College and Career Readiness Intern

BACKGROUND: The mission of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933, the IRC has 26 offices in the United States and a presence in over 40 countries. 

COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PROGRAM OVERVIEW: The IRC’s College and Career Readiness (CCR) Program supports newly arrived refugee youth ages 15-19 as they prepare for their future educational and career goals. Through a holistic approach, the program focuses on academic achievement, life skills development, and social-emotional growth. Key program components include monthly workshops and outdoor adventure activities designed to build confidence and practical skills, weekly open office hours for individualized guidance, and a mentorship program that provides long-term support. By fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment, the CCR program empowers refugee youth to successfully transition into adulthood and achieve their personal and professional aspirations. 

SCOPE OF WORK: The CCR Internship with the IRC Utah Youth Program provides interns with hands-on experience supporting newly arrived refugee youth as they navigate their educational and career pathways. Interns will work closely with the College and Career Readiness team to deliver individualized and group-based support that promotes academic success, career exploration, and life skills development. Through weekly open office hours, program intakes, mentorship opportunities, and coordination of workshops and outdoor adventures, interns will play a key role in fostering youth engagement and empowerment. Interns will also gain experience in case documentation, outreach, and program facilitation while collaborating with a dynamic team in a multicultural setting. 

This internship is ideal for individuals interested in youth development, education, social work, or related fields and provides valuable experience working with refugee and immigrant populations. This is an unpaid internship opportunity. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Once onboarded, interns may have the opportunity to be paired with a mentee if they are willing to continue mentorship beyond the internship period or commit to two internship terms. 

• Support the facilitation of weekly open office hours, providing individualized guidance on college and career readiness topics. 

• Conduct program intakes to set a baseline for growth and a starting point for service provision. 

• Engage clients in monthly workshops and outdoor adventure experiences by coordinating outreach through texts, phone calls, and transportation support. 

• Assist in delivering content by presenting sections of monthly workshops. 

• Maintain accurate and timely program case notes for intakes, workshops, events, and assessments. 

• Participate in staff development and team meetings when available. 

• Perform other duties as assigned by the College and Career Readiness Coordinator.

REQUIREMENTS: 

• Must be currently enrolled in a graduate/undergraduate program or have graduated less than 6 months ago. 

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English; fluency in additional foreign language preferred.  

• A background check is required. 

• Strong passion for working with teenage youth; prior experience in youth engagement or mentorship is highly preferred. 

• Experience working and communicating effectively in a multicultural environment, specifically with refugee and immigrant populations preferred. 

• Self-motivated, adaptable, and capable of working independently. 

• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills. 

• Availability for some evening and weekend commitments, with a preference for regular Wednesday afternoons and evenings. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook). 

• Valid UT Driver’s License, access to a vehicle, willingness to drive clients. 

WORKING ENVIRONMENT: 

• A combination of a standard office environment, remote work, and ‘field’ time within the service delivery area to perform the above-outlined responsibilities. 

• Requires occasional weekend and/or evening work. 

This position reports to the College and Career Readiness Coordinator, Jess Hudson. 

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires new hires to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for any in-office or hybrid positions. All IRC US offices require complete vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings, working in the office, etc). 

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal. 

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, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at volunteerSLC@rescue.org to request any needed accommodation.