IRC 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 a presence in over 40 countries and 27 offices in the United States; the IRC leads the way from harm to home. IRC opened an office in Seattle in 1976 and provides a continuum of services including intensive case management, employment and economic empowerment services, immigration assistance, health and wellness programming, and education support to refugee and immigrant families in Washington State. IRC Seattle is committed to providing trauma-informed, equitable, and accessible services and maintaining and evolving a diverse, inclusive, and supportive workplace.
Job Overview: The Benefit Specialist will work with the refugee sponsors and refugee communities to improve access to public assistance programs in the State of Washington, including “Food, cash, and medical assistance, WIC, and SSI) for the Ukrainian Parolees. The Specialist will provide capacity building sessions that help sponsors and refugee communities to prepare and submit applications for public benefits. This position is responsible for regular check-ins and maintaining relationship with the refugee sponsors and communities.
Major Responsibilities:
- Acts as a focal point for the public assistance programs for the Ukrainian Parolees
- Explain public assistance programs’ requirements and services available to sponsors and refugee community organizations
- Conducts regular check-ins and follow-ups with the sponsor families and community organizations
- Train the sponsors and community organizations on IRC and donor-endorsed recordkeeping requirements (e.g., Documentation of case-notes)
- This role requires a good knowledge of working remotely, presentation and communication skills with the sponsor families and community organizations
- Maintain strong relationships with the public assistance programs including focal points from the DSHS
- Regularly meet with your supervisor to receive feedback from training, in-office work, as well as providing feedback for your supervisor
- Collaborate effectively with coworkers and partner organizations to support a positive case management experience
- This position may require periodic travels to Ukrainian community hubs, including Federal Way, Tacoma, Vancouver, and Kent.
- Complete any additional assigned projects and assignments
Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: Quality Assurance and Training Manager
Indirect Reporting: Ukrainian Casework Coordinator, Resettlement Manager, Resettlement Director
Other Internal and/or external contacts:
Internal: Resettlement Housing, Casework, and Quality Assurance teams; Employment Team; Operations Team; Finance Team; other IRC Washington Program Teams
External: Housing Providers, Property Management Companies, Apartment Managers, other community partners and housing providers