Employment Program Coordinator

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 50 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Job Overview/Summary:
Under the supervision of the Employment Program Manager, the Employment Program Coordinator will be responsible for supervising the Santa Clara County RSS-employment and Matching Grant employment programs. This position will be responsible for ensuring that these programs meet all performance goals per funder and contract requirements, are responsive to client needs, and operate within budget and compliance parameters. They will also be responsible for ensuring sustainability of this program area through program development and grant writing and will directly supervise direct service staff in this program area. The Employment Program Coordinator must be committed to working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with a team committed to offering high-quality, community-based programs. They must have sound judgment and be comfortable making decisions in a fluid environment.

Major Responsibilities:
•Oversee and manage Santa Clara County RSS-employment and Matching Grant employment programs which serve newly-arrived refugees and other qualified populations
•Ensure that the programs consistently meets all established grant outcomes as well as internal benchmarks established by IRC.
•Provide leadership and supervision to direct service staff who work in the Santa Clara County RSS-employment and Matching Grant employment programs including leading team meetings, providing individual supervision, coaching and goal-setting and performance feedback as well as managing staff workload, and helping staff troubleshoot challenges
•Ensure that the program is compliant with funder and agency requirements in terms of documentation, case files, data tracking, and other areas of administrative compliance; produce high-quality program reports in a timely manner
•Support program sustainability through program development and grant writing
•Work collaboratively with other agency staff to ensure that Matching Grant and County Employment programming is integrated into the continuum of IRC services
•Conduct regular outreach to community organizations to advocate for the program, and recruit new volunteers and interns
•Develop and implement intensive job-readiness classes that prepare students for the workplace and working culture of the United States, enhancing their employability
•Provide/oversee intake, assessment, and pre-employment/job readiness orientation to clients eligible for employment services as needed
•Monitor client performance, and progress in their job readiness plan at frequent intervals, ensuring that they are complying with program policy and participating to the best of their ability.
•Provide ongoing coaching and counseling to program staff to support their clients by facilitating access to specialized local resources, helping them to overcome the barriers they face to achieve their goals for economic and social self-sufficiency.
•Organize and expand community partnerships to supplement Employment Program Curriculum with workshops focusing on crucial life-skills and development of employable skills, included but not limited to, health, financial literacy, networking, legal rights, and technology.
•Maintain a monthly employment program schedule, organizing appropriate class scheduling, community workshops, student level assignment, and instructors, updating frequently as client arrivals change
•Coordinate scheduling with VESL, Digital Inclusion and Employment volunteers, taking into account their strengths and placing them into the program in a position that will maximize client benefits and volunteer experience
•In coordination with Employment Specialists build employer partnerships and maintain good relations with employers, assisting in hiring process as needed, ensuring their satisfaction with client performance in job.
•Organize and update employment intern task database and weekly schedule, assigning tasks to each individual, maximizing benefits of interns to the Employment program and creating an educational experience for interns.
•Communicate with Social Services or other local agencies to report any errors or changes with client information.
•Encourage employment as the pathway to self-sufficiency for newly arrived refugees.
•Oversee a partial caseload of employment clients and assist with necessary referrals through social services, medical clinics, or other community organizations as needed.
•Other related duties as assigned.

General Administration
•Work with San Jose office management and Development team to identify and apply for new funding opportunities.
•Provide narrative and outcome statistics for reports to IRC and funders.
•Oversee program expenses compared with grant budgets; collaborate with Finance Coordinator for utilizing funding appropriately.
•Participate in all program meetings, staff development activities, and fully engage as a member of the team.
•Comply with all policies, procedures and protocols of the agency.
•Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC San Jose.
•Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.
•Other related duties as assigned.

Key Working Relationships:
**Position Reports to:**Employment Program Manager
**Position directly supervises:**Employment Specialists & Caseworkers, Digital Inclusion Specialist, Interns, and volunteers
Internal and/or external contacts: Coordinates regularly with all IRC in San Jose departments.

Job Requirements:
•An undergraduate degree or 4+ years of relevant experience required.
•3 years of experience working in employment and workforce programs required.
•1 – 3 years of experience with client counseling, case management, or coaching strongly preferred.
•Previous supervisory experience required.
•Multi-cultural experience and demonstrated ability to communicate well with people of varied backgrounds required.
•Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and presentation creation
•Proven ability to take initiative, creatively problem solve and lead with versatility in a fast-paced work environment
•Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required
•Experience using data and fiscal tracking systems preferred
•Understanding of the job market in professional sectors in San Jose
•Flexible availability necessary
•Proficiency in Dari, Farsi, Pashto, Arabic, Spanish, Ukrainian or other client languages preferred, but not required.

Working Environment:
•Standard office work environment

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.

US Benefits:
The IRC offers a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. All US employees are eligible for sick time, a 403b retirement savings plans: up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus an 3-7% additional IRC contribution, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

In addition, full-time employees are eligible for 10 US paid holidays, 20-25 paid time off days, disability & life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance (employee contribution starting at $135, $7, and $5 per month respectively) and FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs. Part-time employees are eligible for a proportionate amount of paid time off. These additional benefits apply to employees who work at least 6 months within a 12 month time period.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.