Refugee Employment Specialist

Position: Refugee Employment Specialist

*To apply, candidates must email a resume and cover letter to [email protected]*

Status: Full-Time/Exempt

Location: 925 S. Niagara St, Ste. 200, Denver, Colorado 80224

Salary: $22.00 – $23.50

Benefits Offered: Health & Dental Insurance, Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, 403b Retirement Plan, Paid Holidays, Paid Vacation Leave, Paid Sick Leave

Reports to: Employment Team Lead

POSITION OVERVIEW:

This position works in close coordination with the Employment Team and the CARE-Teams to provide effective service delivery to a caseload within the framework of REACH program guidelines. This position is primarily responsible to identify and develop employment opportunities for refugee community members. This position requires skills in sales, creatively prospecting for job leads, meeting with employers to determine and negotiate specific job needs and following up with employers and community members to ensure the satisfaction of all involved. The ability to build and maintain effective relationships with employers is key to the success of this position.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

In coordination with ACC’s Employment Team: 

• Secure initial job placements for community members that meet the family’s needs.
• Generate new contacts with area employers corresponding to community members’ employment plans. 
• Coordinate and execute meetings with potential and existing employers to generate new job opportunities for community members. 
• Maintain relationships with employers through consistent follow-up. 
• Assess refugee skills for particular jobs based upon employer needs and career background. 
• Meet job development goals set by the Employment Team Lead 
• Negotiate job specific skill sets with employers. 
• Advocate for higher pay, benefits, and general workplace improvements on behalf of clients. 
• Provide support as needed for employed community members to promote job retention.
• Assist clients with job upgrades. 
• Ensure that a referral and warm hand-off to the CAREERS Program at EGTC are made after a community member is employed and it is appropriate to meet the goals of the individual employment plan. 
• Communicate with the relevant CARE-Team for any issues related to a community members’ employment. 
• Obtain verifications of employment for community members and provide a copy of verification to appropriate CARE- Team. 
• Determine employment incentive eligibility following REACH guidelines, and notify the Employment Team Lead providing needed supportive documents. 
• Ensure that all financial documents related to employment incentives are placed in the appropriate case files. 
• Document employment engagement contact in ACC’s database (Salesforce) and CRSP database (Geneva) as appropriate. 
• Record job placements in the CRSP database (Geneva). 

Supervision Exercised

• This position may have supervision responsibilities with volunteers and interns.

Other Responsibilities

• Attend all CRSP meetings as appropriate to this position. 
• Complete all training as required by REACH program guidelines. 
• Attend All-Staff meetings, REACH Team meetings and Employment Team meetings.
• Attend Care Team meetings and other meetings as requested. 
• Participate in community-wide activities that promote ACC’s goals. 
• The range of responsibilities outlined above may change from time to time to reflect the changing needs of the organization. 
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the supervisor. 

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; may substitute appropriate professional experience.
• Experience in employment services, human resources or sales, preferred. 
• Language capacity in common refugee language(s), preferred.  
• Self-directed, motivated and able to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Negotiation and conflict management skills. 
• General knowledge of refugee resettlement practices in the U.S., preferred.
• Experience working in a nonprofit or social services environment, preferred.
• Cross cultural sensitivity and knowledge with the ability and desire to work with people of other cultures. 
• Proficient with or able to quickly learn various computer and web applications including Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and Salesforce. 
• All employees are expected to comply with ECDC’s employment policies while carrying out their work.  
• All employees are required to work in a confidential manner in all aspects of their work.
• Must have a driver’s license, a good driving record and access to own transportation.
• Commitment to the mission, vision and values of ACC. 
• All employees must submit proof of identity and their legal authorization to work in the United States. (If a prospective employee fails to submit this proof of work authorization, federal law prohibits ECDC from hiring the person.)  

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

• Work is primarily indoors in a climate-controlled office building.
• Travel around the Denver Metro area to provide services and attend meetings is expected.
• Hours outside of regular operating office hours required on occasion.

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About ECDC African Community Center of Denver (ACC):

ECDC African Community Center (ACC) is a non-profit refugee resettlement agency whose mission is to help refugees and immigrants rebuild safe, sustainable lives in Denver, Colorado. With a diverse staff of over 50 employees, ACC conducts educational and social service programs that help newcomers rebuild their lives in their new community, navigate U.S. systems and cultures, achieve economic self-sufficiency, and become productive, contributing, thriving members of society. Each year, ACC provides services to more than 1,500 refugees, asylees, humanitarian parolees, and other immigrants coming to Colorado from all regions of the world.

Mission: To help refugees and immigrants rebuild safe, sustainable lives in Denver.

Vision: To be an integrative center of multicultural exchange where community members feel a sense of belonging and actively contribute to an inclusive society.

ACC provides equal internship and employment opportunities to all applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.