VESL Instructor

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 40 countries and 29 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: The IRC in Dallas, Texas is dedicated to empowering newly arrived refugees and other low-income individuals to achieve self-sufficiency through securing entry-level employment, advancing towards living wage positions, acquiring basic financial management skills, building assets, and initiating small businesses. IRC Dallas is home to the Vocational English as a Second Language (VESL) program, which is designed to offer group-based English language instruction to adult refugees at varying levels of proficiency.

The VESL Instructor plays a crucial role in this endeavor, tasked with delivering engaging instruction, developing, and refining a curriculum that effectively facilitates the acquisition of English language skills conducive to employability. Collaborating closely with the Education and Learning Manager, Adult Education team, IRC Technical Advisors, and other staff members, the VESL Instructor is instrumental in ensuring that clients meet their personal and professional objectives. The VESL+ program entails short-term, cohort-based classes that meet in person for 20-25 hours per week. The primary focus of the intensive instruction is VESL with other complimentary learning occurring through the support of other IRC Dallas programs.

Responsibilities: Include, but are not limited to: 

• Teach the Vocational English as a Second Language class and coordinate with other IRC Dallas programs to support with complimentary learning sessions for new arrivals to the IRC Dallas office utilizing existing curricula. 
• Orient and conference with current and potential students, assisting students in completing necessary intake and enrollment forms, both virtually, using phone and web-based platforms, and in-person.
• Promote core competencies of English language skills needed to obtain and retain employment and achieve self-sufficiency.  
• Administer pre and post tests, track attendance and student progress, and ensure students complete the requirements of the VESL class.
• Develop lesson plans and materials as needed. Tune lesson activities to meet student needs across a range of cultural backgrounds. Incorporating American workforce norms, soft skills, and social norms of the interviewing process.
•  Assist with record-keeping and data entry to support program administration and compliance with programmatic requirements. Document student progress by keeping accurate and timely attendance records, case notes, assessment data, program participant surveys, and observations of student progress.
• Coordinate with the Workforce Development Supervisor, Employment Specialists, and other relevant staff through regular communication, participation in team meetings, and other activities as requested.
• Participate in Workforce, VESL, and Education meetings, and staff development activities, as possible. 
• Stay current on standard methodologies, pedagogical approaches, and strategies to engage adult ESL learners.
• Attend weekly check-ins and report regularly on program goals, client attendance, learning activities, student progress and any problems or concerns with clients or program. 
• Other related duties as assigned. 

Job Requirements:  

• TESOL or TEFOL certification required. 
• Undergraduate degree in a related field strongly required; Master’s degree preferred. 
• Experience teaching ESL required; 2+ years ESL teaching experience preferred.
• Familiarity with planning and delivering lessons that obtain specific measurement goals for learners using supporting curriculum. 
• Patient, flexible, and reliable. 
• Able to communicate effectively and clearly in English, knowledge of any of the following languages is a plus: Kinyarwanda, Kiswahili, Dari/Farsi/Pashto, Spanish, Arabic. 
• On-line instruction/learning experience preferred; 
• Maintain accurate and timely data records of student enrollment and participation. 
• Driver’s license and insured car required.
• Experience working with immigrant populations and adults strongly preferred.  
• Experience with workforce and job training programs preferred. 
• Ability to take initiative and work independently to resolve challenges.
• Proven cultural competency and sensitivity to working with individuals of diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to bring creativity to the classroom to teach to audiences with varied levels of English. 
• Flexible, adaptable, and willing to work in a team environment.
• Strong written and oral English language skills. 

Working Environment:   

• A combination of the standard office environment and remote work.
• Requires occasional weekend or evening work.

Compensation: (Pay Range: $22.88 - $24.00) 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.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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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 $143 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, 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. 

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.