Youth Education Specialist (YESOL)

This position is represented by the OPEIU union and subject to the terms and conditions of a collective bargaining agreement.

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 Education Specialist (YESOL) will work closely with the Youth Programs Supervisor to support high-quality programming for refugee and immigrant youth in New York City. The specialist will be working on a team that works on youth programs including, but not limited to, Youth Tutoring, online Youth English for Speakers of Other Languages (YESOL) classes, Leaders in Training (LIT), a college access and career readiness program for high school juniors and seniors, World Explorers, a cultural awareness program, and sports programming. During the annual Newcomer Youth Summer Academy (NYSA), the Youth Education Specialist will provide logistical support to teaching staff, coordinate instructional coaching, coordinate classroom assessment materials, and collect, enter, and analyze assessment data, ensuring the overall day-to-day classroom needs of the Academy are met. The specialist will also support with instruction and field trips during Mini-NYSA programs, which occur during school breaks in the middle of the school year.

Major Responsibilities:

This position will lead Youth English for Speakers of Other Languages (YESOL) classes:

Curriculum Preparation

• Create and improve YESOL curriculum to meet the needs of current student population, including academic English and test preparation
• Prepare slideshows for each class
• Update syllabi for each group as semester progresses

Intake and Assessment

• Manage new referral and contact information, outreach to potential families and students
• Administer baseline, midline and endline English assessments, coordinate intake process
• Collaborate with parents and teachers to identify specific student needs

Teach YESOL Classes

• 2-3 groups of Middle School: Beginner and Intermediate
• 2 groups of High School: Beginner and Intermediate
• Additional groups based on student need and program capacity

YESOL Program Monitoring & Evaluation

• Track class attendance and document daily individual and class case notes
• Gather qualitative data of program impact through student surveys and staff observations
• Synthesize and present data for annual reports

Intern Management

• Recruit and hire Youth ESOL interns
• Delegate weekly tasks and review submitted projects and tasks
• Provide opportunities for leadership and professional development

Saturday Parent ESOL Classes

• Take lead on managing ESOL classes for parents of youth programs students

Mini Newcomer Youth Spring Academy (Mini NYSA) and Newcomer Youth Summer Academy (NYSA) Support — direct responsibility for the academic program

• Support NYSA program planning, including staff and volunteer recruitment, hiring, and training
• Plan and instruct lessons on ESOL and other topics to groups of up to 25 students
• Participate in all Meet & Greets, staff trainings, program meetings, and staff development activities thereafter
• Assist the Dean of Instruction in the implementation and analysis of various student assessment initiatives, including but not limited to content area assessments, progress reports, and report cards
• Monitor submission of, enter, and analyze student assessment data
• Assist in the timely production and dissemination of necessary assessments and resources for all teaching staff
• Assist in the coordination and set up of caregiver-teacher conferences
• Assist in the coordination and implementation of school-wide Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
• Lead the coordination and implementation of all staff-appreciation events and initiatives
• Lead groups of students for off-site field trips
• Perform other duties as assigned

Key Working Relationships:

• Position reports to: Youth Programs Supervisor
• Position directly supervises: Interns
• Other internal and/or external contacts: Other youth program staff

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in education or relevant field; Master's degree candidate in education preferred
• Must be available for Saturdays to run programming
• Strong command of Microsoft Suite, G Suite, Canva, and other digital platforms required
• Classroom teaching experience preferred (both in-person and online, especially TESOL experience)
• Experience with data collection and analysis
• Strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Cultural competence and cross-cultural or overseas experience required
• Experience working with immigrant populations, highly desirable
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, adapting programming to shifting client needs and relevant government policy changes
• Fluency in written and spoken English required. Second language proficiency in relevant language highly desirable (including Spanish, French, Dari, Farsi, Pashto, Arabic, Tibetan, Russian, Haitian Creole, Ukrainian, Mandarin, etc.)
• Flexibility to work on Saturdays and evenings based on program requirements

Working Environment:

• All applicants must be based in or willing to work from our New York City office
• The IRC NYC RAI office currently operates on a hybrid schedule (3 days in office, 2 remote)
• During Mini-NYSA and NYSA, the specialist is expected to work in-person Monday–Friday at a centrally located public school in New York City
• During school-year programming, the specialist will be expected to work Tuesday–Saturday
• Online ESOL classes during the school year take place after school hours; specialists should expect school-year hours of 11am–7pm, Tuesday–Friday
• Saturdays are in-person at the IRC office from 9am–5pm

This position is expected to end on August 31, 2027.

Compensation: (Pay Rate: $27.50/hr). 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.

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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 $163 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.