Community Sponsorship Coordinator

Job Overview:

The Community Sponsorship Coordinator is responsible for developing and implementing a shared community co-sponsorship model across northern New Jersey for humanitarian entrant populations, including refugees, asylum seekers, asylees and others. They organize and coordinate community partnership efforts of the International Rescue Committee in NJ and Church World Service Jersey City. Duties will include developing tools and providing training and workshops, including those on racial equity through the lens of global migration trends. Duties will also include overseeing the management and coordination of volunteers, acting as the informational and logistical bridge between co-sponsoring groups and IRC NJ and CWS JC, and ensuring compliance with required activities.

Major Responsibilities:

Outreach and Community Education

• Reach out to and educate community groups, faith-based organizations, and businesses about community sponsorship and its benefits, for both sponsors and the populations served, through presentations, newsletters, social media, and direct outreach
• Coordinate and facilitate outreach events
• Advocate for and promote awareness of refugee populations to promote community acceptance
• Represent IRC and CWS in co-sponsorship forums as necessary

Implementation

• Recruit and train community sponsorship groups (co-sponsors) and facilitate appropriate matches with newly arrived refugee families and individuals.Conduct necessary screening for co-sponsors and develop a process for matching co-sponsors to families/individuals
• Ensure co-sponsors and those served have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities within the program; provide ongoing clarification as needed
• Develop and facilitate co-sponsorship training opportunities, including racial equity and diversity training to be provided to community groups.
• Work with existing community sponsorship groups to identify best practices for training.

• Ensure provision of all core reception and placement services in accordance with the cooperative agreement in close collaboration with the co-sponsor group and IRC and partner agency colleagues.This may include providing services directly if co-sponsors are unavailable or as otherwise required by the cooperative agreement
• Ensure that all electronic and hard case files and databases are maintained accurately and timely, in accordance with program requirements
• Assess and monitor client progress to support their attainment of established goals, to address challenges, and to ensure that available resources are utilized.
• Keep detailed records and manage data for tracking goals and grant reporting purposes to ensure that grant requirements are met and program activities are compliant and allowable
• Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness and participant feedback to improve outcomes
• Ensure provision of appropriate interpretation

Program Design

• Contextualize the local program design in accordance with general best practices and donor requirements and through engagement with the broader sponsorship ecosystem
• Support frequent and effective communication across staff of two resettlement agencies and co-sponsor groups
• Other duties as assigned

Job Requirements:

• Combination of education and experience normally represented by a bachelor’s degree in social work or human service field

• Minimum of three years of related, progressively responsible professional experience
• Minimum of two years of experience working with diverse clients in a non-profit setting; previous experience working with refugees preferred
• Experience in project or program management, including experience meeting deadlines, maintaining case files, and completing timely reporting
• Comfort with establishing relationships and collaborating with national organizations and businesses
• Ability to work effectively in an environment that is multi-cultural and multi-lingual; experience using interpreters desired
• Highly effective communication skills, demonstrating strong partnership skills, emotional intelligence, and situational awareness
• Highly adaptable and flexible self-starter with ability to work independently as well as collaborate with others, juggle multiple priorities, and meet deadlines in a demanding work environment
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Fluency in English; written and spoken

Working Environment:Standard office working environment with regular local travel within the service delivery area

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 candidates who are selected for interview to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for this position.

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, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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