Refugee Youth Mentorship Program Specialist

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

The RYMP Specialist will partner with eligible newcomers between the ages of 18—24 years old, as they develop the skills, resources, and knowledge to pursue opportunities and set goals for their future. As part of the Refugee Youth Mentoring Program (RYMP), the Specialist will provide culturally and linguistically-appropriate services geared to support progress and goal-setting around education, vocation, and systems navigation. Duties include and are not limited to: supporting participants in individualized sessions, developing opportunities for participants to benefit additionally from volunteer community mentors, as well as developing resources over time to strengthen the broader secondary programs that support older youth as well.

Major Responsibilities:

Coaching and Support for Youth Mentorship Program

Create safe and healing learning spaces and build supportive relationships with newcomer youth utilizing a healing-focused, trauma-informed, youth-centered and culturally-responsive approach that promotes positive cultural identity, celebration of diversity, and is continually working towards equity and anti-racism in education
Provide coaching through the understanding and lens of the unique background and experiences newcomer youth may have as a result of arriving to the US sometime within the past five years
Conduct creative outreach, recruitment, and intake/onboarding processes for eligible newcomer Youth
In partnership with enrolled youth, create individualized service plans and program goals for each participant, centered on youth voice and choice, using a strengths-based approach
Provide ongoing and regular individualized case management and coaching services to eligible participants upon enrollment in the mentorship program, with a focus on education, vocational/career readiness, and systems navigation
Complete regular case notes, service plan updates, and documentation to support quarterly reporting requirements

Program Design

Develop creative and intentional processes to engage volunteer community mentors, who will also support the youth participants; this includes but is not limited to recruitment, onboarding, dialogue and trainings on cultural responsiveness and trauma-informed approaches, intentional matching of participants to a mentor, as well as monitoring and support of the mentor-mentee relationship under formalized guidelines and safeguarding measures
Plan and design feasible group opportunities for visits or exposure to vocational, technical, or educational programs, in accordance with guidance around COVID-19 (field trips, college visits, virtual or in-person college and career panel discussions). Consider broadening opportunities to IRC participants in various programs
Collaborate and exchange ideas and resources with the RYMP Specialist for Afghan Youth
Alongside the RYMP Specialist for Afghan Youth, create topics and content for quarterly social and civic engagement opportunities for mentees

Resource Development

Build and maintain ongoing knowledge of college and career pathways, including alternative high school completion programs, ELL programs, technical high schools, colleges, application processes, financial aid options and requirements, and other unique college and career programs for eligible newcomer youth
Research and build knowledge of available services and programs offered within the IRC, King and Pierce Counties, 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

Participate in all program meetings, staff development activities, and fully engage as a member of the IRC team
Comply with all policies, procedures, and protocols of the agency
Other related duties as assigned

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Program Coordinator for Youth Success Programs
Position directly supervises: Volunteers and Interns
Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Resettlement Department, Development Team, Youth and Education Department, New Roots Department, Health Empowerment Program, Survivor Services Program, Economic Empowerment Program, Early Employment Department, Immigration Program, and other IRC departments

External: Community-based organizations, colleges and universities, employment agencies, families

Qualifications

Relevant professional and lived experience working alongside refugee or immigrant youth and communities
Written and spoken Fluency in a predominant language of local client base desired (examples include but are not limited to: Dari, Pashto, Ukrainian, Arabic, Somali, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, or Spanish)
Professional proficiency in English required
Reliable, professional, resourceful, team-oriented and sensitive to cultural differences
Understanding of or ability to quickly learn about the unique challenges and opportunities of Afghan and Ukrainian youth who have arrived in the U.S. in the past couple of years
Experience working with multilingual learners with limited English proficiency
Cross-cultural experience; connection and experience connecting with communities from refugee and/or immigrant backgrounds
Relevant experience related to areas such as case management, social work, youth development, economic empowerment, mentoring, college/career coaching
Knowledge and experience with college and career systems navigation and alternative high school pathways for English language learners desirable
Commitment to anti-racism and continual learning and growth, and implementing anti-racist mentorship
Flexible and adaptable – able to quickly problem solve and change plans and activities according to participant/ team need or unexpected circumstances
Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to work well with people of diverse cultural backgrounds
Ability to work well independently and as part of a team
Ability to maintain responsibility for multiple tasks in the context of a diverse, fast-paced work environment
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Zoom or other video conferencing platforms, or strong willingness to learn
Willing to be First Aid/CPR certified upon hire

Working Environment***:***

Anticipated hybrid work setting: three days of remote work (within the King County vicinity) and two days of in-office work at the IRC’s office in SeaTac; occasional evening or weekend activities as needed
Need access to reliable high-speed internet from remote office or IRC’s office in SeaTac
Need access to reliable transportation to travel and work off-site for participant-related activities (i.e. intakes, schools, apartment complexes, community center etc.)
Typical schedule will be Monday—Friday, roughly 10:00 a.m.—6:00 p.m. or 12:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m.; may shift slightly based on mentees’ schedules

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.

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.

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: 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.