Education Program Supervisor

The IRC in Denver assists newly arrived refugees and similar populations to foster the best possible initial resettlement experience, advance client self-sufficiency and promote community integration. Using a trauma-informed, client-centered approach that empowers clients, the Education and Learning Manager guides a team that strives to assist clients in meeting their education and learning needs and goals. This position will oversee a portfolio of education and learning-focused programs. For children and youth, this includes early childhood, school enrollment and navigation, social emotional and academic learning, positive youth development, and out-of-school time programming. For adults, this includes Cultural Orientation, English as a Second Language (ESL) access, Job Readiness Training, and other focus areas such as vocational training, digital literacy, and more. Additional education programs and services may be established in accordance with the office’s Strategic Action Plan. 

The Education and Learning Programs Supervisor will develop and monitor annual and strategic plans for the department; ensure program goals are met; supervise, coach, and develop staff; identify and secure grants to sustain and grow impactful education and learning programs; ensure quality data tracking to gauge impact and satisfy reporting requirements; manage program budgets; and conduct ongoing monitoring and evaluation to promote compliance and improve quality through oversight of team members, activities, and documentation. The successful candidate must be able to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment within a matrixed organizational structure to lead a team that is in offering high-quality programs that are responsive to client strengths and needs. They must demonstrate sound judgment, flexibility, a commitment to empowering staff and clients, and comfort making decisions in a fluid environment. This position reports to the Resettlement and Integration Manager. 

Major Responsibilities: 

• Program Design, Development and Management
• Support the Education and Learning team in delivering high-quality, timely, and proactive services using strengths-based coaching that empowers clients to move toward their goals.
• Disseminate information from IRC HQ, the Colorado Refugee Services Program (CRSP), and other donors; provide guidance and training to ensure team members fully integrate new information, requirements, and policies.
• Develop processes and systems that facilitate coordination with counterparts in Resettlement and Integration, Health and Wellness, Economic Empowerment, and Legal Services.
• Provide consultation to the team on client grievances and cases that require escalation to meet heightened needs, including engaging directly with clients and community partners as needed.
• In coordination with the Resettlement and Integration Manager, develop program budgets and monitor budget versus actual reports.
• Together with the Resettlement and Integration Manager, IRC in Denver’s development and finance teams, and IRC HQ where applicable, prepare grant proposals and complete narrative and fiscal reports for donors.
• Provide ESL enrollment services to all IRC eligible clients, coordinating with partners to ensure clients access language learning.

Monitoring and Coaching 

• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate team members; currently, this includes two direct service specialists and will include more in the future.
• In collaboration with the community engagement team, coordinate the recruitment and training of volunteers for the various education programs
• Provide leadership for the Education and Learning team in accordance with IRC’s People Manager Standards, convening regular one on one meetings with direct reports; effectively delegating duties and responsibilities; providing consistent communication and ongoing feedback; mentoring and coaching staff; and supporting their professional development.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Program Quality 

• Create and implement quality assurance systems, processes, and protocols to promote consistent and complete documentation of all Education and Learning services, financial assistance, and other required data in both client case files and relevant systems.
• Design a department-wide evaluation framework to gauge impact, assess strengths, and identify opportunities for growth and improvement in each program area.
• Participate in efforts to better measure client satisfaction, capture and learn from client feedback, and to engage clients in program design, delivery, and quality improvement.
• Engage the Education and Learning team in regular data analysis to review outcomes.
• In coordination with Resettlement and Integration Manager ensure compliance with the service delivery standards and grant terms and conditions outlined by IRC, CRSP, Office of Refugee Resettlement, Department of State, and other donors.
• Work collaboratively within Education and Learning and across other teams to fully integrate a Gen approach and advance gender, equity, diversity, and inclusion (GEDI) commitments.

Community Partnerships and Capacity Building 

• Act as the key point of contact for external partners and service providers.
• Conduct outreach activities related to education and learning, engaging with local communities, education providers, schools, relevant partner organizations, and other key stakeholders.
• Routinely attend and report on relevant coordination meetings with CRSP and IRC HQ to consult with key stakeholders on resettlement trends, integration efforts, and other issues.

Other 

• Promote and model collaboration and the concept of “One IRC” in interactions with colleagues.
• Participate in strategic planning and make recommendations to shape priorities and programs.
• Engage as a member of the direct services management team, working colleague managers and their teams to foster positive working relationships, streamline services, ensure service quality, consult on client needs, integrate client feedback, and design and implement new programming.
• Adhere to professional and ethical standards, including the IRC Way and HIPAA.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent years in work and/or lived experience required. Advanced degree in education, child psychology, social work, or a relevant field preferred.

Work Experience

• At least 3 years of relevant work experience in education and/or youth development required.
• Experience working with English Language Learners is essential.
• A minimum of 2 years managing complex teams and programs, including supervising staff providing direct services and preferably using a coaching approach.
• Experience developing and managing programming in refugee resettlement and working with displaced people, survivors of trauma or torture, and similar populations strongly preferred.

Source: https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/job/req52978/Education-Program-Supervisor