Employment and VESL Specialist

Major Responsibilities:

Employment Services and Cash Assistance

• Provide intake, assessment, and pre-employment/job readiness orientation to clients eligible for employment services.

• Collaborate with caseworkers, adult education coordinator and employment specialists to ensure client compliance with program guidelines including, but not limited to, attendance in English language and job readiness training, participation in all available interviews and acceptance of job offers.

• Under supervision of casework supervisor, ensure IRC reaches its annual Matching Grant employment program enrollment targets.

• Participate in development of self-sufficiency plans for employable adults and engage adults in budgeting at time of employment to assess household income versus expenses.

• Provide individualized job preparation, application and placement services that enhance clients’ employability and result in successful placements.

• Monitor job performance, wage level, employer/employee satisfaction and job retention.

• Assist clients and employers with post placement issues and continuing employment needs.

• Record all employment services and placements for MG clients in Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) database and complete 120- and 180-day reports documenting self-sufficiency.

• Request, disburse and track cash assistance payments to MG clients successfully complying with program requirements

• Disperse donations to MG clients and assist with tracking of contributions in kind (CIK), including community assistance and support provided to MG clients.

• Train and supervise employment services interns serving Matching Grant clients.

• Ensure timely and accurate compliance to all reporting requirements.

  Vocational ESL Instruction

• Plan and teach VESL classes to refugee adults with a focus on vocational English language acquisition;
• Develop and implement engaging lesson plans with a variety of instructional methods, adapted to diverse learning styles;
• 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;
• Collaborate with Economic Empowerment and Education and Learning departments to enroll, track, and update clients' participation in the VESL program in accordance with contractual obligations;
• Assist with registration, intake and pre- and post-testing as needed
• Maintain case file documents for clients participation and outcomes;
• Monitor classroom participation, and maintain attendance records;
• Implement evaluation to determine success and usefulness of training and programming;
• Other duties as assigned

Work Experience:

• Minimum of two years teaching experience (with youth and/or adults) required, preferably with English language learners

• Experience working with with refugee and/or immigrant populations

• Experience designing student-centered, thematic-based curriculum and developing monitoring and evaluation systems highly desired

• At least one year experience providing case management, employment and/or other related direct services to vulnerable populations

  Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Solid diplomacy, relationship building and networking skills; ability to effectively manage internal and external relationships

• Ability to interact with diverse populations and empathize with people unfamiliar with local culture.

• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills; ability to work successfully in cross-cultural environment

• Highly organized, responsible and flexible; ability to maintain responsibility for multiple tasks in  a diverse, fast-paced work environment and maintain composure under pressure

• Ethical and professional conduct that facilitates the building of a respectful, trusting and collaborative relationship with program staff and students.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook; ability to use the internet and other resources for research and problem-solving purposes

  Language Skills: Ability to read, write and speak English fluently is required. Fluency in one of the languages of populations served is highly desired (Arabic, Persian, Pashto, French, Kiswahili, Haitian Creole, Spanish)

Working Environment:  Standard office work environment. Some field work required (10% of time), including accompanying clients to employers for training and/or job opportunities.