengthen their communities. The IRC in Salt Lake City (IRC SLC) opened in 1994 and provides resettlement services through extended case management to newly arrived refugees for up to 24-months as well as over twenty different programs to educate and empower refugees.

Job Overview:
The IRC in Salt Lake City’s Food Entrepreneurship programs include Spice Kitchen Incubator and New Roots, programs designed to support refugee and new Americans to start and successfully operate culinary and farm-based businesses. New Roots in Salt Lake City is an innovative agriculture and food access program that provides opportunities for refugees to garden, start farm-based businesses, and access healthy, local, culturally appropriate produce. Spice Kitchen Incubator is a culinary incubator which supports refugees, immigrants, and other low-income Utahns in launching and growing food based businesses. The Food Entrepreneurship Client Services Coordinator provides trauma-informed and client-centered services to New Roots and Spice Kitchen clients. This role will collaborate with New Roots and Spice Kitchen colleagues to identify client needs and create an internal referral process. This role will collaborate with external parties to support individual client’s wellbeing through referrals and support for a broad range of financial, medical, social, vocational, and other services and resources in accordance with client eligibility and program requirements.

Major Responsibilities:
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Lead participant referral and wellbeing support activities for IRC SLC’s food and agriculture programs;
• Provide referrals and support services to program participants, including addressing housing, health, education, employment, financial assistance, legal issues, and other needs which may emerge;
• Coordinate research and compilation of community resources and development of client-facing materials to support self-sufficiency for New Roots and Spice Kitchen participants in accessing these resources;
• Build and maintain external and internal partnerships that can support successful referrals for New Roots and Spice Kitchen clients;
• Develop self-sufficiency strategies, monitor progress, and provide support to New Roots and Spice Kitchen clients to navigate community and government resources independently;
• Support recruitment and facilitation of psychosocial support groups at IRC and New Roots agricultural sites and manage data collection efforts on mental health interventions;
• Represent food and agriculture programs in the larger community including attending outreach events, participating in media events, and planning and executing events and volunteer days;
• Support New Roots and Spice Kitchen teams through collaboration and participation in various events and projects, including seasonal farmers markets, participatory evaluations, and community gardening activities;
• Keep accurate case files and participant records for all clients served; coordinate with New Roots Program Manager to collect and maintain relevant data for grant and donor deliverables; contribute to grant writing and reporting requirements;
• Work with New Roots Program Manager and Spice Kitchen Program Manager in fund raising, development activities, and resource acquisition of in-kind and monetary donations;
• Maintain professionalism, customer service, and IRC Way ideals when working with the community;
• Participate in program meetings, weekly staff meetings, staff development activities and national skills building trainings, calls, and communities of practice, while fully engaging as a member of the team;
• Support general office logistics, such as office support and front desk, as applicable and feasible;
• Comply with all policies, procedures, and protocols of the organization;
• Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

Education:
Bachelor’s degree in social work, public health, or related field of study preferred.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in human services field strongly preferred.
• CSW or LCSW preferred;
• Experience working in a direct service role;
• Experience and training in trauma-informed and person-centered services.

Demonstrated Skills & Competencies:

• Demonstrated ability to promote an organizational culture that reflects IRC’s core values of service, accountability, integrity, and equality. Ability to lead in a way that recognizes that IRC’s work is best accomplished through the true collaboration of individuals from many cultures with a great variety of skills and perspectives;
• Attention to detail and accuracy in work product;
• Knowledge of or enthusiasm for agriculture, food access work, or culinary entrepreneurship encouraged;
• Strong relationship building, diplomacy, and networking skills; ability to effectively build internal and external relationships;
• Experience working with refugee, asylee, immigrant, or other newcomer individuals preferred;
• Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment;
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written; proficiency in language(s) spoken by client group is desired (Arabic, Kirundi, Kiswahili, Burmese);
• 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;
• Valid driver’s license and access to a personal, insured vehicle.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: New Roots Program Manager

Position Directly Supervises: May supervise other client facing staff as needed. May supervise: Practicum students; AmeriCorps members; Summer Associates; Interns; and Volunteers as needed

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.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires new hires to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for any in-office or hybrid positions. All IRC US offices require full vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings).

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.

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 $120 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, 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.