Career Development Specialist

The Career Development Program promotes economic self-sufficiency for refugees and immigrants with barriers to achieving their career goals. The program connects participants with training and resources to enable them to move out of low-wage jobs and into sustainable career paths. Under the direction of the Career Development Programs Coordinator, the Career Development Specialist will work individually with clients to assess their eligibility and readiness for the program, create career development plans, schedule career development activities, prepare job applications, and obtain successful job placements. Since program participants often face barriers to entry into and completion of career development programming, this position will provide supportive services for program participants.

Major Responsibilities

- Provide intensive one-on-one case management services to clients looking to develop a career pathway, discerning their long-term career goals, detailing a step-by-step plan for its achievement, and providing hands-on assistance with various steps as needed - Assist in developing contextualized work readiness training and bridge programming for refugee job seekers in career development programs - Identify career opportunities for program participants, including outreach to local employers and networking with targeted industries - Research and document career advancement, professional certification and recertification, and other vocational education opportunities as needed for effective case management - Maintain accurate and up-to-date case files documenting client goals, activities, and services received - Work closely with IRC Economic Empowerment Team to integrate career development activities within complimentary services - Engage with local and national agencies that offer vocational education, recertification, or educational equivalency services in support of project objectives - Attend regularly scheduled meetings with other IRC staff and volunteers as part of the review, evaluation, and program maintenance process - Assess eligibility and connect program participants to resources and other services within IRC and in the community - Plan and coordinate classroom activities - Other duties as assigned

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to: Career Development Program Coordinator

Other Internal and/or external contacts

- Internal: Economic Empowerment Team, Resettlement Team, All IRC Seattle Program Teams, Volunteer Coordinator, employment volunteers - External: Skilled Immigrant and Refugees Engagement Network (“SIREN”), Workforce Development Council, YWCA, area colleges, libraries, city and county governments, funders, and employers

Job Requirements

- Relevant degree or equivalent professional and/or lived experience - Lived experience as a refugee or immigrant is preferred - In lieu of lived experience, experience working with refugees and/or immigrants; cross-cultural or overseas experience accepted - Strong communication skills, both written and oral - Previous work experience with the IRC’s target population, and/or the ability to provide career services that are culturally responsive - Demonstrated skills with reporting and tracking information in a database - Commitment to anti-racism and ongoing learning - Access to reliable transportation to travel regularly throughout the service delivery area (driver’s license, insurance, and access to vehicle preferred)

Working Environment

- Standard, professional office environment (flexible remote and in-office) - Access to a reliable vehicle to travel regularly throughout the service delivery area

Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

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 $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), 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.

Qualifications Update