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. IRC opened an office in the greater Seattle area in 1976 and provides a continuum of services including intensive case management, employment and economic empowerment services, immigration assistance, health and wellness programming, and education support to refugee and immigrant families in Washington State. IRC Washington is committed to providing trauma-informed, equitable, and accessible services and maintaining and evolving a diverse, inclusive, and supportive workplace.

Job Overview:

The vision of the IRC Washington’s Youth Programs is that youth from refugee and immigrant backgrounds will have the skills and resources necessary to achieve academic success and pursue a future of opportunity. The Youth and Education Department works towards this vision by providing educational and enrichment opportunities to help school-aged and young adult youth from refugee and immigrant backgrounds to: catch up on their education; accelerate English proficiency; plan and prepare for post-secondary education and career; build positive relationships in the school and community; and more.

The Youth Program Specialist for Secondary Programs is a program facilitator for IRC Washington’s extended learning and enrichment programs for middle and high school youth. This includes co-designing and facilitating programs that support literacy, English language acquisition, math skills, college and career readiness, and social/emotional asset development for newcomer youth and families. In working with middle and high school students, the educator will play a vital role in ensuring that eligible participants have access to the program, that youth feel welcomed and supported during their transition to the US education system, and that they can rebuild their futures with confidence and agency.

Major Responsibilities:

Program Implementation

• Lead the implementation and support the design of IRC Washington’s middle and/or high school programs with a strengths-based, experiential education approach. Sessions are aimed at targeting academic growth in ELL, Math, Science, and Social Emotional Asset Development.
• Support Youth Program Coordinator and Senior Youth Program Specialists with curriculum development, lesson planning, and designing lesson activities that can be scaffolded to meet the needs of various levels of English language development.
• Plan and lead large and small group activities and lessons in English literacy, high school completion requirements, and post-secondary planning, as well as social-emotional asset development.
• Confidently manage group dynamics during facilitation of activities and commit to growth in classroom management strategies.
• Create safe and healing learning spaces and build supportive relationships with newcomer students utilizing a trauma-informed approach to support students’ academic success and social- emotional development.
• Utilize academic resources and curriculum to ensure implementation of lesson plans are culturally appropriate and level-appropriate for newcomer youth. Settings may vary from during the school day push-in support to enrichment activities after school, during school breaks, and during the summer.
• Facilitate effective processes including attendance records, inclusive and trauma-informed classroom management, distribution and collection of learning materials, and health and sanitation procedures.
• Support and supervise volunteers and interns assisting with youth programming, including after-school programs, tutoring services and summer school programs.

Outreach and Registration to Families

• Lead outreach, registration, and data management for assigned programs. Strategize with Youth Program Coordinator, stay up to date with eligibility requirements, and creatively design opportunities for registration and eligibility verification documentation.
• Utilize interpretation resources to outreach to families, explain programs, provide ongoing support, answer questions and to complete required program forms.
• Maintain accurate and updated information on tracking files for external reporting purposes.
• Provide communication to families on program updates and creatively design materials and resources to answer frequently asked questions or to improve accessibility and understanding of the program information.

Resource Development

• Independently maintain ongoing knowledge of level and grade appropriate English and Math Standards as well as High School and Beyond Plan Requirements (WA State).
• Maintain ongoing knowledge of college and career pathways, application processes, financial aid requirements. and options, High School and Beyond Plan requirements, unique college and career programs for newcomer youth from refugee backgrounds. Creatively work with team to design opportunities for exposure at the middle school level.
• Research and build knowledge of available services and programs offered within IRC, schools, districts, community colleges, universities, partner agencies, and social service providers, in order to make referrals and connect youth and families to additional programs and services as needed.

General

• Be an active member of the IRC office with a commitment to learn about refugee resettlement and the growing number of departments, resources, services and supports available to newcomer refugee families.
• Partnership Engagement: Attend in person events in the community, co-facilitate arrangements of space and events, support the High School Youth Program Specialist and the broader Youth and Education Department with initiatives for family engagement events, field trips and other broader enrichment activities.
• Participate in program meetings, staff development activities, and fully engage as a member of the IRC team.
• Have experience, ability, and confidence to drive an IRC van to transport participants to events as planned / as relevant for field trips, with prior planning and discussion.
• Comply with all policies, procedures, and protocols of the agency.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Youth Program Coordinator, Secondary

Indirect Reporting: Sr. Youth and Education Program Manager

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

• Internal: Youth Program Specialists, Youth Program Team, AmeriCorps Members, other IRC Seattle staff
• External: Teachers at partner school districts, contacts at partner organizations

Qualifications

• Lived experience as a refugee or immigrant is preferred; In lieu of lived experience, experience working with refugees and/or immigrants; cross-cultural or overseas experience accepted.
• 2+ years experience teaching, tutoring or mentoring secondary youth as well as experience navigating post-secondary opportunities. Experience teaching/tutoring literacy and/or mathematics a plus.
• Written and spoken proficiency in English.
• Relevant degree or equivalent experience in fields such as youth development, college/career advising, teaching, tutoring, or mentoring desirable. Experience in group youth enrichment programs desired (such as day camps, youth groups, outdoor education programs, after school programs, field trips, sports/recreation programs or clubs).
• Experience working with multi-lingual students or English Language Learners; TESOL certificate a plus.
• Ability to work independently to ensure proactive, quality performance of duties, as well as ability to work as part of a team to support other staff and students.
• Adaptability and strong work ethic conducive to hybrid work environment, including work in the field, work from the office and work from remote settings as relevant; and ability to remain organized for effective documentation, collaboration, and sustainability of programs.
• Must be comfortable in a fast-paced, multicultural environment, and able to quickly problem-solve and change plans according to student needs.
• Committed to anti-racism and continual professional development, learning and growth.
• Strong intercultural communication skills: demonstrated ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and across language diversity. Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience and proficiency utilizing online platforms such as Zoom and Teams, and Microsoft Office Suite. Comfort learning new online systems as relevant to the work.
• Willing to be First Aid/CPR certified upon hire.
• Driver’s license and insurance.

Working Environment

• Primarily working in middle and high schools in Tukwila, Auburn, Kent, and Federal Way. Need reliable transportation to travel and work at these (and other) field work locations.
• Some remote or office work required at IRC’s office in SeaTac, WA or Renton, WA.
• Occasional evening or weekend activities as needed.
• Need access to reliable high-speed internet from remote office or ability to work from IRC’s office in SeaTac.
• Typical schedule will be Monday through Friday, 9:00–5:00.

Compensation: (Pay Range: $27.00 - $29.00**)** 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: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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 $143 per month, dental starting at $6.50 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.