Workforce Development Navigator

Job Overview: IRC Workforce Development programs promotes economic self-sufficiency for refugees and immigrants with barriers to achieving their career goals. Career-focused workforce development programs collaborate with partners across system(s) to design and develop industry-aligned career pathway programs and to support clients in accessing and succeeding in these programs. The Workforce Development Navigator will work within the local workforce ecosystem to design, develop, and implement career pathway programs that lead to high-quality jobs that offer living wages and opportunities for advancement and are accessible to populations with barriers that include limited English proficiency, limited and/or foreign-earned education, other skills barriers, and transportation and family care responsibilities. The position will work with colleagues to support clients in learning about, enrolling in, progressing through, and succeeding in these programs.

Major Responsibilities:

Development and Implementation of Career Pathway Programs:

• Identify promising, in-demand career pathways in the region.
• Maintain a strong understanding of regional workforce system partners including American Job Centers, community colleges, adult schools, vocational training providers, apprenticeship programs, employers and community-based organizations that can contribute to career pathway programming.
• Design responsive, evidence-based career pathway programs for specific occupations and industries.
• Proactively identify and solve for challenges in working across system(s) and partners to ensure that diverse refugee, immigrant, and other marginalized populations have equitable access to workforce development resources.
• In partnership with colleagues, implement career pathway programming including supporting a framework for high-quality service delivery and ongoing collaboration among partners.
• In partnership with colleagues, provide direct services to clients accessing career pathway programming, including providing career coaching and other supports.
• May train and lead activities of support staff, volunteers, and interns.
• Other duties as assigned

Program Administration:

• Assist with the creation of program informational packets, career pathway frameworks and design(s), as well as marketing materials and presentations.
• Ensure timely and accurate compliance to all reporting requirements, including supporting colleagues with understanding and adhering to external workforce development partner requirements.
• Other administrative duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree or relevant work experience.
• Minimum 1 year experience working in workforce development, career counseling, or related area required; minimum of 2 years’ experience strongly preferred.
• Experience working directly for and/or partnering with multiple workforce system partners such as American Job Centers, community colleges, adult education providers, vocational training providers, or apprenticeship programs strongly preferred.
• Ability to work with individuals from a variety of cultural and linguistic groups and with multiple levels of English language skill required.
• Work or volunteer experience with refugee and immigrant populations and understanding of local refugee and immigrant communities desired.
• Able to think creatively and strategically to overcome barriers.
• Excellent verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including skills necessary to present to and communicate with management and executives within the workforce development system.
• Highly organized, attentive to detail, responsible, and flexible. Able to maintain responsibility for multiple tasks in the context of a diverse, fast-paced work environment, and maintain composure under pressure.
• Fluency in MS Office applications and database experience required.
• Willingness to work some evenings and/or weekends on a regular basis.
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written; multi-lingual ability preferred.

Working Environment:

• A combination of standard office environment, remote work, and ‘field’ time within the service delivery area to perform the outlined responsibilities.
• May require occasional weekend and/or evening work.

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: 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.