Youth Partnership and Academy Specialist

Background/IRC Summary:

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic well-being, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. Since 1999, the IRC has developed partnerships with New York City public schools, community-based organizations and local colleges and universities to support the positive development of refugee youth and their communities in New York City. The Education and Learning Program provides year-round programming working directly with refugee youth, their parents and families, and their schools.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Youth Partnership and Academy Specialist ensures compliance with the Refugee School Impact Program (RSIP), both with internal IRC programming and with sub-contracted agencies. The purpose of the Refugee School Impact Program (RSIP) is to promote the academic performance and successful integration of refugee youth and other eligible youth, particularly those who have recently arrived to New York State into the education system. Awardees will empower families to be effective partners in the education of their children.

The Youth Partnership and Academy Specialist will also closely collaborate with IRC colleagues and partner agencies to provide after school academies 2-4 days a week, summer academies lasting up to six weeks, and 2–3 day mini academies during school breaks throughout the school year at various locations around New York City. They will serve as support staff on-site and provide leadership and guidance to program staff.

Major Responsibilities:

Academies

• Function as a lead staff member at after school programs around the city.
• Aid in the design and implementation of in-person mini- academies during school breaks and a six week summer academy, including leading group activities/classes for refugee and immigrant children and youth
• Collaborate with program assistants and volunteers to ensure the best experience for students.
• Support with the development and implementation of ESL lessons catering to students’ individual needs and levels.
• Provide one-on-one and group homework assistance, ensuring students understand the material and can complete assignments independently.
• Provide behavioral support for students as needed.
• Communicate with families regarding academy programming, utilizing interpretation services as needed.
• Support logistics planning and implementation for meals, field trips and liaising with building staff.
• Lead classroom climate and culture in accordance with academy philosophy and protocols
• Assist and guide students during workshop activities, ensuring they remain engaged and understand the material.
• Manage dismissal protocols

General

• Enter and review submissions on the New York State Bureau of Refugee and Immigration Affairs (BRIA) Information Network (BIN) to ensure accuracy and compliance with the donor contracts.
• Collaborate with fellow resettlement agencies to share opportunities for newly-arrived youth to participate in RSIP programming at IRC or subcontractors
• Assist in procurement and retention of programming partners
• Contact families to report on student interactions and to collect administrative documentation.
• Conduct ongoing data collection through surveys to monitor program success.
• Provide translation and interpretation services as needed to address issues involving children’s education.
• Collaborate with other IRC staff to facilitate participation in other IRC programming as needed.
• Maintain comprehensive case notes in accordance with standards set by IRC and funding partners.
• Participate in staff development and monthly team meetings.
• Continuously update skills and knowledge in general educational trends and refugee resettlement practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, social work, psychology, or a related field required.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of one year experience with youth required, preferably with English language learners.
• Experience working with refugee and/or immigrant populations from a variety of cultural and linguistic groups is highly desired.
• Experience working with the New York City Public School system is desirable.

Demonstrated Skills and 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 IRC’s work is best accomplished through the true collaboration of individuals from many cultures with a great variety of skills and perspectives.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Fluent in MS Office applications, especially MS Excel

Language Skills: Ability to read, write and speak English fluently is required. Fluency in one of the languages of populations served is highly desired (Ukrainian, Dari, Pashto highly desired; Russian, Spanish, Arabic desired)

Working Environment***:*** Some days in a standard office environment, some days on location at program locations around New York City.

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.