Vocational English as a Second Language Instructor

Requisition ID: req47148

Job Title: Vocational English as a Second Language Instructor

Sector: Communications

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Compensation: USD 25.51 - 26.30 Hourly

Location: San Jose, CA USA

Work Arrangement: In-person

Job Description

IRC Background:Founded in 1933, The IRC is a leading nonsectarian, voluntary organization providing relief, protection and resettlement services for refugees and victims of oppression or violent conflict.The IRC has been resettling refugees in San Jose, California, for over 30 years, providing reception and placement services to newly arrived refugees. The San Jose IRC office serves approximately 400 refugees annually providing them a fresh start and opportunities to use their greatest resources—their motivation, their skills and their experiences—to become independent and self-sufficient new Americans. The office provides numerous supplemental programs to assist refugees and IRC clients from their arrival and beyond.

Job Overview: The IRC in San Jose’s Economic Empowerment department provides early employment, economic empowerment education, financial education/coaching and job readiness services to ensure clients achieve self-sufficiency and economic independence. The IRC in San Jose’s Economic Empowerment program works to ensure that refugee adult clients have the skills and knowledge to become successfully employed, understand US financial systems, and in are economically independent. The Economic Empowerment department provides programming focused on Vocational English as Second Language (VESL), employment search skills, and job readiness and on the job training education, industry specific trainings in hospitality/ customer service and financial education. VESL Instructor will plan and instruct Vocational English as a Second Language classes to adult refugees preparing for employment in the United States. This position reports to the Employment Program Manager.

Major Responsibilities:

• Plan and teach full time VESL classes to refugee adults with a focus on vocational English acquisition;
• Develop VESL lesson plans that enable clients to gain real- life skills and fully participate in their new communities;
• In coordination with Volunteer Coordinator and Employment Program Manager, assist IRC Employment team in managing volunteer and intern force;
• Collaborate with Employment Program Manager to enroll, track, and update clients’ participation in the VESL program in accordance with contractual obligations;
• Maintain case file documents for client’s participation and outcomes;
• Implement basic computer skills training using the IRC computer lab focusing on VESL instruction and Microsoft Office;
• Tailor lesson plans to meet the needs of varying language levels and cultural backgrounds of the refugee students;
• Administer initial client intake English exam, and regular assessments to ensure client’s English progress;
• Maintain case file documentation for individual clients’ activities and outcomes for reporting purposes;
• Monitor classroom participation, and maintain attendance records;
• Implement evaluation to determine success and usefulness of training and programming;
• Aid Employment Program Manager in reporting errors or changes in client information in a timely fashion, communicating with Social Services as needed;
• Encourage employment as the pathway to self-sufficiency for newly arrived refugees
• Participate in IRC Communities of Practice, staff meetings, and other networking/learning opportunities in the network;
• Other duties as assigned

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:Employment Program Manager
Position directly supervises:N/A

Indirect Reporting:N/A
Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Employment Specialist, Career Development Coordinator, IDA Program Specialist, and AmeriCorps Member

External:Santa Clara County, Community Colleges, Employers, and other Community Partners

Job Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree in Adult Education or related field required, Masters preferred. ESL certification such as TESOL, TEFL, or CELTA required.
• 1-2 years+ relevant work experience in in VESL Instruction/Adult Education, or other relevant field.
• Ability to work independently with strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment;
• Experience working with adult learners from a variety of cultural and linguistic groups, and with multiple levels of English language skill required; work with refugee populations desirable;
• Experience developing and providing orientations and trainings;
• Experience designing curriculum and integrating technology into teaching desired;
• Self- starter with excellent problem-solving skills and demonstrated success in developing and managing multiple projects and activities;
• 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;
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills;
• Proven ability to contribute both independently and as a key team member;
• Proficient in Microsoft Office including Outlook, Word and Excel;
• Experience working with underserved populations preferred;
• Flexible and resilient.

Work Environment:

Standard Office Work Environment combined with occasional travel in and around the service delivery area

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: 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 $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), 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. 

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