Small Business Senior Specialist (Childcare Focus)

IRC Background:

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, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 28 U.S. cities helping people to survive, regain control of their future and strengthen their communities. The IRC in Salt Lake City (IRC SLC) opened in 1994 and provides resettlement services through extended case management to newly arrived refugees for up to 24-months as well as over twenty different programs to educate and empower refugees.

Job Overview:
Under the direction of the Small Business Program Manager, the Childcare Business Senior Specialist(s) will assist refugees starting new home-based childcare businesses. The Senior Specialist will be responsible for initiating, coordinating, and managing activities to accomplish goals of the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s (ORR) Refugee Family Child Care Microenterprise Development (RFCCMED) Program. This includes addressing barriers to childcare business licensure by providing aspiring and beginning childcare business entrepreneurs training, technical assistance, and reducing financial barriers to training and licensure by providing gap startup funding. This is a full time, regular term position.

Major Responsibilities:

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Assist in recruiting eligible participants for the RFCCMED for cohorts to participate in the trainings and childcare licensing process.
• Conduct initial screening, assessment and orientation for eligible participants.
• Coordinate workshops and training on owning, operating and sustaining a home based childcare business.
• Provide one-on-one technical assistance to eligible and enrolled refugee clients in obtaining family childcare license and in starting a licensed family childcare business.
• Work with Economic Wellbeing team staff to provide participants with financial coaching, small business development.
• Work with volunteers and interns to assist with workshops and other needs within the program.
• Coordinate closely with partners on licensure, ongoing support and early childhood education training for program participants.
• Coordinate stipend disbursement with IRC SLC Finance team.
• Conduct tracking and data collection entry efforts for reporting and evaluation of the program.
• Maintain professional knowledge and skills by attending relevant workshops and training while continually reviewing professional materials and literature.
• Maintain professionalism, customer service, and uphold the IRC Way, the IRC’s code of conduct;
• Participate in program meetings, weekly staff meetings, staff development activities and national skills building trainings, calls, and communities of practice, while fully engaging as a member of the team;
• Support general office logistics, such as office support and front desk, as applicable and feasible;
• Comply with all policies, procedures, and protocols of the organization;
• Other related duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:
Education:

• Undergraduate degree, or equivalent experience, in Business, Small Business Development, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Education, or related field preferred.

Work Experience:

• Experience working in entrepreneurship, small business development or home based child care business development, preferred;
• Experience with adult education, training, community building, and/or community development, preferred;
• Previous experience working with individuals from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds and varying levels of literacy and numeracy;
• Experience and training in trauma-informed and person-centered services;
• Knowledge and experience with financial topics, including budgeting, cash management, savings, investment, banking, and credit building;
• Familiarity with or association with refugee communities in Salt Lake City highly desirable.
• 2 years of professional experience working in, entrepreneurship, small business development or home based child care business development, preferred;
• Experience with adult education, training, community building, and/or community development.
• Experience supervising staff; preferably within a social services environment;
• Previous experience working with individuals from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds and varying levels of literacy and numeracy;
• Experience working in a direct service role preferred;
• Experience and training in trauma-informed and person-centered services;
  
  

Demonstrated Skills & Competencies:

• Knowledge of and ability to conduct trainings on basic financial literacy and goal setting;
• Strong organizational skills including: multi-tasking, prioritizing, planning, and effective time management;
• Ability to work independently as well as on a close, collaborative team;
• Fluency in written and spoken English, with bi-lingual ability in a language commonly spoken by refugees in Salt Lake City, such as Arabic, Swahili, Farsi, Dari, or Somali, preferred;

• Ability to communicate with limited-English speakers, and demonstrated multicultural experience;
• Ability to work with refugee participants, community leaders, community partners and volunteers from a variety of backgrounds;
• Competency in Microsoft Office required; additional technical skills an asset;
• Valid driver’s license, active insurance policy and access to reliable transportation.
  
  
  

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to:  Childcare Business Senior Coordinator
• Position Directly Supervises:  May supervise: Interns and Volunteers as needed.

Work Environment:

• Standard office work environment along with travel in and around the service delivery area
• Flexibility to work some Saturdays and some weekday evenings as needed to support programming.

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 full vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings).

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.

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 $120 per month, dental starting at $7 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.